Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
This song is a retelling of events that surrealist critic George Melly experienced one night in Manchester. He was being mugged when he thought he’d recite “The Ursonate,” a sound poem by Kurt Schwitter, which may have saved his life.
George looks gorgeous in pinstripes
Pocket handkerchief and cravat
Swaggering out of the Band On The Wall
In a burgundy Homberg hat
Singing "Ratatatay, ratatatay"!
George after-hours and the worse for whisky
When somebody shouts "Hey, you!"
In a pitch-black Manchester backstreet
...well, what's a poor singer to do but
Sing "Ratatatay, ratatatay"!
Two men Flashing a knife blade, saying
"Give us your notes and your watch"
Singing the backstreet stand-off to the rhythm
Of the fear and the scotch
George, not wanting to feel the knife
Cornered and speeding and scared ...
From the back of his mind comes 'Ursonate':
Sound and fury and words
He sings: Ratatatay, ratatatay!
So the robbers are stuck to the spot now
Watching george as he sings for his life
Menace turns to panic and they turn and run
And the song waves goodbye to the knife -
Singing "Ratatatay, ratatatay!"