Craig Reid and Charlie Reid were born in Leith, Scotland in 1962, and grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. After several punk rock bands at school they formed The Proclaimers in 1983.
The pair came to public attention when an Inverness based fan sent their demo to the British band The Housemartins, who were impressed enough to invite The Proclaimers on their 1986 UK tour. The exposure of the tour won them a January 1987 appearance on the British pop music television programme The Tube on Channel Four; "Letter from America" peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, whilst the album This is the Story went gold. The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way". They had a hit with their EP King of the Road, which reached number 9 in UK in 1990.
In March 2007 they recorded a new version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" with television comedy characters Andy Pipkin (played by Matt Lucas) and Brian Potter (Peter Kay) for the Comic Relief charity. A long list of celebrities were featured in the music video for this new version, including David Bellamy, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Paul O'Grady, David Tennant, Frank Sidebottom and many more. This new version of the song reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.
The band was one of The B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything.
The brothers are fans of Hibernian Football Club, and "Sunshine on Leith" has become a theme song for the club, being played at home matches for important fixtures, such as the Edinburgh derby versus Heart of Midlothian FC, the club's city rivals. Charlie and Craig Reid appeared at their Easter Road stadium for the 'Hands Off Hibs' campaign in 1990 when Wallace Mercer, a wealthly Edinburgh businessman with direct connections to Hearts FC, attempted a takeover of the club but was defeated by fan pressure.
They are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party, expressing such views during their promotional tour of Britain in March 2007. However in April 2007 Charlie Reid announced that he had switched his allegiance to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest at the Scottish National Party's receipt of funding from big business. Many of their songs reflect their political views, such as "Letter from America" and "Cap in Hand".
On 16 May 2006 the twins announced their participation in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey, from his death row sentence in Ohio, including an appearance at a charity concert. Also, in 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show supporting Reprieve, charity that fights the death penalty. The Proclaimers also support other charities such as The Lighthouse Foundation (addiction victims), AICR (cancer research), Drake Music Scotland (help disabled people through music) or 500 miles (amputees or disabled people in Africa).
Cap In Hand
The Proclaimers Lyrics
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I got some 'O' Grades when I was sixteen.
I can tell the difference 'tween margerine and butter,
I can say "Saskatchewan" without starting to stutter.
But I can't understand why we lets someone else rule our land
Cap in Hand
I know its evening when day turns to night.
I can understand why Stranraer lie so lowly,
They could save a lot of points by signing Hibs Goalie.
But I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land,
Cap in Hand.
We fight - When they ask us.
We boast - Then we cower.
We beg
for a piece of
what's already ours.
Once I thought I could make God a bribe,
So I said I was in his lost tribe.
Getting handouts can be so frustrating,
"Get in line son, there's five million waiting."
I can't understand why you let someone else rule your land,
You're Cap in Hand
In The Proclaimer's song Cap In Hand, the lyrics talk about the singer's abilities to do certain things like knowing the meaning of a word like serene, understanding the differences between margarine and butter, and being able to say the word "Saskatchewan" without stuttering. However, the singer cannot understand why his country lets someone else rule it, hence the phrase "Cap in Hand". The song discusses the idea of how people fight for their country but still let someone else rule it. The lyrics also talk about issues like unemployment and fighting for what is rightfully theirs.
Throughout the song, the lyrics show how the singer is capable of doing a lot of things but doesn’t understand why his country lets someone else rule it. The lyrics even mention how the singer can get a broken jaw from being in a fight. This line may convey the idea that although the people of the country are willing to fight physically, they don’t fight for their right to rule their own land. The song discusses the irony of people fighting for their country but still let someone else rule it. The phrase "Cap in Hand" emphasizes the idea of subservience and submitting to someone else's authority.
Overall, the lyrics of The Proclaimer's song Cap In Hand reveal the singer's confusion regarding their country's governance. They demonstrate how the people fight and sometimes even boast about their country, but still let someone else rule it. The song highlights the irony in the actions of the people and questions why they are letting someone else rule them.
Line by Line Meaning
I could tell the meaning of a word like serene
I have a good vocabulary and can understand the definition of complex words
I got some 'O' Grades when I was sixteen
I received some good grades in my exams when I was sixteen
I can tell the difference 'tween margerine and butter
I am able to distinguish between margarine and butter
I can say 'Saskatchewan' without starting to stutter
I can pronounce the name 'Saskatchewan' without any difficulty
But I can't understand why we lets someone else rule our land
Despite having knowledge and skills, I am unable to comprehend why we allow outsiders to govern our country
Cap in Hand
Feeling powerless or submissive to someone
I could get a broken jaw from being in a fight
I am aware of the risks involved in getting into fights, including physical injury
I know its evening when day turns to night
I am familiar with the daily cycle of day turning into night
I can understand why Stranraer lie so lowly
I have knowledge of the sporting world and can comprehend why a certain team may not be performing well
They could save a lot of points by signing Hibs Goalie
I am able to suggest a solution to the team's problem by proposing they sign a better goalkeeper
We fight - When they ask us.
We are willing to defend our country when called upon to do so
We boast - Then we cower.
We talk big but back down when confronted with a challenge
We beg
for a piece of
what's already ours.
We are reduced to begging for what rightfully belongs to us
Once I thought I could make God a bribe,
So I said I was in his lost tribe.
At some point, I considered attempting to bribe God by claiming to be part of a lost tribe
Getting handouts can be so frustrating,
'Get in line son, there's five million waiting.'
It is frustrating to rely on handouts, especially when there are so many others in need
I can't understand why you let someone else rule your land,
You're Cap in Hand
I cannot comprehend why people would allow outsiders to govern their country and become subservient to them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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"Lower set of lips" is not making reference to lips on the face, but those in the lower part of her body.