I've never heard that Who Slapped John was Dury's favourite, he chose another for Desert Island Discs for instance.
The song is about rock ‘n’ roll tragedy Gene Vincent, Vincent suffered a motorbike accident that left his left leg in callipers (very similar to Dury’s) and caused him sufficient pain, while in hospital he bought his hit Be Bop A-Lula off another patient. After being in the same car-crash that killed Eddie Cochran his leg became worse and became addicted to alcohol and pain killers before eventually dying of an ulcer in his mothers arms, his last words were ‘you can call the ambulance now momma’
He's what i have
Blue Gene Baby – this is the first line of Blue Jean Bob, sung almost identically to how it is in the original
Skinny white sailor – Gene Vincent used to be in the Navy
Who, who, who slapped john? – reference to the song ‘Who Slapped John’ the B-side of Blue Jean Bop.
Let the Blue Caps roll tonight – The Blue Caps were Gene Vincent’s backing band ala The Crickets.
She’s the one with the flying feet – a line lifted wholesale from Be Bop A Lula
and you jump back honey in the dungarees, tight sweater and a pony tail – references to two more Gene Vincent songs ‘Jump Back Honey Jump Back’ and ‘Red Blue Jeans and a Pony Tail’
and the devil drives ‘till the hearse arrives - I’m pretty sure this is a reference to Vincent’s song ‘Race with the Devil’
and you lay that pistol down – if you haven’t heard Gene Vincent sing Pistol Packin’ Momma your worthless life isn’t complete, anyway it’s from that song.
More to come
This is pretty much all my own research and unverified for the most part, but i think it's all correct or near enough, some lines have double meanings related to Vincent's life.
I've never heard that Who Slapped John was Dury's favourite, he chose another for Desert Island Discs for instance.
The song is about rock ‘n’ roll tragedy Gene Vincent, Vincent suffered a motorbike accident that left his left leg in callipers (very similar to Dury’s) and caused him sufficient pain, while in hospital he bought his hit Be Bop A-Lula off another patient. After being in the same car-crash that killed Eddie Cochran his leg became worse and became addicted to alcohol and pain killers before eventually dying of an ulcer in his mothers arms, his last words were ‘you can call the ambulance now momma’
He's what i have
Blue Gene Baby – this is the first line of Blue Jean Bob, sung almost identically to how it is in the original Skinny white sailor – Gene Vincent used to be in the Navy Who, who, who slapped john? – reference to the song ‘Who Slapped John’ the B-side of Blue Jean Bop. Let the Blue Caps roll tonight – The Blue Caps were Gene Vincent’s backing band ala The Crickets. She’s the one with the flying feet – a line lifted wholesale from Be Bop A Lula and you jump back honey in the dungarees, tight sweater and a pony tail – references to two more Gene Vincent songs ‘Jump Back Honey Jump Back’ and ‘Red Blue Jeans and a Pony Tail’
and the devil drives ‘till the hearse arrives - I’m pretty sure this is a reference to Vincent’s song ‘Race with the Devil’ and you lay that pistol down – if you haven’t heard Gene Vincent sing Pistol Packin’ Momma your worthless life isn’t complete, anyway it’s from that song. More to come
This is pretty much all my own research and unverified for the most part, but i think it's all correct or near enough, some lines have double meanings related to Vincent's life.
MeX