A guest posting by Middle-Aged Man
Lyrical genius of The Undertones ICA
I had a recent visit from my younger sister, and we were reminiscing that the first concert she ever saw when I took her to was The Undertones at De Montford Hall Leicester and in true brotherly fashion (I was only 17) rushed towards the front and dragged her with me to join the bouncing throng, and JC’s comment that ‘Get Over You’ never made the top 30 single charts, drew me back to The Undertones and I realised two things, firstly, how happy their tunes made me and secondly they are seriously under rated as lyric writers.
In my humble opinion The Undertones should be regarded as one of the greatest lyric writers of their generation, uniquely managing to combine relatable everyday events/ phrases with humour, they really did make you feel as though they were living the same life as you were, they weren’t millionaires living in mansions nor were they living in trendy squats in trendy London. Of course not only did they have great lyrics, they had the voice of Feargal Sharkey to deliver them.
So here comes my Undertones ICA selected upon specific lyrics.
More Songs About Chocolate & Girls
Sets the tone perfectly and manages to take the mickey out of themselves and Talking Heads and even better includes a line about their first and the song they are forever associated with:-
Our teenage dreams
They’re surely worth a mention
‘Cause here’s more songs about chocolate and girls
My Perfect Cousin
A single release which also combines humour with a staple boys game of the seventies and a musical reference
Even at the age of ten
Smart boy Kevin was a smart boy then
He always beat me at Subbuteo
‘Cause he ‘flicked to kick’
And I didn’t know
His mother bought him a synthesiser
Got the Human League into advise her
Now he’s making lots of noise, playing along with the art school boys
Mars Bars
This track was the b side to the Jimmy Jimmy single and uses the tag line from the advert of the time. But what this anthem to the chocolate bar has hidden away is a verse that which refers to a TV personality and also refers to another musical act.
I need a Mars Bar
I’ve had ten so far
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
Boy Wonder
Real life, this time of a more mundane nature and a concise and vivid description of the boy at school who was physically stronger.
Boy Wonder never wants to grow up
Cos with some competition he wouldn’t look so great
Well he’s the biggest in the street
He knows to use his weight
But when it comes to real life
It’ll be too late
Casbah Rock
a short track that celebrates the band’s early experiences playing at the Casbah Club in Derry which it is claimed is the only venue at the time that would play ‘Alternative’ music:-
Cos you’ll never get pop at the Casbah Rock
Fairly In The Money Now
Released as the B-side to their 1981 single “It’s Going To Happen!”. The song is about a band achieving success and the subsequent changes that come with it, including newfound wealth and attention. And the need to continue releasing songs that are maybe not as good as their earlier ones.
Tommy always said he would make it one day
Lead singer in a top show band
So with some friends and latest tunes to play
Tommy Tate and the Torpedoes began
Soon they were the rave of all the high school hops
In satin suits, all dressed to kill
Soon Tommy’s boys became Top of the Pops
But then the money came over the hill
All the cash to spend, on their girlfriends,
And in then their interest, and manager’s request
They all bought their mansions
Hype-notised by every part that arrived
Higher prices for indifferent songs
But nevertheless big Tommy’s into success
So his Torpedoes kept plodding on
And his Torpedoes keep plodding on
Fascination
As true today as it was, if not truer as it has taken me over 6 months to put this together
Sitting in a front room
Nothing ever gets done
Get Over You
My favourite Undertones song, with their best opening line, how did it fail to make the top 30?
Dressed like that you must be living in a different world
His Good Looking Girlfriend
A lovely song which tells the story of how a young lad becomes popular only because of his girlfriend.
He’s never been more popular
Since he met Marie
He never went to parties
Then last week he went to three
Male Model
I know it dates me, but Freeman’s Catalogue was an ever present in the 70’s but the idea that a rock band would ever admit to wearing their clothes???
When I was young, I never wanted toys
Things like that were for little boys
My mama bought me clothes for her favourite son
Freeman’s, item A, page 61
Jimmy Jimmy
Another great song, combined with Feargal’s voice the lyrics are simple but heartfelt and poignant
Now little Jimmy’s gone
He disappeared one day
But no one saw the ambulance
That took little Jim away
I hope this ICA brings a smile to your face and brightens your day as it has done mine.
Middle-Aged Man
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Throughout my teenage years I always thought the lyric was ‘ Dressed like Thatcher, must be living in a different world’…d’oh!
Wow! I always thought the lyric was ‘Dressed like Thatcher’ too! What a revelation!
Wow, what happy memories 😃 .
I thought I was the only one who used to sing ‘Thatcher’!!
Ditto, on ‘Can’ get over you’ that was my favourite Undertones track.
Read it with a big smile on my face. Very nice indeed. And now I will play the Sprout’s Cars And Girls since I’m not a fan of chocolate.
Oh no, I will never be able to listen again without hearing ‘like Thatcher’ aaarrrrgggg
Outstanding!
From my hometown. Back then humour was handed down by avunular methods, created character building, strength of backbone, ability to walk tall and stand behind the statement WIND YER NECK IN YA HELMET, when required 🤣🤣🤣
John Peels’ fave band ever ? That’s a quare achievement.