Handyman Blues

Album: Tooth & Nail (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Billy Bragg wrote this song about his lack of DIY skills. He explained to Chortle that he penned it "as a way of explaining to my missus why I'm not much good at putting stuff up or taking stuff down. I just about manage mowing the lawn and changing the lightbulbs. Catching spiders as well. If anyone else in my house learns to do that, I'm out probably."
  • The song's music video was directed by Johnny Vegas. It features his fellow comedians Stewart Lee, Ross Noble, Phill Jupitus, Kevin Eldon and Ricky Grover, as well as actors Neil Morrissey and Sam West. The pair hooked up after Bragg gave Vegas permission to use his music in his film Ragged, which is about the comic actor Ricky Tomlinson's fight to overturn his conviction for intimidation on picket lines in the Seventies.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.