The original group consisted of Stefan Cush (Vocals, Guitar), Paul Simmonds (Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Keyboards), Phil "Swill" Odgers (Vocals, Guitar, Tin Whistle, Melodica), Jon Odgers (Drums, Percussion) and Shanne Bradley (Bass, Flute).
Their first single, "The Green Fields of France", was released in 1984. Written by Eric Bogle (of 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' fame), the song's protagonist imagined having a conversation with one of the fallen soldiers of World War I whilst sitting by his graveside. The song received considerable airplay on the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1 and finished at No.3 in Peel's Festive 50 for that year.
The following year came TMTCH's debut album, 'The Night of a Thousand Candles' and its accompanying single "Ironmasters" - this time a self-penned number by main songwriter Simmonds, linking the Industrial Revolution to the present-day treatment of the working class. The original final line of the song - "and oh, that iron bastard, she still gets her way" (a reference to the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) had to be removed for the single version to ensure radio airplay.
In 1985 the band signed for MCA records and released "How Green Is The Valley". The record included "Ghosts Of Cable Street" a political number concerning The Battle of Cable Street in 1936 and "Shirt Of Blue" which regarded the miners' strike of 1984-5 . At the end of promotion for the album Shanne Bradley was replaced on bass by Ricky McGuire (ex UK Subs ).
In 1987 the band switched to Magnet Records and the new record released was, what may fans consider their best "Waiting For Bonaparte". Once again the strongest songs were stories of historical origin. "The Colours" told of an English mutineer sailor during the Napoleonic War and "The Crest" a stretcher bearer during World War II. Sadly whilst "The Colours" was at no.61 in the British top 75 it was blacklisted by Radio 1 due to the line "You've Come Here To Watch Me Hang", which echoed the events happening in South African townships at the time.
In 1988 the band were on the move again and signed for new label Silvertone (who later put out The Stone Roses debut release). Highlights of "Silvertown" included "Rain, Steam and Speed", "A Place In The Sun" and "A Map Of Morocco". They followed this up in 1990 with "The Domino Club" , which had a more conventional rock sound dispensing with much of the folk element in their sound.
Surprisingly the band split in 1991 after releasing a live set "Alive, Alive-0". Paul Simmonds and "Swill" Odgers then formed Liberty Cage who released an album "Sleep Of The Just" in 1994 and an EP "I'll Keep It With Mine" in 1995.
To the delight of their fans the band reformed (minus drummer Jon Odgers who had become Therapy? drum technician). Their new cd was "Never Born To Follow", released on the Demon label in 1996. The following year the band released the mini-album "Six Pack". Two "Best Of" collections followed "Majestic Grill" and "The Mud, The Blood And The Beer" both 1998.
The band again withdrew into semi retirement during which Odgers and Simmonds again relased new material together, "Baby Fishlips" in 1999 and "Folk At The Fortress" in 2002.
The band released a brand new cd in 2003 "The Cherry Red Jukebox", which most fans agreed was a real return to form. In 2005 the band released a DVD to celebrate 21 years together "21 Years Of Love And Hate". This was later released as a live double CD "Smugglers and Bounty Hunters". The band continue to play occasional live concerts. Their next planned release is an acoustic folk orientated cd, including reworking of several popular old songs from their back catalogue.
During breaks from the band "Swill" Odgers has released two Cd's with his band "The Swaggerband" which includes Ricky McGuire and Jon Odgers plus lyrical contribution from Paul Simmonds. They are "The Day After" in 2004 and "Elvis Lives Here" on Irregular Records in 2006.
Official Website http://www.tmtch.net/
A Night To Remember
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was a night to remember
But I guess I just forgot
When I counted out my blessings
I found I was one short
And as the evening passed me by
I never realised the time
So don't pass me by
Don't say you're going away
Don't say goodbye
When you promised that you'd stay
Oh I was always the one
Who would turn on my knee
I thought that I had changed
But I guess I made a mistake
Oh and everybody told me
You'd be my downfall in the end
Now it looks as though I've lost my only friend
So don't pass me by
Don't say you're going away
Don't say goodbye
When you promised that you'd stay
Oh they say time will tell
But time tell me why
Why I feel so lonely
I think its time I'll die
Oh and everybody told me
You'd be my downfall in the end
But now it looks as though I've lost my only friend
So don't pass me by
Don't say you're going away
Don't say goodbye
When you promised that you'd stay
The Men They Couldn't Hang's "A Night To Remember" is a mournful song about the regret and longing felt by the singer after a missed opportunity to spend time with someone they care about. The opening line, "It was a night to remember, but I guess I just forgot," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer reflects on the fact that they had been blessed with good times, but they let one slip by. They were so caught up in the moment that they didn't realize how important it was to be with this person. Now, they are left feeling lonely and regretful.
The lines, "Oh and everybody told me, You'd be my downfall in the end," suggest that there may have been warnings about this person in the past, but the singer chose to ignore them. The heartbreak and loss that they feel is evident in the final lines of the song when they plead with the person not to leave and to keep their promise to stay.
Overall, "A Night To Remember" is a melancholic reminder to take advantage of the special moments in life and cherish the people who bring joy and meaning to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a night to remember
The singer had a memorable experience on a particular night
But I guess I just forgot
The singer did not remember the experience until later on
When I counted out my blessings
The singer reflected on all the good things in their life
I found I was one short
Despite having many blessings, the artist realized that they were missing something important
And as the evening passed me by
The artist did not pay attention to the passing of time
I never realised the time
The singer was not aware of how much time had passed
I guess I must have let you slip my mind
The singer forgot about someone important to them
So don't pass me by
The artist does not want to be ignored or forgotten
Don't say you're going away
The artist does not want someone to leave them
Don't say goodbye
The artist does not want to be parted from someone important to them
When you promised that you'd stay
The singer expected someone to keep a commitment to them
Oh I was always the one
The artist used to be in a particular role or position
Who would turn on my knee
The singer used to show deference or loyalty to someone
I thought that I had changed
The singer believed that they had grown or evolved in some way
But I guess I made a mistake
The singer was wrong about their own personal growth
Oh and everybody told me
Other people warned the artist about someone or something
You'd be my downfall in the end
The person that others warned the artist about ended up causing them harm or trouble
Now it looks as though I've lost my only friend
The singer has suffered a great loss
Oh they say time will tell
Others believe that time will reveal the truth about a situation
But time tell me why
The artist does not understand why they feel a certain way despite the passing of time
Why I feel so lonely
The artist is experiencing a deep sense of isolation and sadness
I think its time I'll die
The artist is so overwhelmed by their emotions that they are considering suicide
But now it looks as though I've lost my only friend
The singer reiterates the fact that they have suffered a great loss
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters