* Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals),
* John O'Neill (guitar),
* Damian O'Neill (guitar, keyboards and vocals),
* Michael Bradley (bass and vocals), and
* Billy Doherty (drums).
John O'Neill was the original main song writer, with his brother Damian and Mickey Bradley writing in various solo & combined variations for most of the remainder.
Sharkey's power pop tenor was distinctive, and the band regarded a tight ensemble. By 1977 they were performing their own three-chord pop punk material influenced by Nuggets-type material and Ramones, and in 1978 released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Good Vibrations. It became a hit with support from DJ John Peel, who considered that EP's title song (Teenage Kicks) his all-time favourite. The song has been covered by many including boyband Busted (at the 2003 Brit Awards), American group The Raconteurs, Swedish band [aritst]Sahara Hotnights and French band Nouvelle Vague.
The original band released four studio albums:
* The Undertones (1979)
* Hypnotised (1980)
* Positive Touch (1981)
* The Sin Of Pride (1983).
Falling sales linked to their changing musical direction and tensions within the band, leading to their split in 1983. A compilation album titled All Wrapped Up featured a woman dressed in lunch meats wrapped in clear plastic on the (non band approved) cover. Several other compilations including the superb BBC sessions CD Listening In (named after a song on their first album) (2004) exist.
The O'Neill brothers went on to form That Petrol Emotion. The Undertones reconvened in 1999, initially to play a few shows in their hometown of Londonderry, replacing singer Feargal Sharkey with a similarly warbling new recruit, Paul McLoone. Since this time, the band has continued to play a small number of gigs each year in various places around the world.
The band have also released two further studio albums:
* Get What You Need (2003)
* Dig Yourself Deep (2007)
NOTE: There is another band with this name - The Undertones, a subset of the University of Notre Dame Glee Club who sing a capella arrangements of popular songs. For more information on these guys, check out www.nd.edu/~utones.
Mars Bars
The Undertones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I've had total fun
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
I push away the plate
You can see I'm getting thinner
Because I just can't wait
To get my Mars Bar
Hey raid the Spar ...
To Patrick Moore and David Bowie
And all the other stars
There's evidence here to show
That there's life on Mars
I need a ...
There's glucose for energy
Caramel for strength
The chocolate's only there
To keep it the right length
I need a ...
To anybody out there who still eats Twix ?
Anybody on packets of Buttons ?
I gave them up when I was six
I hope your teeth are rotten
I need a ...
Work - rest and play
The Undertones’ song “Mars Bars” is a humorous ode to the beloved chocolate bar. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, with the singer expressing his love for Mars Bars and his need for them throughout the day. He claims that a Mars Bar helps him through the day, making him work, rest, and play. He even implies that he would rather have a Mars Bar than eat his dinner, which is making him thinner. The singer then jokingly suggests that there is evidence of life on Mars because of the popularity of the chocolate bar.
The chorus of the song repeats the line “I need a Mars Bar, hey raid the Spar,” which refers to the English convenience store chain. The Spar is where the singer goes to find his beloved Mars Bars. In the final verse, the singer addresses listeners who may still eat other chocolate bars such as Twix or Buttons, claiming they gave them up when they were only six and suggesting that their teeth must be rotten. The song’s overall tone is lighthearted and playful, celebrating the simple pleasure of enjoying a Mars Bar.
Overall, The Undertones’ song “Mars Bars” is a fun and lively song that takes a simple topic and turns it into an amusing, catchy tune. The song’s lyrics are easy to follow, making it a perfect song to sing along to. The song’s simple message is universal, as most people can relate to the joy of indulging in their favorite treat.
Line by Line Meaning
I need a Mars Bar
I am craving for a Mars Bar
Hey raid the Spar
Let's go to Spar and grab some Mars Bars
To help me through the day
I need this chocolate bar to get me through the day
I've had total fun
I have enjoyed my day
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It gives me the energy to work, rest and play
I never eat my dinner
I often skip my dinner
I push away the plate
I don't want to eat my dinner
You can see I'm getting thinner
I am losing weight
Because I just can't wait
Because I am eagerly waiting to eat my Mars Bar
To Patrick Moore and David Bowie
Dedicated to Patrick Moore and David Bowie
And all the other stars
And all other celebrities
There's evidence here to show
I am convinced that there is life on Mars
That there's life on Mars
I believe that there is life on Mars
There's glucose for energy
Mars Bar contains glucose which provides energy
Caramel for strength
Mars Bar contains caramel which gives strength
The chocolate's only there
The chocolate is just there to provide the perfect length
To keep it the right length
To ensure that Mars Bar is of the right length
To anybody out there who still eats Twix ?
Asking if there is anyone who still prefers Twix over Mars Bar
Anybody on packets of Buttons ?
Asking if there is anyone who still eats Buttons, another chocolate brand
I gave them up when I was six
I stopped eating them when I was young
I hope your teeth are rotten
I hope you have got rotten teeth by eating these chocolates
Work - rest and play
Mars Bar gives the energy to work, rest and play
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Boru
I need a Mars Bar
Hey, raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I've had 10 so far
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
I never eat my dinner
I push away the plate
You can see I'm getting thinner
Because I just can't wait
I need a Mars Bar
Hey, raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I've had 10 so far
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
To Patrick Moore and David Bowie
And all the other stars
There's evidence here to show you
That there's life on Mars
I need a Mars Bar
Hey, raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I've had 10 so far
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
There's glucose for energy
Caramel for strength
The chocolate's only there
To keep it the right length
I need a Mars Bar
Hey, raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I've had 10 so far
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
To anybody out there who still eats Twix?
Anybody on packets of Buttons?
I gave them up when I was six
I hope your teeth are rotten
I need a Mars Bar
Hey, raid the Spar
To help me through the day
I need a Mars Bar
I've had 10 so far
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
It helps me - makes me - work rest and play
Work, rest and play
ritualpenguin
One of the most underrated songs about Confectionery ever made! Where's the 80's version of this or the 90's or Lady Gaga singing about Winegums or Curlywurly's? Nowhere, that's where!
vasa matijasevic
Ok boomer
BroomersP
Darius Rucker sang Wagonwheel
ritualpenguin
I still got it after all these 2 months!
ritualpenguin
Nice un' me! from 6 years ago!
earlajune
when i went to england, i had my first mars bar. and the entire time we were there... this is all that crossed my mind.
The Respected Lex
Well they were Northern Irish.
adventuresinbelieving
cracking tale!
fillup101
"i hope yer teeth are rotten" oh fergal, you're such a wag... classic stuff.. a great antedote to all that post punt w@nk that was going around about the time and a hell of a lot tallented than most of them... class
Baz Glsgw
A wee dig at John Lydon
Did anyone hear "fuckin bastard" in the refrain?