Current and Former Members include: Pat Fish aka The Butcher (founder), Max Eider (founder), Steve Valentine, Owen Jones, Curtis E. Johnson, Pat Beirne, Gabriel Turner, Dooj Wilkinson, Dave Henderson, Paul Mulreany, Richard Formby, Alex Green, Alex Lee, David J, Graham Fudger aka Felix Fudger, Julian Poole, Kevin Haskins, Kizzy O'Callaghan, Laurence O'Keefe, Nick Burson, Rolo McGinty, Colin, Sonic Boom, Alice Thompson, Peter Astor, Peter Crouch, Rodney Allen, and Joe Allen.
Official Website: http://www.jazzbutcher.com/htdb
Swell
The Jazz Butcher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But what on Earth are you saying?
It's happened before
And I just leap on the bus and ride away
It's got me paralysed this time
Just like I never thought it could
Like I always knew you would
The moment that you came
It doesn't matter what time you get home
Coz everybody wants to meet you
Everybody's at your feet
Everybody thinks you're swell
So now it's "au revoir"
And a curse on the ocean
Only I got a notion
I'll be with you again
You know I will
When you're all alone
On the streets of a far-off town
Well remember when they're falling down
They're just like you and that's beautiful
It doesn't matter 'bout the streets you're walking down
Coz everybody wants to see you
People even want to be like you
Everybody thinks you're swell
Everybody thinks you're swell
Everybody thinks you're swell
The Jazz Butcher's song "Swell" is about a person who is enamored with someone who they find charming, but they cannot understand what this person is saying. The singer in the song seems to have a history with this person, as they have been "charmed" before and "just leapt on the bus and ride away". This time, however, they are "paralyzed", and they seem to be helpless in the face of this person's charm. The singer imagines what it is like for this person to be walking the streets of a far-off town alone, and how they will realize that they are just like everyone else.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Everybody thinks you're swell" several times. This phrase seems to be a sarcastic comment on the way that people are always fascinated with those who seem to have everything going for them. The singer seems to be poking fun at the idea that this person is so amazing that everyone wants to be around them no matter what they say or do.
Overall, the song seems to be about how easily people can be enamored with others, and how we can become paralyzed and unable to see the truth of a situation when we find someone charming. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too caught up in what other people think of us.
Line by Line Meaning
Charmed I'm sure
I am intrigued by your words
But what on Earth are you saying?
However, I have no idea what you mean
It's happened before
I have experienced this before
And I just leap on the bus and ride away
And I usually run away from it
It's got me paralyzed this time
But this time I am feeling stuck
Just like I never thought it could
This feeling is new and unexpected
Like I always knew you would
But somehow, I always had a feeling you would do this
The moment that you came
From the very beginning
It doesn't matter what time you get home
No matter what time of day it is
Coz everybody wants to meet you
Everyone wants to get to know you
Everybody's at your feet
Everyone is idolizing you
Everybody thinks you're swell
Everyone loves you
So now it's "au revoir"
So now it's goodbye
And a curse on the ocean
A curse on the distance between us
Only I got a notion
But I have a feeling
I'll be with you again
That we will meet again
You know I will
I am certain about it
When you're all alone
When you feel lonely
On the streets of a far-off town
In a faraway place
Well remember when they're falling down
Just think about when things go wrong
They're just like you and that's beautiful
Everyone has struggles, and that's okay
It doesn't matter 'bout the streets you're walking down
No matter where you go
Coz everybody wants to see you
Everyone is interested in you
People even want to be like you
People admire you
Everybody thinks you're swell
Everyone thinks you're amazing
Everybody thinks you're swell
Everyone loves you
Contributed by Ian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@detroitgeordie
Thanks for this. There's a kind of graceful groove to this song that I absolutely adore. Long live the Butcher!
@TheElvisDiet
it doesn't matter what time you get home. .......♡
@GeorgeAgrofylakas
:-)
@johnrobinson6239
Thanks George the lyrics/subtitles were swell (pun intended) - maybe I'll try watching Brassed Off again, never made it through it before...
@johnspence9718
Thanks for all your postings as you can tell this is a very old photo of Pat & I. And if homelessness hadn't robbed me of my autographed albums, I wouldn't have to rely on kind strangers such as yourself. I would have given them to a real fan, than let them fall into the hands of an idiot who didn't know what he had, nice work and thanks again. From Dc in 2000 - http://jazzbutcher.com/images/20000508/disk4.Untitled22.jpg
@gxv3351
Great photo
@johnspence9718
@@gxv3351 Thanks, very kind of you & it brings back incredible memories. The internet was in it's infancy, & I thought "I wonder if the Jazz Butcher has a website." My entire life, across the country & world, I'd go in record stores and ask if they had any : JBC, Jazz Butcher, Sikkorskis from Hell, Sumosonic, Max Eider. And usually be met with vacant stares. Occsionally I'd find a CD of Condition Blue, but the vinyl was impossible to find. Imagine my surprise when I found not only the JBC website, but the fact they were doing a very small Mid-Atlantic, East Coast tour, THAT WEEKEND !!
I was taking care of my aging mother at the time, also a big fan, & we agreed to make the 3 hour trip to Philadelphia, PA and see the show. We checked into a bed & breakfast & went to the club early. AEUK opened for them, joined by a disguised Max (a hand-drawn beard on paper affixed with a rubberband) & Pat (balaclava hiding his features. I can't imagine how hot it must have been.). I was so starstruck, I'm surprised the whole band put up with me. We shared many drinks, & they allowed me to record & photograph the show. They also autographed some very old vinyl I brought. The only caveat was I could not sell anything, & I never did.
My mother & I made the 2 hour drive the following day & caught the Washington D.C. show. We headed back to Ocean CIty, MD with my photos, recordings, autographs, & a lifetime of memories. Once we got the photos developed, my mother asked if I'd like to go to NYC for the last show on their tour. When we walked into the pub, Pat yelled, "You CAME !!" To think, the Butcher himself not only remembered who I was but welcomed me to the show. That night I was able to meet David J., since he was the special guest. Steve Valentine, an attorney from San Francisco was playing bass that tour. Pat told me that a fan asked them to play at their wedding reception in Atlanta & the tour was spur of the moment. We exchanged addresses, gifts, & I was and am still very grateful for the kindness they showed this little old fat American and his mother.
After they returned, I sent all of them copies of the photographs, and gifts from Ocean City, MD (Old Bay Seasoning, Salt Water Taffy, & the like.) Thanks for letting me relive that experience, and I am so very lucky to have seen the original lineup perform but actually met the entire band, share correspondence, and a lifetime of memories. Owen sent me a cassette of recordings from his current band, "Shakespeare & the Bible." We're talking the year 2000, so I believe it was a demo tape & some bootleg live recordings. They're all the nicest people you could ever want to meet & share a pint with. England, Europe, & the World itself is worse off with Pat's passing, and it's definitely Heaven's gain. I can only hope to see him there, with all the Angels (wearing black, speaking English just like me.....) one day.
Thanks again & have a fantastic weekend !!! JBC lives on !!!!
😇🎶🎸🎶😎
@gxv3351
Great stories. Thanks for sharing. Very fortunate - you and the JBC. I recall the first time I went to the UK and silly me (early 30s at the time) thought I would run into JBC fans everywhere. Visited 3-4 record stores and found 1 CD. Few San Diego shops had at least 4-5 different records. They were regulars in San Diego back in the day. Saw them a few times. Last time at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.
Lifelong fan and very sad to hear of Pat’s passing. Loved that they were also friends with The Woodentops. Love Max Eider’s solo stuff as well.
Take good care.