You've Never Had It So Good

Album: Stephen Ward the Musical soundtrack (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Running to 4 minutes 41 seconds on the original cast recording, this is the eighth number from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Stephen Ward. Like the rest of the score it has lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton.
  • This bawdy song is performed by the entire company, but the title has a more prosaic cultural reference. British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan is often misquoted "You never had it so good." In reality, on July 20, 1957 he said "most of our people have never had it so good."

    With the Profumo Affair, Macmillan didn't have it so good himself for much longer. On August 3, 1963, Stephen Ward committed suicide; Macmillan resigned as Prime Minister in October to be replaced by Alec Douglas-Home, and the next year the Conservative Government was swept from office by Labour under Harold Wilson.
  • In spite of the explicit nature of this song, the Swinging Sixties did not really begin until a couple of years later. Al Stewart has probably captured their ethos better than any other songwriter with the contemporaneous "Love Chronicles" and the much later "Gina In The Kings Road," but Lloyd Webber - who is around three years younger than Stewart - was also there, as was lyricist, the somewhat older and London-born Don Black, and considering the furor the Profumo Affair caused at the time, they can hardly be accused of perpetrating an anachronism. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."