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/
Great Expectations
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only seven months left to go
We'll spark the town when you get out
Good things keep happening for me
Some magazine wants
To pulish my story
All about us and the
Time we hitch-hiked south
We had big dreams, new sensations, Great Expectations...
Hey kid, thanks for the letter
I've been a bit down
But I'm getting better
Prison is hell but
I've been to places worse
A guy in my cell knows
The 'Crown' in Redditich
We're working on a scheme
That'll make us all rich
Strictly legal but
We've got to see you first
Before the bubble burst...
We've got big dreams,
Don't you know we've got,
New sensations,
Great Expectations
Dear Joe, no need to worry
I found that money like you asked me
I hope you know what you're doing, boy
There's some things
That I didn't tell you
I'm seeing this girl
From Sherman Avenue
That magazine wrote back,
They want to employ me
Big dreams, new sensations,
Great Expectations
Hey kid, you won't regret it
I owed you plenty, now I'm indebted
Couple more months and I'll
Be back in the Game
I've got an idea to start a company
Fish 'n' Chip shops in
Greece and Hungary
We can think big,
We can't stay the same
There's got be changes...
We've got big dreams,
Dreaming all about, new sensations,
Great Expectations
The Men They Couldn't Hang's song Great Expectations is a poignant story of two friends, Joe and the singer, who have big dreams and great expectations for their lives. The song is told through a series of letters written by the two friends. Joe is in prison, and the singer is on the outside, living his life and dreaming of the day when his friend will be free. Despite the hardships that they face, both men hold onto their dreams and believe that they can make something of themselves.
The first verse sets the scene for the song, with the singer informing Joe that there are only seven months left until he is released. The singer has good news to share too – a magazine wants to publish his story about their hitch-hiking adventure in the south. The two friends had big dreams and great expectations, and the singer is excited to share their story with the world.
In the second verse, Joe responds to the singer's letter, thanking him for his support and telling him about life in prison. Joe is down but getting better, and he has a plan to make some money legally, with the help of a fellow inmate. However, Joe needs to see his friend before he can make any moves. They both still have big dreams and great expectations, and Joe is ready to take on the world once he's released.
The chorus ties the song together, with the two friends dreaming of new sensations and great expectations. Despite the obstacles they face, they remain optimistic and believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Overall, The Men They Couldn't Hang's Great Expectations is a touching and uplifting song about friendship, dreams, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Joe, days keep ticking
The writer is writing to Joe, telling him that time is passing by quickly.
Only seven months left to go
The writer reminds Joe of the duration Joe has to spend in prison.
We'll spark the town when you get out
The writer plans to celebrate when Joe is released from prison.
Good things keep happening for me
The writer tells Joe that things are going well for him.
Some magazine wants
The writer got an offer from a magazine.
To publish my story
The offer is to print the writer's story.
All about us and the
The story is about the writer and Joe.
Time we hitch-hiked south
The story is about the time when they traveled down south by hitch-hiking.
We had big dreams, new sensations, Great Expectations...
The writer reminisces about the past when he and Joe had big dreams and great expectations.
Hey kid, thanks for the letter
Joe responds to the writer's earlier letter and shows his appreciation for it.
I've been a bit down
Joe lets the writer know that he's been feeling sad lately.
But I'm getting better
Joe is optimistic about things getting better.
Prison is hell but
Joe talks about his current state in prison.
I've been to places worse
Joe tells the writer that he's been through worse situations.
A guy in my cell knows
Joe talks about a person in his cell who knows something important.
The 'Crown' in Redditich
The person in Joe's cell knows about something called the 'Crown' in Redditich.
We're working on a scheme
Joe and the person in his cell are working on a plan.
That'll make us all rich
The plan has the potential to make them all wealthy.
Strictly legal but
Joe assures the writer that the plan is legal.
We've got to see you first
Joe wants to talk to the writer before moving forward with the plan.
Before the bubble burst...
Joe wants to execute the plan before it's too late.
We've got big dreams,
Joe shares his and the person in his cell's ambitions with the writer.
Don't you know we've got,
Joe asks the writer if he knows how grand their plans are.
New sensations,
Joe and his cellmate are excited about new experiences they will have with the money earned from the plan.
Great Expectations
Joe and his cellmate have high hopes for their futures.
Dear Joe, no need to worry
The writer reassures Joe about a matter.
I found that money like you asked me
The writer informs Joe about finding the money he had asked for.
I hope you know what you're doing, boy
The writer expresses concern over Joe's plans.
There's some things
The writer says that there are some things he didn't mention earlier.
That I didn't tell you
The writer withheld some information from Joe.
I'm seeing this girl
The writer tells Joe about dating someone new.
From Sherman Avenue
The writer reveals where the girl he's seeing is from.
That magazine wrote back,
The writer updates Joe on the magazine's response.
They want to employ me
The magazine wants to give the writer a job.
Big dreams, new sensations,
The writer dreams of new experiences and achievements.
Great Expectations
The writer has high hopes for his future.
Hey kid, you won't regret it
Joe responds positively to the writer's plans.
I owed you plenty, now I'm indebted
Joe acknowledges that he owes the writer a lot.
Couple more months and I'll
Joe anticipates his imminent release from prison.
Be back in the Game
Joe plans to resume his life when he is released.
I've got an idea to start a company
Joe has a plan to start a new business.
Fish 'n' Chip shops in
Joe wants to start a business that sells fish and chips.
Greece and Hungary
The writer tells Joe where to start the business.
We can think big,
Joe believes he and the writer can have large goals for the business.
We can't stay the same
Joe doesn't want to continue with the old way of living.
There's got be changes...
Joe is ready for changes in his life.
Dreaming all about, new sensations,
The writer continues to dream of new experiences and sensations.
Great Expectations
The writer still has high hopes for his future.
Contributed by Tyler R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters