Essay: Me Dad by Nobby Clegg & The Civilians (1979) Music Video

Prelude from The Quartermaster’s Store:

My eyes are dim, I cannot see,

I have not brought my specs with me,

I have not brought my specs with me.

——

My old man spent 18 years in a coal pit

He’s got black lung and he still smokes miners’ cigarettes

And he talks real loud to me mother

And he coughs until he’s sick

And he just don’t grasp what’s wrong with him

My old man gets drunk and beats up his children

And he spends his packet on cheap whiskey and borrowed tarts

And he’s got a bleeding ulcer and he swears a bleeding horse

And he can’t control his temper

My old man’s a joke

Working for the company

And they laugh at him

What a piece of human waste

He’s not alive

But he ain’t dead yet

Smokin’ Park Drive cigarettes

Three cheers for my old man

And do they really need him,

Do we really need him,

We’re alone

My old man spent 18 quid on pit gear

Mother gets it if he kicks it, and he’s paid up then

String it up some souvenir, He might choke in his sleep.

Mom says to shake him every now and then

My old man gets mad and smashes up me school stuff

Mother sends them letters and I help her spell

And they send him books on children

And he throws them at the children

What with burying his gun and all

My old man’s a joke

Working for the company

And they laugh at him

What a piece of human waste

He’s not alive

But he ain’t dead yet

Smokin’ Park Drive cigarettes

Three cheers for my old man

And do they really need him,
Do we really need him,
We’re alone

My old man spent 18 years in a coal pit

And he goes to Skeggie and he gets real drunk in the summertime

But he might not make it this year

Cause the bus fare’s getting too steep

So he’ll get twice as drunk at home instead

My old man rents his bungalow from the company

When he gets real sick, he’ll just lie down and die at home

And me mother will say a few words

And they’ll throw dirt on his face

And I’ll go to work and take his place.

—

Epilogue:

You can’t live your life

You can’t live your life alone

Note: Songwriters / singers Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers later went on to be head writers of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. I contacted Darrell Vickers on Facebook to confirm the above lyrics. A very gracious and helpful bloke.