Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSzS7S5uAos

Very occasionally, my iPod's random play feature will throw up an oddity. This afternoon's case in question was 'Harold the Barrel by Genesis, from their Nursery Cryme album released back in 1971, not that I first heard it then. I didn't start listening to their stuff until some time in 1976 and saw them for the first at Manchester Free Trade Hall in January 1977.

What struck me about its appearance today was the quintessential Englishness of the lyrics, the attitude of a socially embarrassed mother, the typical English copper, Harold's failed attempt at maintaining a stiff upper lip in the face of adversity, whilst all the while going quietly mad, and lastly the neighbours gossiping about the goings on behind Harold and his mother's back. It reminds me (as do many things) of the way things were in the sixties. Yes, I was born in 1961, but can't claim to remember the "sixties" as an event as it's so often portrayed, but it does instead match what I believe life was like at that time and how those who weren't traipsing up and down Carnaby Street or inhabiting The Cavern Club would have been behaving.

The other resonance in the lyrics for me came from a book of Graham Greene short stories I'm reading at the moment. All were written from the late 30's to the early 50's and seem to touch on the lives of ordinary folk as they were being affected by world affairs happening around them, or in the mess they had left behind. Some aspects of the latter were still to be seen when I was growing up. For that reason his stories prick away at memories left long in the distant past, or pretty much forgotten. Strange to think that they're still there. They're worth reading [the short stories, not my memories] should you have a few moments.

Anyway, on to Harold...

Harold the Barrel by Genesis, 1971

News:
A well-known Bognor restaurant-owner disappeared
early this morning.
Last seen in a mouse-brown overcoat,
suitably camouflaged,
they saw him catch a train.

Man-in-the-street:
"Father of three its disgusting"
"Such a horrible thing to do"

Harold the Barrel cut off his toes and he served them all for tea
"Can't go far", "He can't go far".
"Hasn't got a leg to stand on"
"He can't go far".

Man-on-the-spot:
I'm standing in a doorway on the main square
tension is mounting
There's a restless crowd of angry people

Man-on-the-council:
"More than we've ever seen.
- had to tighten up security"

Over to the scene at the town hall
The Lord Mayor's ready to speak

Lord Mayor:
"Man of suspicion, you can't last long, the British Public is on our side"

British Public:
"Can't last long", "You can't last long".
"Said you couldn't trust him, his brother was just the same"
"You can't last long".

Harold:
If I was many miles from here,
I'd be sailing in an open boat on the sea
Instead I'm on this window ledge,
With the whole world below
Up at the window
Look at the window...

Mr.Plod:
"We can help you"

Plod's Chorus:
"We can help you"

Mr. Plod:
"We're all your friends, if you come on down and talk to us son"

Harold:
You must be joking
Take a running jump

The crowd was getting stronger and our Harold getting weaker;
Forwards, backwards, swaying side to side
Fearing the very worst
They called his mother to the sight
Upon the ledge beside him
His mother made a last request.

67-yr-old Mrs Barrel:
"Come off the ledge if your father were alive he'd be very, very, very upset.
"Just can't jump, you just can't jump"
"Your shirt's all dirty, there's a man here from the B.B.C."
"You just can't jump"

Mr. Plod:
"We can help you"

Plod's Chorus:
"We can help you"

Mr. Plod:
"We're all your friends, if you come on down and talk to us Harry"

Harold:
You must be joking.
Take a running jump......