Untamed wit

[cosmolinguist]

I hesitate to tell you how recently I learned that The Jam’s song “Eton Rifles” was not in fact called “Eating Rifles.”

Comments

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

When I was little I thought that too!

[cosmolinguist]

Well that makes me feel a bit better :) But I wasn't that little... Dunno what my excuse is. "I'm sorry, Miss, I have a cold" maybe.

[sfred]

Presumably, until you moved here, you were less familiar with the British Public School system than the average Brit?

[cosmolinguist]

Yes, I was :) And indeed sadly much too ignorant of The Jam too; I quite probably didn't hear this song until a couple of years ago.

Though I am not sure if I'd have recognized the name of Eton, I actually knew a pathetic amount about the British public school thing in general after having had to read and write about it in a class I took in college about the literature of imperial Britain. But that's just because I'm a dork. :)

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

It was on a punk compilation tape that my dad used to play in the car.

I also thought that Pretty Vacant was 'Pretty in Pink'. This also had the Psychedelic Furs 'Pretty in Pink' and when it came on I would occasionally ask 'Can we have the other Pretty in Pink song on?' took my parents months to work out what I was on about.

[cosmolinguist]

Aw! That's great.

Meanwhile, the rest of us still wonder what you're on about ;)

[randy-gibbons.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it. I only just found out Rufus & Chaka Khan wasn't Mr & Mrs Khan. I used to spend ages trying to work out which one was her husband.

[cosmolinguist]

Aw, thanks; it's nice to know that I am in some way not alone.

[doctorstewie.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! I really should find out what Mr Weller is on about with that one. It's one of those songs most right thinking people like, but don't understand. (I may be in a minority though there)

[cosmolinguist]

Aren't you used to being a minority by now?!

[doctorstewie.livejournal.com]

Oh and eating rifles sounds more interesting than Eaton.

I like eating.

[cosmolinguist]

I know! Me too. I often improve song lyrics this way. Like "What's that coming over the hill, is it a bus stop? is it a bus stop?" My misheard lyric is the only thing I like about that song...

[uglybuffy.livejournal.com]

I spent many happy hours singing in the shower, "Never a frown, with Gordon Brown..."

[cosmolinguist]

I hope he uses that in his campaign :)

[finuala.livejournal.com]

Um?

That's really quite bizarre, m'dear. :)

[cosmolinguist]

I know; there are many things wrong with my head.

[ulffriend.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'm totally dating myself, but when I was small there was a song with the lyrics, "I can see clearly now the rain is gone; I can see all obstacles in my way."

I heard that as "I can see all popsicles in my way" until I was in my 20s...you are absolutely not alone :)

[cosmolinguist]

That's brilliant. I'm imagining giant Candy-Land type popsicles growing along the sides of a road like trees. All multicolored and sparkling in the sun. :)