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/
Jack Dandy
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleeping bag and sixty three pounds heading for waterloo station
Last night I shook my fathers hand told him I was leaving
But as the train goes past the docks my heart stays unbelieving
Sometimes I wish I was rich
Sometimes I wish that I was dead
Sometimes I wish that I was back on the train
But I'm strutting with the cats
Running with the dogs
Drinking down the poison to the bottom of the dregs
Looking for the secret of the little white bags
Sometimes I wish I was rich
Sometimes I wish that I was dead
Sometimes I wish that I was back on the train
Sometimes I wish that I was home again
But I'm strutting with the cats
Running with the dogs
Drinking down the poison to the bottom of the dregs
Looking for the secret of the little white bags
All the friends I left behind die slowly on the dole
The factory on the big estate has swallowed my best friend whole
Now I'm living in a hammersmith squat watching an old TV
On the screen the days go by and never stop for me
Sometimes I wish I was rich
Sometimes I wish that I was dead
Sometimes I wish that I was back on the train
Sometimes I wish that I was home again
But I'm strutting with the cats
Running with the dogs
Drinking down the poison to the bottom of the dregs
Looking for the secret of the little white bags
The Men They Couldn't Hang's song Jack Dandy is a tale of a young man leaving his life behind and heading to the big city in search of adventure. The lyrics depict a sense of restlessness and wandering, as the singer finds himself living in a squat in Hammersmith and seeking out the "secret of the little white bags." He reflects on his decision to leave his old life behind, but also struggles with feelings of regret and homesickness.
The song paints a vivid picture of the rough and tumble world of London in the early 1980s, with references to sleeping rough at a train station, running with dogs and cats, and drinking "poison to the bottom of the dregs." It also touches on the harsh realities of life for those left behind in the singer's hometown, with references to friends dying slowly on the dole and a factory swallowing up a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Winter nineteen eighty one down at the station
In the winter of 1981, I found myself at the station.
Sleeping bag and sixty three pounds heading for waterloo station
I had a sleeping bag and only 63 pounds with me as I headed towards Waterloo station.
Last night I shook my fathers hand told him I was leaving
The night before, I said goodbye to my father and told him I was leaving.
But as the train goes past the docks my heart stays unbelieving
Even though the train passed the docks, I couldn't shake off my disbelief and uncertainty about leaving.
Sometimes I wish I was rich
At times, I wish I had wealth.
Sometimes I wish that I was dead
Occasionally, death seems like a preferable option to my present circumstances.
Sometimes I wish that I was back on the train
I occasionally long to return to my journey on the train.
Sometimes I wish that I was home again
I sometimes desire to be back in the comfort of my home.
But I'm strutting with the cats
Despite my desires, I am currently living boldly like the street cats.
Running with the dogs
I am also running wild with dogs.
Drinking down the poison to the bottom of the dregs
I am consuming the poison of life, all the way to the bottom of it all.
Looking for the secret of the little white bags
I am searching for the secrets that lie within the little white bags.
All the friends I left behind die slowly on the dole
All the friends I left behind are struggling and barely surviving on welfare.
The factory on the big estate has swallowed my best friend whole
My best friend has been consumed by the factory on the estate.
Now I'm living in a hammersmith squat watching an old TV
Currently, I am living in a Hammersmith squat and spending my time watching an old TV.
On the screen the days go by and never stop for me
The television screen shows how the days continue to pass me by, never stopping for me.
Contributed by Jake J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters