Bed of Nails
What is it about this song that made it so popular at DENIGH gigs?
Bed of Nails is likely the most played of all our songs and lately, Jon has told me that if he was cut in half, the Bed of Nails lyric would be revealed, running through like a stick of Folkestone Rock!
So, the story begins early in 78, when we were still rehearsing for our first gigs, and I recall musing about the 'nonsense songs' that crop up now and again and thinking I'd like to write something like that.
I reckon I was only 19 at the time and it came together as a bit of a joke - I picked up my acoustic, got a little riff going, this inspired a lyric and Bed of Nails was born.
When I played it to the guys at rehearsal it clearly went down well with everyone, but not one of us realised it would become such a favourite. At our first gig in 1978 we had eight original songs, and Bed of Nails was one of them.
Soon after, early in 1979, we recorded our first demo of those songs at Europa Sound Studios in Folkestone. That recording was made by the original founder members - Jon, Ian, Steve & Johnny - though I'm sure its been performed and recorded by every line-up of DENIGH.
Even in the here and now, a new arrangement of Bed of Nails makes a fitting bonus track on the 'Back in the Game' CD edition, and is also available as a single for download / streaming. And, just for fun, we released a YouTube video version too!
Ian (He don't take bread with his butter!)
Blood on Your Hands
One of our favourites from the 'Back in the Game' album.
The inspiration for this track came December 2020, in the midst of the Covid lockdowns and Social Distancing.
I was at Margate hospital and I had never seen the place so calm and quiet – it was (almost) a pleasure to be there, except that I was awaiting the attention of the X-Ray dept.
There I sat, alone in 10ft x 10ft waiting room that had only four chairs – one against each wall – and occasionally a nurse would pass by the door to check I was still breathing.
I was thinking, 'lovely smiles and kind words', and I smiled at my rather cynical notion, 'but I know there's blood on those hands!'
An idea for a song lyric formed, and as sometimes happens, the original inspiration / theme changed a little as I hurriedly entered lines into my phone 'notebook'. By the time it was established that I had no bones broken or missing, I'd also got a 'pumping' Bass line and a verse melody in my head, so I knocked up a simple demo at home for the next socially distanced video contact with Ian.
Almost immediately, Ian suggested a musical progression suitable for a chorus, into which the lyric fitted perfectly, and we had a basic arrangement of the song.
Of course, many more hours in Studio One were required to achieve the final product, and the evidence shows that Ian did a mighty job on the production. Jon
Foxy
When was FOXY written, and what was the inspiration?
FOXY dates from the particularly cold and snowy winter of 1978 / 79.
DENIGH had been gigging since August and was still the original line up of Ian & Jon, Johnny on drums and Steve Maddock on lead guitar.
I remember the snow laying on the roads made driving difficult but we were managing to rehearse at West Hougham village hall, more or less as normal, and at one of those rehearsals Ian demonstrated a riff & chord sequence from which we might develop a new song. There were no lyrics and no arrangement, but there was an interesting feel to it. With the evening done and following a glass of 'soda water' at The Cricketers Pub, we each journeyed home.
I was driving DENIGH's first van – a Bedford Minibus – and on that journey home, a fox running at full tilt, crossed the road, several yards in front. Everywhere was white with snow so the fox was picked out in full contrast against it and I remember thinking how tough this creature's existence must be in the winter.
But then I also considered that at least 'Mother Nature' increases the night hours so he has more time to hunt. Then an idea formed and with only half a mile to go I wrote down my thoughts as soon as I got home. Directly from this 'encounter' came the inspiration for the FOXY theme:
Mother Nature knows the fox's brutal lifestyle so has cursed it to run
His hunger is greater in the winter because food is harder to find
So Nature takes pity on the fox making the nights longer, giving him more time to hunt
When I met with Ian next, FOXY was born, soon becoming a firm favourite with us and our fans. Jon
Bevin Boys
Jon: The idea for the song - Bevin Boys
In January 2021, via video call, Ian said he had an idea for a new song about the Bevin Boys - who are they?
Well, some of the young men called to service during WW2 were randomly selected to work in the coal mines to boost production. This was an initiative of Labour Minister Ernest Bevin and these 18 year olds became known as Bevin Boy's.
What Ian didn't know was that my dad was a Bevin Boy at Easington Pit, County Durham and, to a teenager from SE London, this posting wasn't what he expected.
In writing this we have imagined what it must have been like for these guys. The frustration and the fears, the hopes and the reality.
Carl adds:
The history of the Bevin Boys is close to our hearts, not least because Jon’s dad was one of those conscripted.
So, we were honoured to have our song and video linked on a website dedicated to the Bevin Boys http://www.theforgottenconscript.co.uk/
The site contains a wealth of historical information, photos, and memorials. We highly recommend it. Thank you to writer and producer, Jaye Swift for linking us on her website.