Song Share: McGreggor

By Angus McKay taken from www.angusmckay.net

There was a time when nobody knew the band Elbow, save the devout few who followed them slavishly. I was among those few, and count myself fortunate to be so. Then they made the album The Seldom Seen Kid which won them the Mercury Prize, the Brit award for best band, and a slew of other top awards, and suddenly they were famous and everyone knew them.

Being one of the early fans, their new-found fame is a bitter-sweet pill. Sweet in that they are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Bitter in the sense that I always rather enjoyed being the devoted fan of an amazing band that no one had ever heard of.

Nevertheless, I am still a devoted fan and now wish to share another piece of their brilliance from the days before the glory.

This song, McGreggor was recorded with the Leaders of the Free World album, but only released as a B-side, tragically. It came about somewhat as a fluke: while in the studio listening back to the mix for the song Picky Bugger, keyboardist Craig Potter accidentally hit the “half time” button, slowing the track down to half its original tempo (surprise). It turned out to fit perfectly with some lyrics that Guy Garvey had been playing around with, and they cut the track.

The result is this beautiful blend of gospel and rock with the classic Elbow twist.



Lyrics:
Oohhhh
There was lying at the table
Crying on the stairs
A raven on the gables singing
'Jesus doesn't care'
A woman at the window
With her hands on her hips
Staring out across the ocean
Like the prow of a ship
No blinking or emotion
Like the prow of a ship
Just endeavor and devotion
Like the prow of a ship, Ohhh rest in your bed
Oooohhh, McGreggor's dead
The kids were in the kitchen
Carving up the will
where/when the long line of limousines
Snake down the hill
They think they're winning
And shaking hands with the prodigal
And pompous who knew the man
Father figures and mo-fos
Who knew the man
God's torment at the party
As if God knew the man
Ooohhh, rest in your bed
Ooohhh, McGreggor's dead
Recall his lies
Pick up the pen
Record his reign
For the b**** that bore him
Is in heat again
Ooohhh