andy patridge “humble daisy”
from: fuzzy warbles: Vol 3, XTC Nonsuch, 1982
“Humble Daisy
Form a chain to hold all battleships in check
Humble Daisy
Knit a ladder down to nature’s sunken wreck
Ragged rug unbound
Tangle trip the lovers
Royal barge aground
Brighter than all of the others on the window sill
I’ll sing about you if nobody else will
Humble Daisy
Cast the milk and coins of morning’s cash about
Humble Daisy
I fell down to heaven as you picked me out
We’ll look up together
Browsing through some old sky
Sipping in the weather
You’ve got me dizzy, the fly that climbed the sugar hill
I’ll lay upon you ‘till somebody else will
Humble Daisy
We’ll look up together
Humble Daisy
We’ll look up together”
As we digest music at nearly the quarter century mark of the 21rst Century, it’s hard to imagine all the work that goes into a single song. Enter Andy Patridge, of XTC , noted for their demos, workshops, experiments and extra touches in the making their records. As a launching pad, compare the demo and finished product of “Humble Daisy,” an anti-war lament for the crimes against nature. Sounds simple enough until you experience the unraveling production glories that drape across one another within this piece. It reminds me of harmonies from the Beach Boys and the male munchkin choir from the Wizard of Oz, a readjusted sound effects record, layers of supporting jazz guitar infils, a subdued horn section, all propelled by impassioned high poetry, topped with the collision between combat and flowers! Who wins? Give a listen. Lush!
Fuzzy Warbles is an 8 cd set of the musical menagerie of XTC and Mr. Partridge’s solo accoutrements.
