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/
barrett's privateers
The Men They Couldn't Hang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish I were in Sherbrooke now!
A letter of marque came from the King
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
God d them all! I was told
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
Oh Elcid Barratt cried the town,
For twenty brave men, all fishermen, who
Would make for him the Antelope's crew,
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight.
She'd a list to port and her sails in rags,
And a cook in the scuppers with staggers and jags.
On the King's birthday we put to sea.
We were ninety-one days to Montego bay,
Pumping like madmen all the way.
On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again.
When a b great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
The Yankee lay low down with gold.
She was broad and fat and loose in stays,
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
Then at length we stood two cables away.
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din,
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in.
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side.
Barratt was smashed like a bowl of eggs,
And the maintruck carried off both me legs.
So here I lay in my twenty-third year.
It's been six years since we sailed away,
And I just made Halifax yesterday.
The Men They Couldn't Hang's "Barrett's Privateers" is a ballad that tells the story of a privateer vessel that was commissioned by King George III to fight the Americans during the American Revolution. The singer of the song is one of the crew members of the vessel, and the lyrics describe the various events that occurred while they were at sea.
The song is set in the year 1778 and starts with the singer expressing his desire to be in Sherbrooke. This is most likely a reference to a town of the same name in Nova Scotia, Canada. The crew of the privateer vessel, consisting mostly of fishermen, was commissioned by a man named Elcid Barrett, who was looking for twenty brave men to join the crew of his sloop, the Antelope.
The Antelope was in bad shape, with a list to port, ragged sails, and a cook with "staggers and jags" in the scuppers. Despite these setbacks, the crew set off to sea on the King's birthday, hoping to find American gold. After ninety-one days of pumping water and sailing towards Montego Bay, they were faced with a bign Yankee vessel.
The battle lasted for two whole days, and the privateer crew was outgunned and overpowered. Their vessel, the Antelope, was shot through by a single fat ball from the Yankee. The ship shook and pitched on its side, leaving Barratt smashed and the singer with both his legs carried away by the main truck. The singer finally arrives in Halifax, six years after they set off to sea, to tell the tale.
Overall, the lyrics of "Barrett's Privateers" provide a vivid account of the struggles, dangers, and hardships that faced the crew of privateer vessels during this period. The song gives us a glimpse of the lives of common sailors and their experiences during times of war.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the year was seventeen seventy eight
The year was 1778.
I wish I were in Sherbrooke now!
I wish I was somewhere else at the present moment.
A letter of marque came from the King
The King provided a license for a private ship to attack enemy vessels.
To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen
The particular ship that was licensed was in poor condition.
God d them all! I was told
I was informed that we would capture American treasure.
We'd cruise the seas for American gold
We would sail around the ocean in search of American wealth.
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
We would refrain from using weapons and showing emotion.
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
I am now a damaged person situated in Halifax.
The last of Barratt's privateers.
I am the only surviving member of Barratt's privateers.
Oh Elcid Barratt cried the town,
Elcid Barratt was spoken of within the town.
For twenty brave men, all fishermen, who
He was looking for twenty brave fishermen.
Would make for him the Antelope's crew,
He wanted them to join the crew of the Antelope.
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight.
The Antelope was in terrible condition.
She'd a list to port and her sails in rags,
The ship was leaning to one side and its sails were tattered.
And a cook in the scuppers with staggers and jags.
There was a cook on board who was recklessly drunk.
On the King's birthday we put to sea.
We set sail on the King's birthday.
We were ninety-one days to Montego bay,
It took us 91 days to reach Montego bay.
Pumping like madmen all the way.
We were frantically pumping water out of the ship during the entire trip.
On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again.
We left again on the 96th day of our journey.
When a great Yankee hove in sight
We spotted a large Yankee ship.
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
We used our damaged cannons to prepare for battle.
The Yankee lay low down with gold.
The American ship was wealthy and travelling close to the water.
She was broad and fat and loose in stays,
The ship was wide with large cargo and difficult to steer.
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
It took us two days to finally catch up to the American ship.
Then at length we stood two cables away.
We were just two cable lengths from the Yankee.
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din,
We were creating loud, unpleasant noise with our damaged cannons.
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in.
The American vessel destroyed our ship with only one shot.
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side.
Our ship was badly damaged and uncontrollably listing to one side.
Barratt was smashed like a bowl of eggs,
Elcid Barratt was killed and no longer alive.
And the maintruck carried off both me legs.
As a result of the fight, I lost both of my legs.
So here I lay in my twenty-third year.
I am now 23 years old and incapacitated.
It's been six years since we sailed away,
It has been 6 years since the ill-fated voyage.
And I just made Halifax yesterday.
I only recently arrived in Halifax after numerous years away.
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paul Smeenis
on Ironmasters
Dunno what track 6 is but it sure isn't Ironmasters