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Making Plans for Nigel Lyrics
We’re only making plans for Nigel
We only want what’s best for him
We’re only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he’s happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We’re only making plans for Nigel
He has his future in a british steel
We’re only making plans for Nigel
Nigel’s whole future is as good as sealed
And if young Nigel says he’s happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
Nigel is not outspoken
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to
Nigel is happy in his work
Nigel is happy in his work
We only want what’s best for him
We’re only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
He has his future in a british steel
We’re only making plans for Nigel
Nigel’s whole future is as good as sealed
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to
Nigel is happy in his work
Nigel is happy in his work
Song Info
Submitted by
azwethinkiam On May 23, 2006
More Nouvelle Vague
In a Manner of Speaking
Too Drunk To Fuck
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Blue Monday
Dacing with Myself
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No-one's commented.... hmm.
Seems fairly straightforward to me...
Parent/child relationship... poor Nigel.
I think Mummy just wants him to have a good life, and she's just writing out his whole life for him so it's all good and perfect, so that all he can do is shuffle along this destined path, laid out my Mummy Dearest.
I reckon that he just wants to make Mummy happy, after all... "young Nigel says he’s happy"
I think all kids feel like Nigel once in a while. Rocking song!
This really is a fantastic song. I almost can't believe the 2nd comment to be posted is almost exactly 2 years after the first!
Agree with flutterbi. Sounds like his parents are taking his future into their own hands because they "only want what's best for him".
Perhaps Nigel "not being outspoken" is what leads them to believe he is happy with their plans.
This was originally by XTC and later covered by Primus, Robbie Williams, and Nouvelle Vague.
I got more of a sense that the ones making plans for Nigel is the government.
There is no convoluted metaphor behind these lyrics - when xtc released this in 1979 they captured the general discontent in Britain at the time, referencing the dying steel industry ('He has his future in a british steel', in other words he has no future).
American emo hippies need to shut up and stop over analyzing song lyrics.