The Wurzels

"The Coughin' Song" b/w "Shovel It Here"

This was the thirteenth 7" 45rpm vinyl single released by The Wurzels after Adge Cutler's death. It was released on 12th March 1982 on the John Miles record label, catalogue number JM1009.

Song Lyrics

The Band:

At the time of the recording of this single The Wurzels consisted of Tommy Banner, Pete Budd, Tony Baylis and John Morgan. This was the first appearance by John Morgan on a Wurzel's single.

The Tracks:

The Coughin' Song - the 'A' side on this single - and Shovel It Here were both new and previously unreleased tracks. They were both studio recordings. The fan club newsletter for June 1982 reported that The British Health Education Council had given their 'seal of warranty to the title track which extolled the dangers of smoking!

Disc and Label Variations:

The examples below are taken from the collection of Professor Wurzel and represent what a collector should expect to find. Generally The Wurzels' vinyl single releases from 1975 onwards tended to have an initial pressing run and were then taken off the catalogue. Matrix, Mother and Stamper codes were still used on the vinyl and the information centred around Adge's 1960's recordings that can be found on the Main Menu under 'Vinyl Collecting Guides' remains relevant (with minor changes between different record labels).

Image 1:

This single - JM1009 - was released on John Miles (The Wurzels manager) own record label who used Pye Records (known as PRT from around July 1980) to manufacture and distribute his records. The disc was actually pressed by Damont Records Ltd who were in Hayes, Middlesex.

'A' Side Matrix:JM1009 tone damont
GIVE IT UP BOB!

'B' Side Matrix: JM1009

An explanation for the phrase on the A side has not yet been found, but most likely referred to 'Bob' giving up smoking!

Collectors' Extras:

An autographed copy of JM1009 - signed by all three of the band.

'A' Side Matrix: JM1009 damont tone GIVE IT UP BOB! 'B' Side Matrix: JM1009

"The Coughin' Song" b/w "Shovel It Here" - Song Lyrics

Side 1 The Coughing Song
Well I tried to give up smoking, a hundred times a day
But when it's time to give up, it's always time to begin again
Cos I'm a chain smoker, and it's true what they say
When I take one out of my mouth I pop another one in again
Well I just love the king size filters, and the plain ones too
I like the ones that start out thin, go fat and go thin again
Well I just love the smell of cigarettes, I don't know what to do
When I smell that smoke, I know that I'm giving in again
(Chorus)
Well I know it sounds funny, but it's no joke
The car needs gas and I need smoke
And I don't wanna get what I know I'm gonna get
But I'll get it if I have another cigarette
I know that the Doctor's words were true
If you don't kill the habit then the habit kills you
And that's gotta be one stupid way to die
Now my New Year's resolution was to never smoke again
But in the middle of Auld Lang's Syne I lit another one up again
Cos I'm a chain smoker, and it's true what they say
When I take one out of my mouth I pop another one in again
Well I just got to break this habit, cos it's getting me down
My mouth tastes so damn bad I never wanna eat again
And I can't smoke when I'm sleeping, but when I wake up
Well I need about a pack just to put me back on my feet again
(Repeat chorus)
Cos I'm a chain smoker, it's true what they say
When it's time to give up, it's always time to begin again
Yes I'm a chain smoker, it's true what they say
And that's gotta be one stupid way to die
Cos I'm a chain smoker, it's true what they say
When it's time to give up, it's always time to begin again
Cos I'm a chain smoker, it's true what they say
And that's gotta be one stupid way to die
(Repeat twice to fade)
This recording contains a Government Health Warning
And could seriously, damage your, health
(Accompanied by lots of coughing)
Lyrics Kindly transcribed by E.Bryant
Verified by Professor Wurzel

Side 2 Shovel It Here
Old Pongo Bill down at the farm had wealth beyond his dreams
He said it were better than oil, or coal in big black seams
He said t'is very plentiful, and don't need special care
In fact, he just declared himself a manure millionaire
Woah….
(Chorus)
Shovel it here, shovel it there
Shovel it nice and thick
Shovel it up in buckets full
And stir it with a stick
Cos whether it's heaped or whether it's flung
There's riches on the grass
As folks our way do always say
Where there's muck there's brass
He loaded up his cart one day and made it off to town
The trail he left behind him was all slippery and brown
He stopped outside a High Street bank and went inside to see
If to open a deposit account was a possibility
Woah….
(Repeat Chorus)
The manager at first refused to grant his odd request
But Pongo sort of forced his hand and plonked some on his desk
He fixed him with a beady eye and said I know t'is strange
But I plan to get dung quoted on the London Stock Exchange
Woah….
(Repeat Chorus)
He left the bank a sorry place, the staff all fought for breath
The luckless manager by now was nearly close to death
Apart from what was on his desk, a very small amount
Bill backed his cart up through the door and opened his account
Woah….
(Repeat Chorus)
He drove away a happy man, he'd fulfilled his ambition
He felt like a commando just got back from a mission
But a panda car it waved him down with complaints about the smell
So just to make his day complete he gave them some as well
Woah….
(Repeat Chorus)
The moral of this story is there's riches to be found
For enterprising people who've got both eyes on the ground
So, as you pass through life my friend may the smell of success be sweet
And when you travel by bus of course you'll always get a seat
Woah….
(Repeat Chorus)
Woah….
Shovel it here (shovel it)
Shovel it there (shovel it)
Shovel it nice and thick (shovel it)
Shovel it up in buckets full
And stir it with a stick
Cos whether it's heaped
Or whether it's flung
There's riches on the grass
As folks our way do always say
Where there's muck there's brass

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