"The Olde Butcher Blues"

I attempted to cram the entire back-story of Hard Rock Hotel's protagonist into this one song. And succeeded. Like Marmite this tune has its lovers and haters - the former in shape of my good friend Robert Heart; latter my good friend Steve Wicked. It was a shame the HRH concept never achieved its full potential, David Picklesworth's departure from the band being the catalyst of recording and writing problems. Several times in subsequent years myself and Steve have discussed re-recording songs, remodelling the album and even completing an early 30-song draft entitled "Off Cutts". Something for the future perhaps.

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THE OLDE BUTCHER BLUES

Growing was real nice

Dreamed of havin’ a wife

And many little kids

Yeah, the butchers life!

But now I feel strange

From inside comes a rage

An urge to kill

Since I took some dodgy pill

The guy said it was good

Kinda tasted of wood

But I didn’t complain

Within minutes I was insane

I saw my life flash before me

In yellow, green and blue!

Realised the life of a butcher

Just wasn’t the thing to do

So I gave up my dreams

Of kids and a busty wife

Went back to my dealer

Bought a bag of those “pills of life”

Looking back on old days

Which now are a haze

Remembered once upon a time

As a kid, I stole some wine!

Got home and got caught

Parents all fraught

So I said to them:

Screw your rules!

I’m gonna grow up some day

To live a life of play!

To which dad replied,

With bulging bloodshot eyes

“You’ll grow up to cut meat,

That or be a doctor of feet

That’s what yer mum does

And she doesn’t fuss!”

I don’t want to cut meat!

Or doctor smelly feet!

I want to live life to the full

With a country house and a pet bull

That’s all I remember

Of my childhood

Two seconds later

I was pouring blood

My dad kicked me in the head

“Ow!” that’s what I said

And that’s where memories end

My dear old listening friend: the chorus!

I saw my life flash before me

In yellow, green and blue!

Realised the life of a butcher

Just wasn’t the thing to do

So I gave up my dreams

Of kids and a busty wife

Went back to my dealer

Bought a bag of those “pills of life”

The message behind this fable

Is to keep your feet off the table

As I experienced as a child

When my dad caught me bein’ wild

I was jumping on the table

When I shudda been eating my food

My dad got real angry

And in a bad mood

Next thing I knew

I was on the floor

My arm was broken

And there was blood once more

All these memories

Tell me to keep away

From fathers all over

Tomorrow and today

I advise you to grow up

With no enemies

Until the day comes for you

To try some drugs then decide: “You know what, screw life! I can’t be arsed!”

I saw my life flash before me

In yellow, green and blue!

Realised the life of a butcher

Just wasn’t the thing to do

So I gave up my dreams

Of kids and a busty wife

Went back to my dealer

Bought a bag of those “pills of life”

Looking back on my life

Alone, with no wife

Come to the conclusion:

It’s better to do drugs and be miserable and alone than not do drugs and feel bad about life anyway

Those were my old butcher blues!