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 Lion And The Unicorn
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm your guide I aim to please
I know what you want from me
Sights and smiles and history
I'll take you down to the Underground
Tha's where the spirit of the Blitz is found
Hear those sirens over your head?
See that platform, thats your bed
(Chorus)
Who went mad, who drowned in drink?
Who's in a cage and who's extinct?
Who ended up in a uniform?
The Lion and The Unicorn
Here's the church there's the steeple
Open it up where are the people?
Thinking up ways to take your dough
By deal or scheme or unseen blow
Now out to the shires where the towns are quaint
We spruced them up with a coat of paint
That white paint don't cover up dirt
Bandages don't cover up hurt
(Chorus)
I'll tell you tales of kings and sailors
Puritans, outlaws, thieves and traitors
Show you round the land we made
Whisper something we betrayed
So where's the hope, where's the reason?
Poisoned by the years of treason
Where's the justice where's the grace?
Disappeared without a trace
(Chorus X2)
The Men They Couldn't Hang's "The Lion and The Unicorn" is a satirical commentary on Britain's history and society as seen from the perspective of a tour guide. The guide presents a sanitised version of the country, full of sights, smiles, and history that the tourists expect to see, but also takes them to the Underground where the spirit of the Blitz is found. The Underground was where Londoners took shelter during the German bombing raids of World War II, and the line "See that platform, that's your bed" is a reminder of the suffering and hardship that the British people endured during the war.
In the chorus, the guide asks a series of rhetorical questions that highlight the darker side of British history. Some people went mad, others drowned in drink, some ended up in a uniform, and some became extinct. The Lion and The Unicorn, symbols of the British monarchy, are also referenced, suggesting that even the most powerful figures in society are not immune to the negative consequences of history.
The second verse takes a critical look at the British church and the people who run it. While the guide presents the church as a place for people to come together, it is actually a place where people think up ways to take your money through deal or scheme or unseen blow. The shires, or rural areas of Britain, are also presented in a similar way, with the guide pointing out that the towns are quaint but that the white paint used to spruce them up doesn't cover up the dirt.
The final verse touches on a range of historical figures, from kings and sailors to outlaws and traitors. While the guide is eager to show off the land that the British people made, they also whisper something we betrayed. The questions "Where's the hope, where's the reason?" suggest a loss of faith in the country's ability to do better, with justice and grace having disappeared without a trace.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome friends from overseas
Greetings to those who come from other lands
I'm your guide I aim to please
I'm your leader, and I want you to have a good time
I know what you want from me
I know what you expect from me as a guide
Sights and smiles and history
You want to see famous sights, take pleasant photos, and learn about the past
I'll take you down to the Underground
I'll bring you to the London Underground
Tha's where the spirit of the Blitz is found
That's where the memories and emotions of the London Blitz are present
Hear those sirens over your head?
Can you hear the sound of the emergency alarms above you?
See that platform, thats your bed
Your accommodations are a transport platform that was used as a shelter during the Blitz
Who went mad, who drowned in drink?
Who lost their mind, and who drank themselves to death?
Who's in a cage and who's extinct?
Who's imprisoned, and who doesn't exist anymore?
Who ended up in a uniform?
Who was drafted into service?
The Lion and The Unicorn
These are symbols representing Great Britain
Here's the church there's the steeple
This is the location of the church and its steeple
Open it up where are the people?
Why aren't there any people present?
Thinking up ways to take your dough
They're considering means of taking your money
By deal or scheme or unseen blow
They'll take it by way of a transaction, a ploy, or an unseen attack
Now out to the shires where the towns are quaint
Travel from the city to the rural villages where the atmosphere is charming
We spruced them up with a coat of paint
The towns were redesigned and renovated with a fresh coat of paint
That white paint don't cover up dirt
Despite the paint, the underlying problems still persist
Bandages don't cover up hurt
Just like a Band-Aid can't completely hide an injury
I'll tell you tales of kings and sailors
I'll narrate stories of monarchs and mariners
Puritans, outlaws, thieves and traitors
I'll also discuss the history of Puritans, criminals, and traitorous individuals
Show you round the land we made
I'll provide a tour of the country that we built
Whisper something we betrayed
I'll mention some instances where we committed an act of betrayal
So where's the hope, where's the reason?
So where's the optimism, where's the justification?
Poisoned by the years of treason
We've been negatively affected by years of betrayal
Where's the justice where's the grace?
Where's the fairness, where's the kindness?
Disappeared without a trace
They've vanished without a trace
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters