Band leader Harvey was born in Glasgow, Scotland 1935. During the fifties he played in many different Jazz bands playing Dixieland Jazz and later skiffle.
In 1959 he formed the Alex Harvey Soul Band playing Blues and rock n Roll music. Although a successful stint in Hamburg completed, Harvey found it difficult finding recognition with the ‘Soul Band’ and through the second half of the sixties Alex with his brother Les Harvey moved from one group to another until 1969 when he took up as a resident musician in the stage show of ‘Hair’.
In 1972 Alex joined forces with Scottish up and coming rockers ‘Tear Gas’. The band with Alex at the helm changed names to “The Sensational Alex Harvey Band”. The Sensational Alex Harvey Shows were noted for their theatrical content and idiosyncratic style of delivery. The music influences varied greatly. From blues to music hall stage shows.
After years of a punishing stage show and never ending Gig schedules, Alex announced in 1977 that due to back problems he was to retire from the music business.
Following a rare come back tour in Europe Alex died of a heart attack in 1982.
In 1977 after the Band and Alex Harvey parted company with Alex recording the solo Album ‘Loch Ness Monster’ (NB: Not a music album, but a recorded documentary about the fabled monster !), while the band without Alex, recorded ‘Four Play’. Alex and the band came together again in 1978 for a final album 'Rock Drill'. The Band and Alex then parted company again. Alex put together a new band in 1979 to record the album ‘The Mafia Stole My Guitar’. In 1983 Alex's final recording ‘Soldier On The Wall’ (comprised mainly of recordings made pre-SAHB), was posthumously issued. The Band having separated and playing in different Bands re-united in 2004 for a final tour with spot. The band released a live recording 'Zalvation'. Through 2006 the band has continued to play live in Britain with some new dates for 2007. 2006 band members are Max Maxwell filling the vocal spot with original members Zal Cleminson; Guitar, Chris Glen; Bass, Hugh McKenna; Keyboards, and Ted McKenna; Drums
Alex Harvey and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band releases include
• 1972 Framed
• 1973 Next
• 1974 The Impossible Dream
• 1975 Tomorrow Belongs To Me
• 1976 Penthouse Tapes
• 1976 SAHB Stories
• 1978 Rock Drill
Alex Harvey Solo Releases include
• 1977 Alex Harvey Presents The Loch Ness Monster
• 1979 The Mafia Stole My Guitar
• 1983 Soldier On The Wall
Sensational Alex Harvey Band (without Alex Harvey) Include
• 1977 Four play
. 1993 Live in Glasgow (Stevie Doherty vocals)
• 2005 Zalvation
Sergeant Fury
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wanna be the judge and jury
He teach me every thing I know
Aha, aha
Say goodbye to Syracuse
She can dance away my blues
I was a big boy up 'til then
I wanna be rich and famous
I wanna be just the same as
The stars that shine on the Christmas tree
Aha, aha
Say hello to Mrs. Foster
She wanna know how much it cost her
She only lay and whispered, why?
Aha, aha
I wanna be rich and I wanna be famous
I wanna be just the same as
I wanna be rich and I wanna be famous
I wanna be just the same as
I wanna be, I wanna be rich and famous
I wanna be, I wanna be just the same as
I wanna be, I wanna be rich and famous
I wanna be, I wanna be just the same as
Scooby doo, Scooby doo, Scooby doo
Scooby, da, ha, ha
Scooby doo, Scooby doo, Scooby doo
Scooby, da
Scooby doo, Scooby doo, Scooby doo
Scooby, da, d
The song "Sergeant Fury" by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band is a satirical take on the desire for fame and fortune. The lyrics suggest an admiration for someone who wants to be "the judge and jury," indicating a desire for power and control. The line "He teach me every thing I know" also suggests a sense of submission and a willingness to be taught by someone with authority. The next verse mentions saying goodbye to Syracuse and how a woman has helped the singer to forget his troubles through dancing. However, the phrase "I was a big boy up 'til then" suggests that the singer felt he had lost his sense of self before Syracuse came along.
The chorus repeats the desire to be rich and famous, and to be just like the stars that shine on the Christmas tree. This line can be interpreted as a commentary on the idea of celebrity culture, and the desire to emulate those who are famous without truly understanding what it means to be in the public eye. The final verse introduces Mrs. Foster, who seems to be interested in the singer's financial status. The line "She only lay and whispered, why?" suggests a sense of vulnerability and danger, as if the singer is being taken advantage of.
Overall, "Sergeant Fury" is a critique of the desire for power and fame, and the ways in which people might be taken advantage of in that pursuit.
Line by Line Meaning
Give my regards to Sergeant Fury
Please pass on my greetings to Sergeant Fury.
He wanna be the judge and jury
He desires to be the authority who decides and pronounces judgment.
He teach me every thing I know
He imparted all his knowledge and taught me everything I know.
Say goodbye to Syracuse
I bid farewell to Syracuse.
She can dance away my blues
She has the ability to alleviate my sadness through her dancing.
I was a big boy up 'til then
I was confident and able to handle myself until that moment.
I wanna be rich and famous
I aspire to obtain great wealth and widespread recognition.
I wanna be just the same as
My desire is to be identical to those who already possess wealth and fame.
The stars that shine on the Christmas tree
I wish to be as famous and bright as the stars that adorn Christmas trees.
Say hello to Mrs. Foster
Please extend my greetings to Mrs. Foster.
She wanna know how much it cost her
She desires to find out the expense she incurred.
She only lay and whispered, why?
She only reclined while uttering softly, 'Why?'
I wanna be, I wanna be rich and famous
Once again, my desire is to attain great wealth and notoriety.
Scooby doo, Scooby doo, Scooby doo
These are nonsensical words that convey no specific meaning.
Scooby, da, ha, ha
These are more nonsensical sounds that elicit no specific significance.
Scooby doo, Scooby doo, Scooby doo
Once again, these are meaningless phrases.
Scooby, da
This is an utterance that carries no semantic content or context.
Scooby doo, Scooby doo, Scooby doo
Again, these words do not convey any real message.
Scooby, da, da
These sounds are devoid of actual meaning or import.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: ALEX HARVEY, DAVID BATCHELOR, HUGH MCKENNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@murderousmaths
The SAHB were an absolute one-off band. Hard rockin' Glaswegians, fabulous showmen and never scared to try something different. Thanks for posting this!
@KAZ132
Absolutely sheer brilliance... One of my favorite bands of my teenage years... That's when I became rebellious.. Thank you for your music 💕
@jerrymurphy3367
This was such a great period for music. Bands had an actual identity and they didn't all sound the same. These guys..Sparks..Roxy Music...Mott The Hoople...fantastic music with a fantastic image. These days the band members all look like they just got off work at the muffler shop. Remember all the Pearl Jam clones ? It's no wonder the music industry is in the toilet. No originality and no character. Sad.
@elizabethhann4028
[02 October 2020] I second that emotion.
@MrMrh1958
Well said!
@caryheuchert
It’s because in those days, every band tried to be as original as possible… and succeeded. Hats off to SAHB!
@seltaeb9691
Starts with the Beatles & all the great bands who carved out identities way before the 70s began.
@iananderson3799
My dad used to say the same about the 50s. 😅
@MrPaulram3
one of the most under rated bands ever they had a strange mix of menace and comedy backed up with pure talent, they disappeared to early.
@stevedaymond3857
You have summed them up well