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/
Life Of A Small Fry
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the lashing rain and thunder
The ropes fell through the handles, the coffin sloping under
The earth slipped through black fingers
At the graveside where she stooped
And an ill wind howling through her veil
For a man who served no good, he served no good
He never was an evil man, hard but fair, his mother said
In the showers and the rugby field, the bullies came to play
Most nights he'd weep and piss the bed
But he vowed they all would pay, they all would pay!
Like his father in the coldstream guards, he was soon in married quarters
Licked his way up through the ranks, he had no time for sons and daughters
She waits on him, the sweet young thing
Repenting at her leisure
Like a blinkered mount he charges on
How much longer is her tether
How how she laughed, while so lovingly she spurned him
For time had stole ungraciously all the dreams she'd been yearning
No joyous cries of children, is this marriage granite firm
It breaks his heart that seeds can't grow, from a bag of watered sperm
He joined the prison service, she broke the chains and left him
For the first time he was all alone, a demon's soul possessed him
An institute of misery, in a painful sea of darkness
And from inside his tortured mind, cruel, bleak and heartless
An angry mob was breaking out from the chokey cells and 'D' wing
Tonight the hard lags call me tune, come the dawn, no birds will sing
No more raining down the stick, a violent end draws nigh
No hope, no tears, no mercy, for the life of this small fry!
The Men They Couldn't Hang's song "Life of a Small Fry" is a powerful and emotional song that tells the story of a man's life from birth to death. The opening verse describes a funeral where an unworthy man is being buried. Despite the rain and the thunder, people still came to pray for him. The coffin sloped under the weight of his sins as the earth slipped through black fingers. The mourners, especially the woman at the graveside, were aware of his shortcomings, however, they were still compelled to come together to pray for his soul.
The following verses explore the life of this man, his struggles, and unfortunate choices. He was a timid youth who was bullied in school. He found solace in the military but had no time for his family. He was married, but his marriage was loveless, and he was left alone when his wife left him. This loneliness led him to take up a job in the prison service, where he became increasingly cruel and heartless. The song ends with a dramatic description of the man's violent end, where he is killed by the inmates he once controlled.
The lyrics of "Life of a Small Fry" are evocative and powerful, capturing the essence of the man's life and the emotions of those close to him. The song is driven by a sense of tragedy and regret, as well as anger and condemnation for the man's actions. It uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the story, painting a picture that is both bleak and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
A wretched party stood and prayed
A sad group of people gathered to pray
Under the lashing rain and thunder
In the midst of a storm
The ropes fell through the handles, the coffin sloping under
The ropes holding the coffin broke and it started to tilt
The earth slipped through black fingers
The dirt fell from the hands of someone who was burying someone else
At the graveside where she stooped
Where a woman was bent over a grave
And an ill wind howling through her veil
The sound of wind blowing through her clothing
For a man who served no good, he served no good
A person who did not do good things
He never was an evil man, hard but fair, his mother said
According to his mother, he was tough but just
A timid youth of ridicule, each schoolday made him quake with dread
As a young person, he was made fun of and afraid every day
In the showers and the rugby field, the bullies came to play
He was bullied in various settings
Most nights he'd weep and piss the bed
He would cry and wet the bed frequently
But he vowed they all would pay, they all would pay!
He made a promise that he would make them pay for their actions
Like his father in the coldstream guards, he was soon in married quarters
He followed in his father's footsteps and became a member of the military
Licked his way up through the ranks, he had no time for sons and daughters
He advanced his position through flattery and did not want children
She waits on him, the sweet young thing
A young woman who waited for him
Repenting at her leisure
She felt regret when she had free time
Like a blinkered mount he charges on
He moved forward without considering other options
How much longer is her tether
How much more can she handle before she reaches her limit
How she laughed, while so lovingly she spurned him
She rejected his advances in a cruel way
For time had stole ungraciously all the dreams she'd been yearning
Her dreams were taken away from her by the passage of time
No joyous cries of children, is this marriage granite firm
Their marriage was not strong because they did not have any children
It breaks his heart that seeds can't grow, from a bag of watered sperm
He is sad that they cannot have children
He joined the prison service, she broke the chains and left him
He took a job in the prison system while she broke free from their relationship
For the first time he was all alone, a demon's soul possessed him
He was alone for the first time in a long time and his mood turned dark
An institute of misery, in a painful sea of darkness
The prison where he worked was full of unhappiness and darkness
And from inside his tortured mind, cruel, bleak and heartless
His mind became dark and unfeeling
An angry mob was breaking out from the chokey cells and 'D' wing
Prisoners were rioting and trying to escape
Tonight the hard lags call me tune, come the dawn, no birds will sing
He was in control of the prisoners for the night and it would not end well
No more raining down the stick, a violent end draws nigh
He would not use his baton anymore and the situation was going to become violent
No hope, no tears, no mercy, for the life of this small fry!
This minor and insignificant person was not deserving of compassion or help
Contributed by Isaiah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters