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.
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 peopleinto 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.