Randy Scouse Git

by

The Monkees

Album: Headquarters      Released: 1967

UK Chart: 2

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This is the Monkees having a little joke. The songwriter was Micky Dolenz, and he's referring to a trip to England. "The Four Kings of E.M.I. were The Beatles, whom he met. "Randy Scouse Git" is composed of 3 British slang words, roughly translated as follows:
"Randy": Horny, in search of sex.
"Scouse": A person from the north of England.
"Git": Sort of a jerk, or an idiot.

In the UK, this song was released as "Alternate Title" - another in-joke. (thanks, Wes - Springfield, VA, for above 2)

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Comments:

Right... we know where Micky got the phrase from (Alf Garnett - curiously, if Garnett could get away with this on British TV, why couldn't the Monkees in the title of their song? Curious paradox of censorship... but I digress!). Who WAS the original "Randy Scouse Git"? One gets the impression that the party in question got kind of out of hand. Was it: (a) John Lennon, who might have been making inappropriate advances to Micky's girlfriend? Or was it: (b) Davy Jones (not sure where he's from in England exactly, but the Monkees could have hazy on the finer points of English geography), who may or may not have been doing the same thing? And, if the latter, was it Davy who caused the eventual breakup of the Monkees? Maybe Micky picked up the phrase and used it, accurately, but hurtfully, on Davy... To quote the Beatles: "won't you please, please, tell me?" lol
- Claire, Melbourne, Australia

Git does not translate as jerk or idiot. A better trsanslation is Sod, Swine, Unsavoury Character. For other Scouse translation try http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/scouse-translator.asp
- Cwlwch, Liverpool, United Kingdom

The Beatles threw a party for the Monkees. After that heavy night of fun Mickey woke the next day to Alf Garnett shouting "Randy, Scouse, Git" on the television. Mickey thought it would be a cool name - hence the name. Prior to it's U.K. release the record company informed Mickey of the meaning behind the title and suggested he give them an 'alternate title' - hence the U.K. release name of the title. Mickey apologised - all with fun - to Liverpool radio host Michael Wilkins of City Talk radio in 2008 for his use of the phrase... he had more than a few friends of his who were Scousers.
- Patrick, Red Bank, NJ

WOW ok the only one close was Richard, Lansing, MI the 4 kings of EMI are the Beatles...duh, and the birds out on the sidewalk...uh The Birds...duh again. why don't you cut your hair? ya that doesn't automatically remind you of John Lennon???? it was his birthday party after all! he and mikki were good friends (thus why they started the super group the Hollywood Vampires)and if you have seen any pics of them at that time you would know they had long hair and were always being harassed. its a reference to rebellion and being himself. having parties and getting with girls.
- kc, sanpete, UT

If you notice, Davy, who is not a drummer - drums in an oddly machanical way - evry similar to Ringo Starr's drumming on Sgt. Pepper.
- Linc, Beaumont, TX

In the U.S., this song was one of two songs (the other being "Shades of Gray") from the Headquarters album that were played on top-40 radio in Los Angeles where I was growing up. It's quite a piece, and if you didn't know about the piano lick at the end and you were a disc jockey, you would segue to the next song as the drum roll was fading out.
- ted, phoenix, AZ

I thought it was about a Birthday party.It's about this horny jerk hiding from his fans.
- Jennifer Harris, Grand Blanc, MI

I like how at the end you can hear the sticks just being dropped onto the drum
- allen, chicago, IL

Are you so young you don't remember naugahyde? Wow...the most fake (vinyl coated plastic) looking "leather" substitute I have ever seen! Hot, fake, noisy...
- Marty, Naugatuck, CT

I wouldn't go so far to say Mickey didn't know what he was writing about...I am quite certain he did, and I think you guys forget that Davey Jones was from England so I am sure he let his buddies know just what the cockney insults being shouted meant! I don't know why the Monkees' get a bad rap - sure they didn't write all their songs, but they were performers! And half of being a musician is performing!
- Linc, Beaumont, TX

Randy Scouse Git was the nickname of Tony Booth's character in the tv comed Til Death Us Do Part, which Mickey Dolenz liked when he visited England. Tony Booth is the father of Cherie Blair. Great song written by Mickey about swinging 60s London
- Paul, London, United Kingdom

Yet another favorite of mine and I once broke down the lyrics line by line and tried to decipher them so to speak. I think there are many parts that make sense if you read between the lines. -She's a wonderful lady and mine all mine - most likely his girlfriend at the time -there isn't a way she won't come and lose my mind- seduce him -birds out on the sidewalk- girls aka chicks -there's talcum powder on the letter- possibly a drug refrence -chorus- this is what adults were screaming in the 60's -now they've darkened all the windows And the seats are naugh-a-hyde- limo -I can't find a place to hide- being chased by fans
- PMcOUntry, Small Town, PA

This song proves that The Monkees had talent.
- Matthew, Melbourne, Australia

Richard, I think you meant "Micky defines a Randy Scouse Git as a 'horny Liverpudlian jerk'."
- Guy, Woodinville, WA

Is "To Death Do Us Part" the BritCom upon which the American SitCom "All In The Family" was based? If so, I think it's interesting that "Randy Scouse Git" became "Meathead" when it crossed the pond.
- Liz, New York, NY

weird song. totally bazaar(i'm from Kazakhstan)
- Contiki, Almaty, Kazakhstan

The chorus lines are paraphrases of what Alf would say to his son-in-law in the show i.e. "Why don't you get your hair cut?" and "If it's so bad down here [London/The South], why don't you go back up there [Liverpool/The North]?"
- Chris, London, England

Not sure why but no songs from the "Headquarters" album were ever released in the USA. This (RSG) wasn't bad, but "You May Just Be The One" or "You Told Me" could have gone a long way in the top 40 at that time. This album (Headquarters) was released like a week or two before the Beatles Sgt Pepper album.
- Lance, Pittsburgh, PA

The whole song is about random images from Micky's trip to England. The Beatles threw The Monkees a party, and Micky had met and fallen in love with 'Wonder Girl' Samantha Juste, whom he later married had daughter Ami Dolenz with then divorced. Micky defines a Randy Scouse Git as a 'horny Lilipudlian jerk'.
- Richard, Lansing, MI

This is from the Monkees album "Headquarters." It was unique for the Monkees because they actually played all the instruments themselves (except for an occasional bass or horn player) instead of singing to tracks recorded by a studio band as they had done before. Davey Jones wasn't really a musician, just a singer, and Mickey Dolenz was more an actor than a musician, but Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith were serious musicians and had been frustrated by the way their musicality was margninalized, so this was really their chance to shine. The album sold very well, but none of the songs on it got any real airplay. Personally, I love it, but I got it as a present from my sister when I was about 7, so I may be biased. I always went crazy wondering about the lyrics to one line, which turns out to be "four kings of EMI." Nice to have that cleared up.
- Dennis, Anchorage, AK

This song caused considerable controversy in the UK - hence Alternate Title. A very well done song. Mickey was very influenced by the Beatles.
- Don, Newmarket, Canada

Randy Scouse Git was the term used by Alf Garnet about his liverpudlian son in law in the sitcom To Death Do Us Part .The actor who played the randy scouse git was james booth , whose daugher is cherie blair
- paul, birmingham, England

Great song...even if Micky didn't know what he was writing about.
- Ron, Malone, NY

A Scouser is someone from Liverpool, not the north of the England. I like the english translation BTW. They are "brilliant!": very good, amazing
- James, Manchester, England

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