National Express

The Divine Comedy

About National Express

"National Express" is a song by The Divine Comedy. It was released as the third single from the album Fin de Siècle and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart and number 18 in Ireland. The song is based on Neil Hannon's observations of life from the window of a National Express coach.


Year:
1999
4:32
58 
#1

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Take the National Express when your life's in a mess
It'll make you smile
All human life is here
From the feeble old dear to the screaming child
From the student who knows that to have one of those
Would be suicide
To the family man
Manhandling the pram with paternal pride
And everybody sings 'ba ba ba da'
We're going where the air is free

On the National Express there's a jolly hostess
Selling crisps and tea
She'll provide you with drinks and theatrical winks
For a sky-high fee
Mini-skirts were in style when she danced down the aisle
Back in '63 (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
But it's hard to get by when your arse is the size
Of a small country
And everybody sings 'ba ba ba da'
We're going where the air is free
Tomorrow belongs to me

When you're sad and feeling blue
With nothing better to do
Don't just sit there feeling stressed
Take a trip on the National Express, the National Express, let's go

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


The Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Northern Ireland formed in 1989 and fronted by Neil Hannon. Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation besides drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine Comedy name. The group achieved their greatest commercial success in the years 1996–99, during which they had nine singles that made the UK Top 40, including the top ten hit "National Express". The tenth Divine Comedy album, Bang Goes the Knighthood, was released on 31 May 2010. more »

0 fans

Written by: Neil Hannon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"National Express" is a song by "The Divine Comedy" - a chamber pop band from Northern Ireland led by Neil Hannon.
Chart Performance
Released as a single in 1999, "National Express" stands as one of the band's most successful songs. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
Album Information
This song is part of their sixth studio album titled, "Fin de Siècle", which was released in 1998.
Song Inspiration
The song was inspired by Neil Hannon's experiences and observations while traveling on the National Express coach system in the United Kingdom.
Music Video
The music video for "National Express" was directed by Matthew Kirkby. It employs a comedic approach, showcasing a series of absurd and humorous scenarios aboard a National Express coach.
Lyrics
The song's lyrics humorously capture the diversity of passengers on the coach, from "a host of over-friendly sales representatives" to "the family from hell".
Song Style
The track features the distinctive Divine Comedy musical style - rich and orchestral pop combined with witty, often satirical lyrics that demonstrate Hannon's sharp observational skills.
Criticism
Despite its popularity, "National Express" received some criticism for its portrayal of coach drivers and passengers, and was even temporarily banned from being played on National Express coaches.
Tour
"National Express" was regularly played during The Divine Comedy's 1998 and 1999 tours and continues to be a fan favorite during live performances.
Recurrence
Despite the criticism, the song has stood the test of time and has appeared in various cultural contexts including movies and TV shows such as "Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa" and "The Royle Family."

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