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/
Rabid Underdog
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On that lonely pebbled shore
In the cold sea breath
And the light of the winters sun
I'll see you when we're both
A wee bit older
To drink and boast the things
I've never done,
Sulphur over France
Like Trostre and Port Talbot
Works back home
And were all the girls bowled over,
By the handsome dashing soldiers
Who took an early bath at the Somme?
I never dreamt of home
In the bars of Amsterdam
My head was wild in the light
Of the winters sun
I was stoned out of my face,
And at one with the human race
In the company of policemen
Armed with guns
Stop the people's dance
The proles and paupers dance
From the Berlin wall
To the battlefields of France
All good people hide your shame,
For you know who takes the blame
Tommorrow they won't get another chance
Squandered all my guilders,
And my deutchmarks I had none
In Zurich I was milked
Of all my Francs
A timbered bar I staggered in,
By the wall in West Berlin
The barman looks and shoots
A steely glance
"Are you a friend
Of the British Government? "
I proudly reply "Not a chance!"
Das is good he says with cheer,
And fills me up with beer
Tonight we're going to celebrate the dance!
The Men They Couldn't Hang's song, "Rabid Underdog" tells a story about a man who leaves his home and aches to see his loved one once he has grown old. He pictures their meeting on a lonely pebbled shore in the midst of the cold sea breath and the light of the winters sun. The song alludes to a chemical plant that belches sulphur in France, which is reminiscent of the similar factories back home. The singer wonders if the handsome dashing soldiers who took an early bath at the Somme won over all the girls. The song shifts to the singer's experience in Amsterdam, where he has let go of his dreams of home and is at one with the human race in the light of the winters sun, stoned out of his face, and in the company of policemen armed with guns. He sees the dance of the proles and paupers, from the Berlin wall to the battlefields of France, and implores good people to hide their shame because they know who takes the blame. The singer's story ends in a timbered bar in West Berlin, where he is milked of all his francs and is asked if he is a friend of the British government. "Not a chance!" he replies, and the barman fills him up with beer. They celebrate the dance tonight, and the singer is free.
The song lyrics have a melancholic tone and tell a story of freedom sought by escaping from the past and indulging in the present. The singer's journey to escape the disillusionment of his homeland, his struggle to find his place in the world, the emotional pull of his past and loved ones, and his eventual acceptance of his fate are all illustrated. The song has a political and social context, as reflected in the references to the chemical plants in France, the soldiers at the Somme, the proles and paupers dance, and the Berlin wall.
Line by Line Meaning
We left our aching hearts
We departed from that sea shore with our hearts in anguish.
On that lonely pebbled shore
On the shore, which was full of pebbles and solitude.
In the cold sea breath
Taking in the cold air with the scent of the sea.
And the light of the winters sun
Looking at the winter sun shining in the distance.
I'll see you when we're both
I'll meet you when we get older.
A wee bit older
When we are a little bit older and wiser.
To drink and boast the things
To reminisce old times with a drink in hand.
I've never done,
All the things that I've never done in life.
A chemical plant belching
The sight of a plant producing smoke and fumes.
Sulphur over France
The chemical fumes covering the air in France.
Like Trostre and Port Talbot
Similar to the towns of Trostre and Port Talbot.
Works back home
Factories located in my hometown.
And were all the girls bowled over,
Did all the ladies swoon for the handsome and brave soldiers?
By the handsome dashing soldiers
By the charming and bold military men.
Who took an early bath at the Somme?
The soldiers who died during the Somme battle, did they give up too easily?
I never dreamt of home
I didn't think much about my homeland.
In the bars of Amsterdam
Drinking in Amsterdam's bars.
My head was wild in the light
I was caught up in the moment, with the sun shining on me.
Of the winters sun
The sun shining on me in the cold winter.
I was stoned out of my face,
I had taken drugs and was very high.
And at one with the human race
I felt as though I was at one with all people.
In the company of policemen
Being close with the local officers.
Armed with guns
Well-armed officers with guns.
Stop the people's dance
Prevent the people from dancing and enjoying themselves.
The proles and paupers dance
The working class and poor people enjoy dancing.
From the Berlin wall
Starting from the infamous Berlin Wall.
To the battlefields of France
Extending all the way to the war fields of France.
All good people hide your shame,
People with good intention should not be ashamed.
For you know who takes the blame
Because you're aware of who's accountable.
Tommorrow they won't get another chance
Those who are to blame won't get another chance tomorrow.
Squandered all my guilders,
I wasted all of my guilders.
And my deutchmarks I had none
I had no German marks to spare.
In Zurich I was milked
In Zurich, I was taken advantage of financially.
Of all my Francs
All my francs were also taken.
A timbered bar I staggered in,
I walked into a tavern made of timber, stumbling.
By the wall in West Berlin
Located by a wall in West Berlin.
The barman looks and shoots
The bartender gave me an intense look.
A steely glance
With a serious and intense glare.
Are you a friend
Are you affiliated with
Of the British Government?
The British Government?
I proudly reply
I responded confidently.
Not a chance!
Certainly not!
Das is good he says with cheer,
The bartender responded positively.
And fills me up with beer
And gave me more beer.
Tonight we're going to celebrate the dance!
Tonight, we will celebrate and dance!
Contributed by Austin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters