The Battle Of Epping Forest Lyrics
Over East-End Protection rights)
Each has got its load of convertible bars, cutlery cars - superscars!
For today is the day when they sort it out, sort it out,
'cause they disagree on a gangland boundary.
Yes, they disagree on a gangland boundary.
One helluva noise, that's Billy's boys!
With fully-fashioned mugs, that's Little John's thugs,
The Barking Slugs - supersmugs!
For today is the day when they sort it out, sort it out,
These Christian soldiers fight to protect the poor.
East end heroes got to score in...
It's the Battle of Epping Forest,
Right outside your door.
You ain't seen nothing like it.
No, you ain't seen nothing like it,
Not since the Civil War.
And Johnny's lads stand very still.
With the thumpire's shout, they all start to clout
- there's no guns in this gentleman's bout.
Georgie moves in on the outside left
With a chain flying round his head;
And Harold Demure, from Art Literature,
Nips up the nearest tree.
(Here come the cavalry!)
Accountants keep the score: 10-4.
They've never been alone, after getting a radiophone.
The bluebells are ringing for Sweetmeal Sam, real ham,
Handing out bread and jam just like any picnic.
When Billy was a kid, walking the streets,
The other kids hid - so they did!
Now, after working hard in security trade, he's got it made.
The shops that need aid are those that haven't paid.
"I sell cheap holiday. The minute they leave,
Then a visit I pay - and does it pay!"
And his friend, Liquid Len by name,
Of Wine, Women and Wandsworth fame,
Said "I'm breaking the legs of the bastard that got me framded!"
My employers have changed but the name has remained.
It all began when I went on a tour,
Hoping to find some furniture.
I followed a sign - it said "Beautiful Chest".
It led to a lady who showed me her best.
She was taken by surprise when I quickly closed my eyes.
So she rang the bell, and quick as hell
Bob the Nob came out on his job
To see what the trouble was.
"Louise, is the Reverend hard to please?"
"You're telling me!"
"Perhaps, sir, if it's not too late.
We could interest you in our Staffordshire plate?"
"Oh no, not me, I'm a man of repute."
But the Devil caught hold of my soul and a voice called out "Shoot!"
For this I'd gone when I met Little John.
His name came, I understood,
When the judge said "You're a robbing hood."
He told me of his strange foundation,
Conceived on sight of the Woodstock nation;
He'd had to hide his reputation.
When poor, 'twas salvation from door to door.
But now, with a pin-up guru every week,
It's Love, Peace & Truth Incorporated for all who seek.
His hands were then fit to receive, receive alms.
That's why we're in
It's the Battle of Epping Forest,
Right outside your door.
We guard your souls for peanuts,
And we guard your shops and houses
For just a little more.
But he's countered on the right by Mick's chain-gang fight,
And Liquid Len, with his smashed bottle men,
Is lobbing Bob the Nob across the gob.
With his kissar in a mess, Bob seems under stress,
But Jones the Jug hits Len right in the mug;
And Harold Demure, who's still not quite sure,
Fires acorns from out of his sling.
(Here come the cavalry!)
Inside their Silver Cloud, done proud,
The bold and brazen brass, seen darkly through the glass.
The butler's got jam on his Rolls; Roy doles out the lot,
With tea from a silver pot just like any picnic.
And the Clouds roll away.
Each has got its load - they'll come out for the count
At the break-in of day.
When the limos return for their final review, it's all through'
- all they can see is the morning goo.
"There's no-one left alive - it must be a draw."
So the Blackcap Barons toss a coin to settle the score.
The final verse of this song is one of the greatest satirical commentaries about war I've ever heard. All the fighters on both sides of the battle have been killed; the leaders realize that the war was all in vain and they still haven't settled their disagreement.
So what do they do? They FLIP A COIN!!!
Brilliant.
By the way, naqromnai, we Yankees don't need to fully understand the "Britishness" of a song. We just need to appreciate what it means to us.
And we know a thing or two about gang warfare as well...
The comic voice describing Harald Demure is the narrator´s , not Harald himself . Harald is simply an arty-type, demure ( ie quiet and unassuming) and the only non-violent character in the song. This is interesting if you think about it - the narrator is putting on the camp voice rather like a child making fun of someone. When gabriel is the character (eg the reverend) he sings with the funny voice in the first person. I think this song is lyrically brilliant and, like a lot of PG in this period, not quite what it seems at first. Ponder this notion - the guys in this battle are all real UK characters from history or otherwise . Georgie is footballer george best, billy wright was also a footballer and funnily enough also a historical pirate ! The bethnal green butcher is jack the ripper, sweetmeal sam just might be diarist samuel pepys ( who frequented the bluebell tavern in london ) and liquid len was a lighting guy at rock concerts in the 70´s. That´s as far as I have got to date . Seems to me PG threw a whole lot of real people
into this battle !
@jonarcee "fires acorns..." is said in a voice that reminds me of old Goon Show characters like Blue Bottle. MPFC was wrapping its run on the BBC, so campy characterizations were fairly entrenched in entertainment.
@jonarcee "fires acorns..." is said in a voice that reminds me of old Goon Show characters like Blue Bottle. MPFC was wrapping its run on the BBC, so campy characterizations were fairly entrenched in entertainment.
To me it's another distinguishing element that helps define a character we can't see otherwise - and there's a lot. Just like when Liquid Len speaks his vow, I went from picturing any old/young lush to a large, brawny, beer-swilling hooligan.
To me it's another distinguishing element that helps define a character we can't see otherwise - and there's a lot. Just like when Liquid Len speaks his vow, I went from picturing any old/young lush to a large, brawny, beer-swilling hooligan.
@jonarcee You may be right that the voice is mockery, but it also could be a shorthand, because Harold hasn't any lines. He's not non-violent as he has a sling.
@jonarcee You may be right that the voice is mockery, but it also could be a shorthand, because Harold hasn't any lines. He's not non-violent as he has a sling.
I don't see any connection with George Best. Jack the Ripper was the wrong parish (Whitechapel) and wrong century. But good point about 'Liquid Len' - I'd never heard of him.
I don't see any connection with George Best. Jack the Ripper was the wrong parish (Whitechapel) and wrong century. But good point about 'Liquid Len' - I'd never heard of him.
May seem a non-sense song Particularly as GAbriel struggled with some of the lyrics. Gabriel apparently heard the story and advertised in a paper to get an eye witness account. No-one replied so he made it up! So is in a way a non-sense song. If it was a film would say it was based on actual events!
This tells a fab story - nothing non-sensical about it!! Very true statements about Gabriels version, but it definately tells a fab story. The Reverend bit in the middle is pure invention, but the rest is based on the newspaper report. So British - how do the Americans take this track?? So many colloquasims - excuse the spelling
This American loves the song. Especially the British colloquialisms. And it's such an elegant description of thugs bashing each others brains out.
This American loves the song. Especially the British colloquialisms. And it's such an elegant description of thugs bashing each others brains out.
funniest lyrics ever.
Great song. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LOVE PROG ROCK you gotta listen to it more than once. This is one of these oments that to appreciate and understand it, you have to hear it many times more. It defininately is a worth-while experiece i assure you.
The language - well you get used to it and you grow to love it. I hated "Colony of Slipperman" at first, but now it's one of my favourite songs. This is one of the same situations.
Gang warfare - obvious theme. No more to say there. PG is a genius - nothing more, nothing less. What more can you say about such a catchy song?
I completely agree - with most Genesis songs, the first listen is experimental. Listening to this and definitely Colony of Slippermen a few times really brings out their greatness.
I completely agree - with most Genesis songs, the first listen is experimental. Listening to this and definitely Colony of Slippermen a few times really brings out their greatness.
This is easily one of my favourite Genesis songs. Particularly love the Reverend part, oh and Harold Demure :)
This is easily one of my favourite Genesis songs. Particularly love the Reverend part, oh and Harold Demure :)
Lol Juniper - no critcism intented - it's just that we do not produce much music like this any more.
Why do so many Genesis fans rip on this song? So wonderfully inventive and brilliant, both epic and amusing, and the Reverend bit is pure genius.
Obviously a tale of two London East End gangs battling it out for bragging rights in Epping Forest. The character that interests me is Harold Demure. Harold is obviously gay and Gabriel camps him up mercilessly. Back in 1973 this was considered OK. I very much doubt the extremely PC Gabriel would have done that just a few years later lest it be considered just a tad homophobic. I wonder if he regrets it?
Whatever, it is still a great song on my favourite Gabriel era Genesis album.
Why is Harold Demure " obviously gay " ? Could he not merely be timid and against violence - a hippy, perhaps. Even if Harold was gay ( a term not used in 1973 ) I doubt whether Gabriel would write any lyric that was a tad homophobic, as you put it. Gabriel was more into satire, pathos, and lyrics that had comedic effect - and certainly wasn't into purposely picking on minority types.
Why is Harold Demure " obviously gay " ? Could he not merely be timid and against violence - a hippy, perhaps. Even if Harold was gay ( a term not used in 1973 ) I doubt whether Gabriel would write any lyric that was a tad homophobic, as you put it. Gabriel was more into satire, pathos, and lyrics that had comedic effect - and certainly wasn't into purposely picking on minority types.
@proggie Hi, I wonder if Harold really was gay, I think he was just a polite, quite serious fellow perhaps. Can you explain more of your thoughts ?
@proggie Hi, I wonder if Harold really was gay, I think he was just a polite, quite serious fellow perhaps. Can you explain more of your thoughts ?
Brilliant song by GENESIS, their funniest alongside Harold the Barrel
Brilliant song by GENESIS, their funniest alongside Harold the Barrel
Cheers
Cheers
@proggie I don't know if Harold Demure is gay. He is fastidious and aspires to refinement among the gang members, something of a standard type in depictions of the underworld. I get the impression more of an affronted and prudent Robert Morley than Frankie Howerd, maybe clutching his pearls and making a tactical retreat, but that says nothing whatever about sexuality. Not as some here have said against violence or pacifist since he is 'firing acorns from out of his sling'. Cowardice or prudence, he's ultimately another of the victims.
@proggie I don't know if Harold Demure is gay. He is fastidious and aspires to refinement among the gang members, something of a standard type in depictions of the underworld. I get the impression more of an affronted and prudent Robert Morley than Frankie Howerd, maybe clutching his pearls and making a tactical retreat, but that says nothing whatever about sexuality. Not as some here have said against violence or pacifist since he is 'firing acorns from out of his sling'. Cowardice or prudence, he's ultimately another of the victims.
I presume the Reverend is gay because of being tempted...
I presume the Reverend is gay because of being tempted by Bob the Knob's offer of 'plate' (oral sex). His is a longer story of hypocrisy, but it isn't clear how someone goes from stumbling on a brothel (accidentally or not, it happens) to being recruited to the protection racket. Blackmailed by the pimp? Then there's the confusing bit about Little John of Sherwood Forest, which is more of an echo than a pun.
I think there's much more unconscious sexism than homophobia on this album. Even if satire, it's hard to beat the social conventions of 'Willow Farm': 'Dad to the office, mum to the washing'?