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/
Rain Steam And Speed
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One man sounds the bugle and another one lights the fuse
Blow up! Pick and shovel it! Carry the earth away
Brains and brawn with hammers drawn blasting through the day
Rain is the cold
Steam is the burn
Speed is the way the world turns (round)
Draughtsmen and surveyors work at pegging out the shaft
Ten of us to breathe the dust, ten to do the graft
Underneath the Pennine range the bodies lie in racks
40 miles of steel and tile follow in their tracks
Some men build a monument
Some men build a tomb
Some men move the world around
To give them breathing room
Some men carve a statue
Of Isambard Brunel
Some men carved a tunnel into hell
Soon they′ll build a tunnel under England through to France
Will it make the tide run quicker? Will the flow of trade advance?
Underneath the ocean there is limestone, chalk and sand
But coming up through virgin rock will be the human hand!
The Men They Couldn't Hang's song "Rain Steam And Speed" is a song about the history of the development of the railway system, specifically the building of the railway line between Manchester and Sheffield in the UK. The song describes the work and effort that went into the building of this line, from the men who drilled the powder holes, blew up the earth with pick and shovel, and blasted through the day with hammers drawn, to the draughtsmen and surveyors who pegged out the shaft.
The lyrics also reference the bodies that lay underneath the Pennine range, as the building of the railway line disturbed the resting place of many people. The song refers to the different ways in which men leave their mark upon the world, whether it be by building a monument or carving a statue, or by moving the world around to give them breathing room. The reference to Isambard Brunel, a famous British architect and engineer, highlights the importance of the railway system in British history.
Line by Line Meaning
One man drills a powder-hole the colour of a bruise
One person works on digging a hole for blasting, which is deep and dark.
One man sounds the bugle and another one lights the fuse
One person blows the bugle as a signal to ignite the fuse, whereas another person lights the fuse.
Blow up! Pick and shovel it! Carry the earth away
Explode the rock and soil, dig and scoop the debris, and take it away from the site.
Brains and brawn with hammers drawn blasting through the day
People with intelligence and physical strength working with their hammers, constantly blasting and breaking up the materials.
Rain is the cold
Rain represents a cold and harsh reality.
Steam is the burn
Steam arises from the heat and burn of the fire.
Speed is the way the world turns (round)
Speed keeps the world moving and progressing, similar to the way it rotates.
Draughtsmen and surveyors work at pegging out the shaft
Professional workers measure and mark out the mining shaft.
Ten of us to breathe the dust, ten to do the graft
Half of the workers breathe in the dust from their labor, while the other half work without breathing in dust.
Underneath the Pennine range the bodies lie in racks
Dead bodies are stored in racks deep under the Pennine mountains.
40 miles of steel and tile follow in their tracks
The site stretches 40 miles long and has steel frames and tiles installed.
Some men build a monument, some men build a tomb
Some people build things to honor their accomplishments, while others build things to honor their deaths.
Some men move the world around, to give them breathing room
Some people alter the world to create space for themselves to thrive.
Some men carve a statue of Isambard Brunel
Some people sculpt a statue of the famous engineer Isambard Brunel.
Some men carved a tunnel into hell
Some people built a tunnel that feels like it's going to hell.
Soon they'll build a tunnel under England through to France
They will soon construct a tunnel that passes under both England and France.
Will it make the tide run quicker? Will the flow of trade advance?
Will the tunnel increase the speed of transportation and augment the economy?
Underneath the ocean there is limestone, chalk and sand
The seabed consists of limestone, chalk, and sand.
But coming up through virgin rock will be the human hand!
However, regardless of the difficult and unexplored terrain, humans will be able to tunnel through using their own strength and determination.
Writer(s): Stefan Cush, Jon Odgers, Paul Simmonds, Phil Odgers
Contributed by Claire A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
fiona logan
This band never got even a tenth of the credit they deserve. Brilliant.
scodee
Super stuff.. the most under estimated band..EVER !!
ScottMcLean11
...60 is far too young...very, very sad...rest in peace, Stefan Cush😢 and thank you for deades of wonderful lyrics and boundless spirit of freedom.
Phoebe Summers
Love this. I can't believe I haven't listened to these people properly.
Benoit Vanhees
The unhangables master piece ! The whole CD is top notch, and very enjoyable to play on the violin. I've invented a second line, that nicely intertwines with the band's fiddler. Very much fun, and technically easier than let's say Charlie Daniels wizardry ! I also like this clip in glorious B&W very much ! 9,5/10 this one !
Lewis Paleto
yes another TMTCH classic... love this band...
Nobby
sadly a much ignored band BUT still great!Long live the men they couldnt hang!
Iancoxesvideos
One of the best bands ever !!
jimthefin
Some men build a monument some men build a tomb some men move the world around to give them breathing room some men carve a statue of Isambard Brunel Some men carve a tunnel into hell Soon they'll build a tunnel under England through to France Will it make the tide run quicker? Will the flow of trade advance? Underneath the ocean there is limestone, chalk and sand But coming up through virgin rock will be the human hand!
playgirlc
they're still doing gigs as well (although i havent seen them play in years!!) - google them and check them out - i love tmtch!!