Iron Man Blues
Tommy Lyrics


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Boiled beef and carrots,
Boiled beef and carrots,
That's the stuff for your ""Derby Kell"",
Makes you fit and keeps you well.
Don't live like vegetarians
On food they give to parrots,
Blow out your kite, from Morn til night,
On boiled beef and carrots.


""Any old iron? Any old iron?
Any, any, any old iron?
You look neat. Talk about a treat!
You look so dapper from your napper to your feet.
Dressed in style, brand-new tile,
And your father's old green tie on.
But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch and chain,
Old iron, old iron.""


Last week down our alley came a toff
Nice old geezer with a nasty cough
Sees my missus, takes his topper off
In a very gentlemanly way
Wot cher!"" all the neighbors cried
""Who yer gonna meet, Bill
Have yer bought the street, Bill""?
Laugh! I thought I should've died
Knocked 'em in the Old Kent


Oh, my old man's a dustman
He wears a dustman's hat
He wears cor blimey trousers
And he lives in a council flat
He looks a proper narner
In his great big hob nailed boots




He's got such a job to pull em up
That he calls them daisy roots

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Iron Man Blues" by Tommy capture a nostalgic and humorous reflection on working-class life in England, particularly referencing the food, fashion, and characters of the era. The opening lines of "Boiled beef and carrots" evoke a sense of traditional, hearty British cuisine, highlighting the simplicity and sustenance of such meals. The repeated phrase reinforces the idea of this food being a staple for strength and health, contrasting with the disdain for vegetarian diets that are stereotypically associated with birds like parrots. The image of blowing out one's kite with this fare from morning till night paints a picture of fueling oneself with robust energy and vitality.


The following verse introduces the concept of old iron, referencing the itinerant vendors who used to roam the streets collecting scrap metal. The playful repetition of "Any old iron?" captures the cadence of their calls, while the description of looking neat and dapper in one's attire juxtaposes the value placed on appearance with the disregard for one's material possessions. The mention of a watch and chain as "old iron" suggests a dismissive attitude towards material goods and a focus on personal style and presentation instead.


The narrative shifts to a scene in the neighborhood alley where a distinguished visitor, described as a toff, encounters the singer's wife. The politeness and respect shown by the toff, removing his hat in a gentlemanly manner, prompt playful banter from the neighbors, reflecting the curiosity and humor of community interactions. The colloquial expressions like "Wot cher!" add a touch of local flavor and camaraderie to the scene, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere within the lyrics.


The final verse introduces the character of the old man, a dustman who embodies the blue-collar working class with his attire, occupation, and living situation. The description of his outfit, complete with a dustman's hat, "cor blimey" trousers, and hobnailed boots, paints a vivid picture of his appearance and laborious lifestyle. The humorous reference to his struggles in pulling up his boots, known as "daisy roots" in Cockney rhyming slang, adds a touch of endearing vulnerability to his character, showcasing the everyday challenges and idiosyncrasies of his world. Overall, the lyrics of "Iron Man Blues" celebrate the quirks, traditions, and community spirit of working-class life in a bygone era, capturing a mix of nostalgia, humor, and resilience.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: A E SHEPPARD, ALBERT CHEVALIER, BEVERLY THORN, CHARLES COLLINS, CHAS INGLE, DESMOND COX, FRED MURRAY, FRED TERRY, FRED W LEIGH, HAROLD ELTON BOX, IRWIN DASH, LONNIE DONEGAN, PETER WILLIAM STANLEY BUCHANAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Elle403

Im 51 and only just seen this dude ? How i have missed such a great guitarist ? Im an SRV , mayer, clapton fan but this guy is epic

ricendice

RIP Iron Man. You'll be an inspiration to guitar players for years to come.

kyle J

@John Wick beat me to it!

John Wick

Kingfish

L BF

Han sido 10:39 minutos con la piel de gallina.
Viva el Blues, viva Michael Burks.

jack card

Bumped into this after listening to another blues phenom, Christone Kingfish Ingram.
Clearly, Kingfish was inspired by this version. Didnt know Michael Burks was gone. RIP.

rd3324

I think you may be right. Kingfish is great as is (was) this guy. I love this music.

William Don

Inspired by this dude wrote the song

Hot rod Lincoln

Michael Burkes works a Les Paul to it’s maximum potential and reminds me of Gary Moore.

Albert Gatte

MY GOD... What more can you say about his playing. AMAZING.

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