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Turn Up For The Books

from Turn Up For The Books by Robbie McIntosh

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about

I had both the lyrics and that riff knocking about for a long time. I was just mucking about with the riff one day and I just stuck them together. As far writing goes, that's what happened.
The phrase "A turn up for the books" comes from horse-racing, where a horse comes to form opposite to what its odds were set at and therefore would make money for the bookmakers. But the last verse is definitely a dig at the paradox of the moment which is that everybody's moaning about there being a recession and nobody having any money and yet there's more adverts on TV about gambling than there is about anything else!
The last verse says that you're part of the problem; you haven t got any money because you're gambling it away. It's not that I hate gambling per se, and I've played a bit of blackjack but it's quite obvious it's a mug's game otherwise the gambling companies wouldn't have so much money to advertise.
But the rest of the song is just a list. Actually I've come to realize that everything is a list. Life is just one big list!!

The song was cut as a four-piece band; Paul Beavis on drums, Steve Wilson on bass, Steve Smith played electric piano and me on guitar. It was done in a very traditional way. I then got Steve Wilson and Jess Upton to do backing vocals. I played my Flying V for the solo, it's a very bluesy guitar and I played it through my Jackson Ampworks amp.
Was lovely having Steve Wilson play bass on some of my songs. Me bestest mate, great bass player, plays guitar, sings, great fun, great company. Thanks Steve x

lyrics

I bought a boat - It had a leak
I met a strongman - He was weak
I bought some fried chicken - It had a beak
I got lost - Playing Hide 'n' seek

Was a turn up for the books
Just a turn up for the books
Many many hands - Or too many cooks
It was a turn up for the books

I bought a clock - With no face
I bought a horse - That wouldn't race
I got myself some shoes - I couldn't lace
I got a pacemaker - That couldn't stand the pace

Was a turn up…etc
Take no notice of all those strange looks
It's just a turn up for the books

Well you drinker - You smoker
You're off line - Playing online poker
Well you wretch - You joker
That's the fire - And you're the stoker

Was a turn up…etc
Lining the pockets - Of Dirty crooks
Just a turn up for the books

credits

from Turn Up For The Books, released September 7, 2013
RM: Guitars,Vocals
Paul Beavis: Drums,
Steve Wilson: Bass, Backing Vocals
Stephen Darrel Smith: Electric Piano
Jess Upton: Backing Vocals

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Robbie McIntosh Weymouth, UK

Robbie McIntosh is well known as a sideman/session player (Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Talk Talk, Norah Jones, Tears For Fears, to name but a few)
As a solo performer and singer, he has released 8 albums:
Seaworld,
Fortuneswell,
Turn Up For The Books,
Widescreen, Emotional Bends
3 albums of instrumentals:
Unsung, Hush Hour and Christmas Carols.
Also the Let’s Put It All Together EP.
... more

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