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Del Amitri — Nothing Ever Happens
Album: Waking Hours
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 364









Released: 1990
Length: 3:46
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Post office clerks put up signs saying 'position closed'
And secretaries turn off typewriters and put on their coats
And janitors padlock the gates
For security guards to patrol
And bachelors phone up their friends for a drink
While the married ones turn on a chat show

And they'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

Gentlemen time please, you know we can't serve anymore
Now the traffic lights change to stop, when there's nothing to go
And by five o'clock everything's dead
And every third car is a cab
And ignorant people sleep in their beds
Like the doped white mice in the college lab

And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before

And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

Telephone exchanges click while there's nobody there
The Martians could land in the car park and no one would care
Closed-circuit cameras in department stores
Shoot the same movie every day
And the stars of these films neither die nor get killed
Just survive constant action replay

And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before

And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow

And bill hoardings advertise products that nobody needs
While "Angry from Manchester" writes to complain about
All the repeats on TV
Computer terminals report some gains in the values of copper and tin
While American businessmen snap up Van Goghs
For the price of a hospital wing

And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before

And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
They'll burn down the synagogues at six o'clock
And we'll all go along like before

And we'll all be lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow
Comments (31)add comment
 fredriley wrote:
Krow_Pie wrote: Yummy! I could just go for a plate of haggis and neeps right now, followed up with a wee dram :*)


never mind 'followed up', get that dram *in* the haggis & neeps!
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Jadedragon, that shameful comment is totally unfair and shows your complete ignorance about Scottish society. I think you'll find we also have a fair number of psychopaths, schizophrenics, paranoids, inadequates and general-purpose nut jobs. So before you post anything else on this site try and get your facts straight!
scottishwillie cracks me up with remarks like this. as i listened and read the lyrics, all i could think was the song is made worthwhile because of the lyrics







 SchoepTone wrote:

Waking Hours is a very solid album. Worth seeking out on Apple Music or Spotify if you're seeking something pretty great to listen to.



In the spirit of Alan Partridge I'd have to say "Hatful of Rain" is the album it would be worth finding.
 fredriley wrote:
Krow_Pie wrote: Yummy! I could just go for a plate of haggis and neeps right now, followed up with a wee dram :*)



I'll join in the dram (same word in Danish fyi ;) but you can have the turnips and intestines all for yourself, good sir 😛
Great band great song great memories and now a brand new song,listen to it!!!
Thanks for playing. one of my favorite songs  
Best Scottish band ever.  Sardonic lyrics, great tunes, brilliant live too.  The most under-rated band I can think of.  Should have been huge. 
Waking Hours is a very solid album. Worth seeking out on Apple Music or Spotify if you're seeking something pretty great to listen to.
 Anybody know more about this reunion and how they sound?

Del Amitri reformed again in July 2018, playing eight dates in seven UK cities. Their live set included a new song, 'You Can't Go Back', and a cover of Twenty One Pilots' hit song, "Heathens". In July 2018, Currie said that a new group album and further activity was possible.
A clear 10. wonderful song.
I think this is the first time I've heard the Dels on RP.  Nice to hear!
 ScottishWillie wrote:
gregorbill wrote:
Could easily be re-titled "Ballad of a clinically depressed scotsman"

jadedragon wrote:

Is there any other kind?

That's totally unfair and shows your complete ignorance about Scottish society. I'll think you'll find we have a fair number of sychopaths and inadequates as well. So before you post anything else on this site try and get your facts straight.


 
sychopaths and inadequates - is that inadequate spelling :-)
gregorbill wrote:
Could easily be re-titled "Ballad of a clinically depressed scotsman"
jadedragon wrote:
Is there any other kind?
Jadedragon, that shameful comment is totally unfair and shows your complete ignorance about Scottish society. I think you'll find we also have a fair number of psychopaths, schizophrenics, paranoids, inadequates and general-purpose nut jobs. So before you post anything else on this site try and get your facts straight!
Thanks for playing this. It's one of my all time favorites and a lost classic. I have a lot of history with this song. Some of the best lyrics ever.
I love this song...nice way to sign off for me. Thanks for lovely music RP!
Krow_Pie wrote:
Haggis.
Yummy! I could just go for a plate of haggis and neeps right now, followed up with a wee dram :*)
That's probably the number of times it's been played. ptegan wrote:
3 comments in 4 years? Shame on you RP listeners :)
Better than anything else I've heard of theirs.
I've not really listened to the lyrics of this before, but they're pretty bang on, if a little depressing. 6 from the Nottingham jury.
gregorbill wrote:
Could easily be re-titled "Ballad of a clinically depressed scotsman"
Is there any other kind?
ahhhh yes reminds me of when I lived in England I heard this in all the pubs...thanks Bill great song
Love the accordian work! Very nice song.
Haggis.
Oh, I love Del Amitri! And have never heard this song before ... like it very much! Thanks Bill!
ptegan wrote:
3 comments in 4 years? Shame on you RP listeners :)
Maybe it's more about the band than RP...apathy is the toughest critic to overcome.
Great Song, makes my evening:)
Thanks Bill!!
3 comments in 4 years? Shame on you RP listeners :)
Really like these Scots. Must be the mandolin.
The repetoire of this group could easily get massive rotation here if I could only upload a dozen songs or so ...
This is a really great song. Could easily be re-titled "Ballad of a clinically depressed scotsman", but I still love it.