Robyn Hitchcock Song Catalogue

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Author: James A. Smith
Originally performed by: Maureen & the Meatpackers

Released on 3 records:

Innocent Boy (Underwater Moonlight bonus 7"), 2001  (Vinyl 7")  Matador DNA 500
Maxwell's, New York, 1980, 1998  (CD)  Handmade Productions
Zip Zip, 1980  (Vinyl 7")  Armageddon AS-001

Many thanks to James A. Smith for the following information:

Glad to oblige. The song was written by me, and originally recorded by
my band of 1978-80, the Containers, at Spaceward Studios. The lineup was
Myself on Guitar and vocals, Adrian Foster bass,(Also bass player with
Cambridge pub/party favourites 'The Ducks On The Wall Gang' named after
a strip cartoon I once drew), Stella Barker on rhythm guitar (she later
played with The Bodysnatchers, a ska band, and The Belle Starrs, who
had several hits in the early eighties), with Robyn on lead guitar for a
couple of numbers (not Zip Zip) and Morris Windsor on drums.

The version you may have heard was recorded at Alaska Studios, Waterloo,
London SE1 as part of the Underwater Moonlight sessions, or shortly
afterwards. The Soft Boys had played Zip Zip as an encore a couple of
times in the States - I think there is a bootleg from a show in NJ -
must have been 1980? The Alaska version was the Soft Boys, with Rosalind
Kunath and probably Anstis Fisher on vocals with Robyn.


Lyrics:

Headlights flashin' in the rain again, 
My thumb is giving me pain again, zip zip
Another one passes me by, zip zip
Sometimes I wonder why I try, zip zip

I don't know why I'm comin' to you
You're someone I could easily lose
You're so small!
Zip zip

That man's been here before, zip zip
I bet he's got a cross on his door, zip zip

When I get to your house baby
I'll walk right up the stair, I won't say maybe
I'll tell you what I want from you
Even if you think it's cruel

'Cos I got a message from the weatherman
To go and see my uncle Stan
It looks like he could use a drink, zip zip
Some say that he's the missing link, zip zip

Oooooo
Oooooo

When I get to your house baby
I'll walk right up the stair, I won't say maybe
I'll tell you what I want from you
Even if you think it's cruel

I came in looking sideways, you stood there looking cool
You blush like a beetroot, I strawberry like a fool, zip zip  
You're the one that makes me ache, zip zip
Yeah, you're the one that bakes my cake, zip zip

Headlights flashin' in the rain again, 
My thumb is giving me pain again, zip zip
Another one passes me by, zip zip
Sometimes I wonder why I try, zip zip

Zip zip
Zip zip
Zip zip
Zip zip


No guitar tab entered.


Known to have been played live at 2 gigs:

The Soft Boys:
Club Eighties (New York, New York US), 9/5/1980 (Concert)
The Soft Boys: Maxwell's (Hoboken, New Jersey US), 9/6/1980 (Concert)

From now on, sort gigs by:  Date  Performer  Type of Appearance 


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