Chumbawamba

Released: September 1, 1997

Songwriter: Chumbawamba

Producer: Neil Ferguson Chumbawamba

[Intro]
There are those, spend the night
Under bridges over by the river
Down in the park through the winter
But there's a house that I know
Safe and warm, and no one ever goes there
Down where the priests bless the wine

[Verse 1]
She's been born into the wrong time
She keeps nonsense on her mind
She's a poet, she's a builder
She's as bored as bored can be
She's a have-not, she's a know-all
She knows just how to say yes
She's skating frozen chaos
'Til the no-good gods are dead

[Pre-Chorus 1]
But sometimes in the dead of night
Woken by the city lights
She wonders how she keeps alive

[Chorus]
This is the girl who lost the house which
Paid to the man who put up the rent and
Threw out the girl to feather his own sweet home

[Verse 2]
She's a clueless social climber
Likes the wrong side of the bed
She's a pick-me-up and she's a drink-to-me
In the company of friends
She's tried every variation
She's so common, she's so cold
She's homesick for a future
Can't stomach what she's told

[Pre-Chorus 2]
On every street in every town
All her days are up and down
At home among the lost and found

[Chorus]
This is the girl who lost the house which
Paid to the man who put up the rent and
Threw out the girl to feather his own sweet home

[Bridge]
Here's the good Samaritan
Looks away and carries on
Looks away and carries on

[Chorus]
This is the girl who lost the house which
Paid to the man who put up the rent and
Threw out the girl to feather his own sweet home
This is the girl who lost the house which
Paid to the man who put up the rent and
Threw out the girl to feather his own sweet home

[Chorus]
(There are those, spend the night)
This is the girl who lost the house which
(Under bridges over by the river)
Paid to the man who put up the rent and
(Down in the park through the winter)
Threw out the girl to feather his own sweet home
(But there’s a house that I know)
This is the girl who lost the house which
(Safe and warm, and no one ever goes there)
Paid to the man who put up the rent and
(Down where the priests bless the wine)
Threw out the girl to feather his own sweet home

[Outro]
Thank you for every tree and flower
Thank you for every sky of blue
Thank you, I should be every hour
Truly thanking you

[Interlude]
(I only recognize two tunes: Silent Night and God Save the Queen.)
(And I only know which is which 'cause one of them everybody stands up to.)

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

Tubthumper

From the album

Tubthumper (1997)

Chumbawamba popular songs

The Big IssueChumbawamba

Chumbawamba

Tubthumper