Chumbawamba

Released: May 1, 1995

Songwriter: Chumbawamba

Producer: Neil Ferguson Chumbawamba

This girl, she didn't turn out quite the way she was supposed to do
This girl, she got bored of all the things they brought her up to say
She never meant them anyway
This girl, she got caught out on the multi-storey car park
Throwing goodbye notes wrapped up in bricks
When they put her in the car she said, 'Jesus made me do it'
But all the priests in all the world couldn't save this girl
This girl, content with all the bloody noses, scabby knees
You get from fighting wars like these
Running past the tidy houses pulling faces
This material world couldn't tempt this girl

(Chorus)
Now she entertains the world and all its mates
But she doesn't fit in
And everybody thinks this girl is great
But she's lacing all the party drinks with venom from a poison pen

This girl, she made a habit of habitually lying
Does everybody's head in
She knows what happens when the next stop that you see
It's not the one that everyone expected it to be
This girl, happy families 'round the supermarket check-out
She loves to be the odd one out
The party girl who stayed upstairs
Playing musical chairs
La-la, la-la-la
She doesn't care this girl

(Repeat chorus)
This girl, she didn't turn out quite the way she was supposed to do

Anarcho-pop band from Leeds.

Originally formed in the early 1980s as Chimp Eats Banana, Chumbawamba first emerged in the anarchopunk scene which was dominated by bands such a pacifist punks Crass. As Chumbawamba increasingly differed from their peers in outlook and tactics, they began to adopt a new musical style which incorporated elements of folk music, indie rock and hip-hop.

After drifting between labels, their change in direction culminated in signing a record deal with major label EMI, a choice which sparked outrage amongst their former comrades, outrage that culminated in a “Fuck Chumbawamba” compilation. By chance, Chumbawamba’s new work with EMI resulted in an internationally best-selling single, “Tubthumping”, and a sudden rise to fame.

more tracks from the album

Swingin’ with Raymond

From the album

Swingin’ with Raymond (1995)

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