The original line-up was Miles Hunt (whose uncle Bill Hunt was keyboard player with Wizzard), Malcolm Treece, Rob "The Bass Thing" Jones (d. 1993) and Martin Gilks (d. 2006). The group originated from an earlier collaboration with group members of Pop Will Eat Itself (aka PWEI), called From Eden, which had Miles Hunt on the drums.
In 1990, Martin Bell (aka, Fiddlie), an accomplished fiddle and banjo instrumentalist, joined the band and Paul Clifford replaced Rob Jones on the bass after Jones left the band.
The band initially split on July 14, 1994 at the Phoenix Festival near Stratford-on-Avon, with Miles Hunt forming Vent 414 and Malc Treece, Martin Gilks and Paul Clifford teaming up with ex-Eat frontman, Ange Dolittle, to form We Know Where You Live.
Following the split of Vent 414, Miles Hunt took to touring an acoustic solo show performing old favourites and new material. During this period, he toured and released an album under banner of The Miles Hunt Club, featuring Stuart Quinnel and Andres Karu (who would later featuring in subsequent line-ups of The Wonder Stuff) as well as Michael Ferentino fom the Amazing Meet Project.
The band later reformed for a few live tours from 2000 onwards including a sell out 5 night residency at The Forum, London. For this incarnation, Stuart Quinnel took over on bass from Paul Clifford.
Their first new album for over a decade, Escape From Rubbish Island, was released in September 2004. The line-up for this album was Hunt and Treece plus Andres Karu and Mark McCarthy (formally of Radical Dance Faction).
This line-up (plus Erica Nockalls on violin) continued into 2006 with the release of their new album Suspended By Stars.
Scheduled for 2011 is a tour supporting The Levellers for which the line up has changed again, with Andres Karu being replaced on drums by ex-Pop Will Eat Itself member Fuzz Townshend.
The Animals And Me
The Wonder Stuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love them and they love me,
Oh I have been there.
Cats and dogs have got it sussed
They worm their wa into your trust,
Spend there whole life getting fussed,
Oh I have been there.
For a very long time.
I love the fish in the 7 seas,
Oh I have been there.
Cows and sheep suffer great defeats
'cause they weren't quick enough on their feet,
And now we're cooking them up to eat.
Oh I have been there.
For a very long time.
There's a message here, for what it's worth,
Tht the meek shall inherit the earth.
That makes me a heir from my day of birth.
Oh I have been there.
The Wonder Stuff's song "The Animals And Me" is an ode to the special bond that humans have shared with animals throughout history. The opening lines, "The animals and me have been in league through history, I love them and they love me," sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the idea that humans and animals have formed a symbiotic relationship since the beginning of time. The lyrics then mention the specific animals that humans have become particularly attached to: cats, dogs, fish, cows, and sheep.
The second verse is particularly poignant as it acknowledges the negative aspect of humans' relationship with animals- the fact that we often consume them for food. The lyrics mention that cows and sheep suffer "great defeats" because they are not fast enough to escape us, and are then cooked up to be eaten. This acknowledgement of the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals is refreshing to see in a song about the human-animal relationship.
The final verse hints at a deeper message about the power dynamics between humans and animals. The line "that the meek shall inherit the earth" alludes to the idea that those who are the most vulnerable in society will eventually come out on top. This could be interpreted as a warning to humans that our exploitation of animals will only lead to our own downfall. Overall, "The Animals And Me" is a thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on our relationship with the natural world and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
The animals and me have been in league through history,
Throughout history, I have shared a special connection and relationship with animals.
I love them and they love me,
These animals love me just as much as I love them.
Oh I have been there.
I have experienced this bond with animals firsthand.
Cats and dogs have got it sussed
Cats and dogs are particularly adept at ingratiating themselves into our lives.
They worm their way into your trust,
These animals work hard to earn our trust and affection.
Spend their whole life getting fussed,
They spend their lives seeking out love and attention from us.
Oh I have been there.
I have personally experienced this dynamic with cats and dogs.
For a very long time.
This has been going on for a long time.
The animals and me have been in league through history,
Throughout history, I have formed alliances with animals.
I love the fish in the 7 seas,
I also appreciate and value fish and sea life.
Oh I have been there.
I have experienced the beauty of life under the sea.
Cows and sheep suffer great defeats
Farm animals like cows and sheep often experience tragedy and hardship.
'Cause they weren't quick enough on their feet,
These animals are often defenseless and vulnerable to predators.
And now we're cooking them up to eat.
Unfortunately, humans have turned to consuming these animals as food.
Oh I have been there.
I am aware of the bleak reality of the meat industry.
For a very long time.
This practice has been going on for far too long.
There's a message here, for what it's worth,
This song has a deeper meaning and significance.
That the meek shall inherit the earth.
The vulnerable and humble will ultimately rise to greatness and prevail.
That makes me a heir from my day of birth.
As someone who recognizes the importance of compassion, I am an inheritor of these values.
Oh I have been there.
I understand and embrace this message.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MALCOLM ROY TREECE, MARTIN RICHARD GILKS, MILES STEPHEN HUNT, ROBERT JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind