The Men They Couldn't Hang (TMTCH) are a British rock band whose mixture of… Read Full Bio ↴The Men They Couldn't Hang (TMTCH) are a British rock band whose mixture of folk and punk is not dissimilar to that of The Pogues (in fact founder member Shanne Bradley was a member of Shane MacGowan's first band the Nipple Erectors), although they have not enjoyed the same commercial or critical success as MacGowan's group.
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/
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/
Greenback Dollar
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Greenback Dollar' by these artists:
Axton Hoyt Some people say I'm a no-'count Others say I'm no good But…
Barry McGuire Some people say I'm a no 'count. Others say I'm…
Barry McGuire & The Stars From The New Christy Minstrels Some people say I'm a no 'count. Others say I'm…
Henson Cargill Some people say I'm a no count others say I'm…
Hoyt Axton Some people say I'm a no-'count Others say I'm no good But…
Jim Croce Some people say I'm a no 'count Others say I'm no…
Johnny Rivers Some people say I'm a no-'count Others say I'm no good But…
Kingston Trio Some people say I'm a no-count Others say I'm no good But…
The Kingston Trio Some people say I'm a no-'count Others say I'm no good But…
Trini Lopez I've been a bad, bad girl I've been careless with a…
Weems String Band Over the hills and down in the holler, all I…
Woody Guthrie I don't want your greenback dollar I don't want your…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Men They Couldn't Hang:
A Night To Remember G C Am D It was a night to remember But I…
A Place in the Sun Seven weeks it rained, from June until July In August we…
barrett's privateers Oh the year was seventeen seventy eight I wish I were…
Billy Morgan Morgan, the man with no tan, comes in on the…
Bounty Hunter I stand as a witness to a jury and judge And…
Country Song Some of us are born to lead Some of us are…
Dancing on the Pier Pick me up at Seven O'Clock Down by the harbour lights We'…
Denis Law And Ali Macgraw Curly Wurlys, Aztec Bars Was There Really Life On Mars, Jump…
Dogs' Eyes Owl Meat and Man Chop A furnace bellowed from the range To scorch the winters chil…
Donald Where's Your Troosers? Just got in from the Isle of Skye I′m not very…
Dover Lights Waiting for morning on the ferry boat deck 5 miles…
Down All the Days The strongest will can't break the chain When summer skies …
El Vaquero + Instrumental…
Father's Wrong Come here little girl, Daddy wants to hold you Come here…
Ghosts of Cable Street England, 1936. The grip of the Sabbath day In London…
Grave-robbing In Gig Harbour 'Intro featuring Phoenix Crabbe' T'was August fair in gol…
Great Expectations Dear Joe, days keep ticking Only seven months left to go W…
Handy Man At the end of the Summer I found my choice…
Industrial Town Down in the valley, the valley so low Lay the town…
Ironmasters Oh this is an old story that's rarely ever told…
Island In The Rain I'll take a journey through the town to dock gate…
Jack Dandy Winter nineteen eighty one down at the station Sleeping ba…
Kingdom Of The Blind Came from a Northern city, Moved to Southern town Took the…
Life Of A Small Fry A wretched party stood and prayed Under the lashing rain an…
Mary's Present Mary got a present from an old friend It had been…
Midnight Train This train leaves when the sun goes down When the lights…
On The Razzle Just turned thirty, left work early Heading for the 'Grape a…
Parted From You An endless road of breathtaking sights Another town, anothe…
Rabid Underdog We left our aching hearts On that lonely pebbled shore In th…
Rain Steam And Speed One man drills a powder-hole the colour of a bruise One…
Rawhide She rollin′, rollin', rollin′ Though the streams are swollen…
Restless Highway We drove from San Sebastian to Frankfurt on the Main Watched…
Rosettes We were fifty strong when we left our town We took…
Scarlet Ribbons Wander throught the streets To the top of the town…
Shirt Of Blue Hey now Tommy have you got a new shirt Is it…
Silver Dagger Don't sing love songs, you'll wake my mother She's sleeping…
Smugglers The boat rides south of Ailsa Craig in the waning…
The Bells I was born to the sound of a ringing bell…
The Colours I am a member of the council of the naval…
The Crest I've nothing left to give you, but for one last…
The Eye Ever alert, do I make you feel safe Watching the city,…
The Family Way Been in jail for twenty years, It was twenty years…
The Ghosts Of Cable Street England, 1936. The grip of the Sabbath day In London…
The Green Fields Of France Well, how do you do, Private William McBride, Do you mind…
The Lion And The Unicorn Welcome friends from overseas I'm your guide I aim to pleas…
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Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters