No Thugs In Our House

(Partridge)

complete #\#i#/#No Thugs In Our House#\#/i#/# 7" front cover

complete No Thugs In Our House 7" front cover

Recordings
XTCfans interview with Andy Partridge
XTCfans interview with Dave Gregory
Art
Lyrics
Chords and Tablature
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Recordings

  1. Album version, 5'16.
    Released on English Settlement.
    Released on 14 May 1982 as a single in the U.K.
    andy-lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
    colin - fender bass
    dave-electric guitars, prophet V
    terry-drums

    Andy: “It's based on those old rock & roll-driven acoustic things, not a million miles from ‘Summertime Blues’.” Dave: “We decided to record the guitar in the stone room at the Manor, with a really loud old 50 watt Marshall bass amp and a 4x12 at one end of the room, and a couple of ambient mikes at the other. But I couldn't stay in there. I had to have a long lead, shut the door, and stand in the studio. And I could still hear it without any headphones on.” Colin: “This was a more acoustic record, so I decided to use a fretless bass, but I wasn't all that proficient, and if you listen closely, you can hear it.”
  2. Single edit, 5'10.
    Same recording as album version.
    Released on 14 May 1982 as a single in the U.K.

  3. Promotional video (uses single edit).
    Combines audio from the single with video from the band's appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test.

  4. BBC version, 5'24.
    Recorded 14 January 1982 at BBC Studios.
    Produced by John Sparrow. Engineered by Mike Robinson.
    First broadcast 25 January 1982 on the David Jensen Show.
    Released on 5 October 1994 on Drums and Wireless in the U.K.
    Also available on Transistor Blast.
    Andy Partridge - vocals and guitars
    Colin Moulding - vocals and bass guitar
    Dave Gregory - keyboards, guitars and vocals
    Terry Chambers - drums

    Andy: “I get to do my Johnny Winter impression with big screams. This is rougher than the album version because it was banged out very quickly live, but at least as good as the album version for different reasons.”
  5. Live version.
    Recorded live on The Old Grey Whistle Test, for BBC TV, in January 1982.
    Recorded at BBC Television Studios, London.
    First broadcast on 11 February 1982.
    Presenter: Anne Nightingale.
    Engineered by John Caulfield.
    Not released.
    Colin Moulding - Bass and Vocals
    Andy Partridge - Guitar, Keyboard and Vocals
    Dave Gregory - Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
    Terry Chambers - Drums

[Thanks to Bill Wikstrom]


Art

#\#i#/#No Thugs in Our House#\#/i#/# cutout characters

No Thugs in Our House cutout characters

#\#i#/#No Thugs in Our House#\#/i#/# sleeve insert

No Thugs in Our House sleeve insert

#\#i#/#No Thugs in Our House#\#/i#/# label obverse

No Thugs in Our House label obverse

#\#i#/#No Thugs in Our House#\#/i#/# label reverse

No Thugs in Our House label reverse

#\#i#/#No Thugs in Our House#\#/i#/# front cover

No Thugs in Our House front cover

#\#i#/#No Thugs in Our House#\#/i#/# back cover

No Thugs in Our House back cover

#\#a href="http://youtu.be/WJ9ieVLaLo8" target="churl"#/#“No Thugs In Our House” live on #\#i#/#The Old Grey Whistle Test#\#/i#/##\#/a#/#

“No Thugs In Our House” live on The Old Grey Whistle Test

UK trade advertisement for the #\#i#/#No Thugs In Our House#\#/i#/# single

UK trade advertisement for the No Thugs In Our House single

 

Lyrics

Album version:

n o    t h u g s    i n     o u r    h o u s e
  T
TTTTT  he  insect-headed  worker-wife  will  hang  her  waspies  on
  T  the line;  the husband burns his paper, sucks his  pipe  while
  T  studying their cushion-floor;    his viscous poly-paste breath
  T  comes out,   their   wall-paper  world  is  shattered  by  his
 TTT  shout,    a  boy in blue  is  busy  banging  out  a  headache
on  the  kitchen  door.          all  the  while  graham  slept  on,
dreaming  of  a  world where  he  could do  just what he  wanted to
no thugs in  our  house, are  there dear?     we  made  that  clear
we  made  little graham promise  us  he'd be a  good boy.  no thugs
in  our  house , are there  dear? we made  that  clear     we  made
little  graham  promise  us  he'd  be  a  good boy.
the  young  policeman who just  can't grow  a moustache  will  open
up  his  book,    and spoil their breakfast  with reports of asians
who have been so badly kicked,       is this your son's wallet I've
got here? he must have dropped it after too much beer!  oh, officer,
we can't believe  our little angel  is the one you've picked.   and
all  the while graham slept on,  dreaming of a world where he could
do just what he wanted to. no thugs in our house,are there dear? we
made that clear  we made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy. no
thugs in our house, are  there dear? we made that clear we  made  little
graham promise  us he'd be  a  good boy.
they never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer,they never readthat
tattoo  on  his  arm.    they thought that was  just a  boys club  badge
he wore,   they never thought he'd do folks any harm.  the insect-headed
worker wife will hang her waspies on the line;   she's singing something
stale and simple now this business  has  fizzled out;    her little tune
is  such  a  happy song     her son  is innocent,   he  can't  do  wrong,
'cos dads a judge and knows exactly  what the job of judging's all about.
and  all the  while graham slept on,   dreaming  of  a  world  where  he
could  do just  what he wanted to.    no thugs in  our  house, are there
dear? we made that clear    we made  little graham promise  us he'd be a
good boy.    no thugs  in our house, are  there dear? we made that clear
we made  little graham promise  us  he'd be  a good boy.

andy-lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar     colin - fender   bass
dave-electric guitars, prophet V   terry-drums  composed by a.partridge

© 1982 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
[Thanks to Gary Jedlicka]

Single version:

A musical in three acts by XTC

Cast of characters

GRAHAM, a teenager
MOTHER, a busy housewife
FATHER, a conservative husband
POLICEMAN, a young constable

SCENE: A kitchen in suburbia, one bright Saturday morning

ACT ONE

Narrator: The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the
line. Her husband burns his paper, sucks his pipe while studying
their cushion-floor, his viscous poly-paste breath comes out. Their
wall-paper world is shattered by his shout. A boy in blue is busy
banging out a headache on the kitchen door. All the while Graham
slept on, dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted
to.

Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.

ACT TWO

Narrator: The young policeman who just can't grow a moustache will
open up his book, and spoil their breakfast with reports of Asians who
have been so badly kicked.

Policeman: Is this your son's wallet I've got here? He must have
dropped it after too much beer!

Mother: Oh, officer, we can't believe our little angel is the one
you've picked.

Narrator: And all the while Graham slept on, dreaming of a world
where he could do just what he wanted to.

Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.

Narrator: They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer.

Policeman: They never read that tattoo on his arm.

Narrator: They thought that was just a boys club badge he wore.

Policeman: They never thought he'd do folks any harm.

ACT THREE

Narrator: The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the
line. She's singing something stale and simple now this business has
fizzled out. Her little tune is such a happy song. Her son is
innocent, he can't do wrong, 'cos Dad's a judge and knows exactly what
the job of judging's all about. And all the while Graham slept on,
dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.

Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.

Mother: No thugs in our house!

Father: No thugs in our house!

Complete cast (in unison): No thugs in our house, dear!

Set Design by Andy Partridge with co-ordination by Ken Ansell.
Stage and Scenery by Art Dragon.

Chords and Tablature

Date: Mon, 11 May 2020 16:07:05 -0400
From: "Michael J. Wilson" <mwilson08008 (at) optonline dot net>
Subject: XTC Tabs
Message-ID: <59ce0c32-3c92-6178-868d-7ee4c2050c47 (at) optonline dot net>

I've been a fan of the Chalkhills website for quite a while, and have often perused the lyrics/tabs section for my own amusement. Folks have done a respectable (no pun intended) job with many of them. However, many need updating/fine tuning. I'd like to humbly submit an update to the existing "No Thugs" (attached). There are more of them that I want to update, as well.

I hope .pdf is ok (I chart everything in Finale) as ASCII is pretty dated at this point -- and I wouldn't even know how to do it that way.

Anyway, thanks! Hope it's usable!

Mike Wilson


Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2018 13:26:55 +0000
From: christopher rowley <chris_70653223 (at) hotmail dot com>
Subject: No thugs in our house bass tab
Message-ID: <VI1PR08MB33748E005B06F42BCF4FA338F7A40 (at) VI1PR08MB3374 dot eurprd08 dot prod dot outlook dot com>

Hi
I have included the Bass Tab to no thugs in our house for your site.

Thanks
Chris Rowley

 No Thugs in our House

 ARTIST: XTC
 ALBUM: English Settlement
 BASSIST: Colin Moulding
 TAB BY chris_70653223 (at) hotmail dot com

 s\=SLIDE

Verse            Bass comes in 00.07
                                     A
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 E|----------------------------------|--0-0--1-2---------0-0--1-2-1-0---|
                                      <----Repeat through-out Verse---->

Pre Chorus                           B
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|-----4--4--4--4--4--4--4--4-------|----------------------------------|
 E|----------------------------------|-----5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|

                                     C
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------------------------|--7-----------7--5------7--5--4---|
 E|-----7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------|------7--7----------7-------------|

Chorus                               D
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 E|--5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|--3---3---3---3---1---1---1---1---|

                                     E
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|--2--2-2--2--4----5--4--5--4--5--4--5--4--5----------5---------------|
 E|----------------------------------|----------5----------5-----12s\---|

                                     F
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 E|--5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|--3---3---3---3---1---1---1---1---|

                                     G
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|--2--2-2--2--4----5--4--5--4--5--4--5--4--5----------5---------------|
 E|----------------------------------|----------5----------5------------|

Repeat A to G

Bridge                               H
 G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------------7-9-----7-9-----7-9----7-9-7-|
 A|----5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7----------7-9-----7-9-----7-9------|
 E|--5------3--------3--------3-------5-7-------------------------------|

                                     I
 G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 D|---------8-----------8-----------8-----------8-----------------------|
 A|----8-10---10---8-10---10---8-10---10---8-10---10--------------------|
 E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                      J
 G|------------------------------------|
 D|------------------------------------|
 A|----5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7--|
 E|--5------3--------3--------3--------|

                                      K
 G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------------7-9-----7-9-----7-9----7-9-7-|
 A|----5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7----------7-9-----7-9-----7-9------|
 E|--5------3--------3--------3-------5-7-------------------------------|

                                       L
 G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
 D|---------8-----------8-----------8-----------8-----------------------|
 A|----8-10---10---8-10---10---8-10---10---8-10---10--------------------|
 E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|

                                       M
 G|------------------------------------|
 D|------------------------------------|
 A|----5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7----0-5-7--|
 E|--5------3--------3--------3--------|

Repeat A to G

                                     N
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 E|12\-5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5-|--5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|

                                     O
 G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
 E|--5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|--5*-----------------------0-1-2--|

                                     P
 G|----------------|----------------------------------|
 D|----------------|----------------------------------|
 A|----------------|----------------------------------|
 E|--0-0--1-2-1-0--|--0-0--1-2---------0-0--1-2-1-0---|
                    <--------Repeat and fade--------->

Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:03:40 -0800
From: "Darrell C. Harvey" <Darrell (at) TheHarveys dot net>
Subject: "No Thugs" corrected
Message-ID: <20070205130340.9zvlxg4dolokocos (at) webmail dot theharveys dot net>


NO THUGS IN OUR HOUSE  by Andy Partridge
© 1982 EMI Virgin Music Ltd, London WC2H 0QY.
Transcribed for Jordan and the XTC Forum by Jeff Truzzi

[Verse riff]

E
0*2*2*1*0*0

Esus4/F#
or
F#m7 (add4)
2*x*2*2*0*0

(repeat)******

[Pre-chorus]

C#m (And all the while)
x*4*6*6*5*4

A  (Graham slept on)
x*0*2*2*2*0

B  (dreaming of a world where he could)
x*2*4*4*4*x

E (do)
0*7*9*9*9*x

B (just what he)
7*9*9*8*7*7

E (wan-)
0*7*9*9*9*x

B (-ted)
7*9*9*8*7*7

E (to)
0*7*9*9*9*x

[Chorus]********

A (No thugs in our house)
x*0*2*2*2*x

A/G (are there)
3*x*2*2*2*x

Fmaj7b5 (dear, we made that)
1*3*3*2*0*0

B  (clear, we made little)
x*2*4*4*4*x

D  (Gra-)
x*5*7*7*7*x

C# (-ham)
x*4*6*6*6*x

D C# D C# D C#  (pro-mise us he'd be a)

D  (good)
x*5*7*7*7*x

A (boy)
x*0*2*2*2*x

D
x*5*7*7*7*x

A
x*0*2*2*2*x

(repeat chorus)******

[Bridge]******

Amaj7
x*0*2*2*2*4

Bm
x*2*4*4*3*2

Bbo (B flat diminished)
x*x*2*3*2*x

A
x*0*2*2*2*x

(repeat, then back to verse riff)****

[Pre-tag]*****

A
x*0*2*2*2*x

A (b9)
x*0*2*3*2*x

(play 3X)*****

A
x*0*2*2*2*x

(hold, back to verse riff)

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