Reasons to Be Cheerful

Ian Dury, Ian Dury & the Blockheads

About Reasons to Be Cheerful

"Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3" is a song and single by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, initially released as the single "Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3 / Common as Muck" issued on 20 July 1979 and reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart the following month. It is the last single to be released by the band in their original line-up.


Year:
2002
4:46
9,149 
#4

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Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed
Why don't you get back into bed

Reasons to be cheerful part 3

1 2 3

Summer, Buddy Holly, the working folly
Good golly Miss Molly and boats
Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet
Jump back in the alley and nanny goats

18-wheeler Scammels, Domenecker camels
All other mammals plus equal votes
Seeing Piccadilly, Fanny Smith and Willy
Being rather silly, and porridge oats

A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it
You're welcome, we can spare it - yellow socks
Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty
Going on 40 - no electric shocks

The juice of the carrot, the smile of the parrot
A little drop of claret - anything that rocks
Elvis and Scotty, days when I ain't spotty,
Sitting on the potty - curing smallpox

Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3

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Reasons to be cheerful part 3

Health service glasses
Gigolos and brasses
Round or skinny bottoms

Take your mum to Paris
Lighting up the chalice
Wee Willy Harris

Bantu Stephen Biko, listening to Rico
Harpo, Groucho, Chico

Cheddar cheese and pickle, the Vincent motorsickle
Slap and tickle
Woody Allen, Dali, Dimitri and Pasquale
Balabalabala and Volare

Something nice to study, phoning up a buddy
Being in my nuddy
Saying hokey-dokey, Sing Along With Smokey
Coming out of chokey

John Coltrane's soprano, Adi Celentano
Bonar Colleano

Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3

1 2 3

Yes yes
Dear dear
Perhaps next year
Or maybe even never

In which case

Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3

1 2 3

Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3

1 2 3
Reasons to be cheerful part 3

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Ian Dury

Ian Robins Dury (12 May 1942 – 27 March 2000) was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader, artist, and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music. He is best known as founder and lead singer of the British band Ian Dury and the Blockheads. more »

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Written by: CHARLES JEREMY JANKEL, DAVID STANLEY PAYNE, IAN ROBINS DURY, STANLEY PAYNE DAVID

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Release Information
"Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3" was released as a single by Ian Dury in 1979.
Chart Success
The song reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in July 1979, which was the singer's highest-charting single in the UK.
Backing Band
The song is credited to Ian Dury and the Blockheads, his regular backing band.
Romantic Connection
The song was written by Ian Dury and his longtime songwriting partner, Chaz Jankel, for the album "See for Yourself."
Song Inspiration
"Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3" was reportedly one hundred percent improvisation done in one take after Dury and Jankel were stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the recording studio. It's a list of positive aspects of life, from the simple to the complex.
Song Composition
The song is known for its energetic and groove-driven funk tune, which was popular during the late 1970s.
Music Video
A music video was released for the song, it shows Dury and the band playing the song in the middle of what appears to be a traffic jam.
Cultural Impact
The song has entered the British lexicon and has been referenced in several UK TV shows, such as "The Royle Family" and "Doctor Who".
Continued Recognition
In 2018, the song's title was used as a title for a musical about Ian Dury and The Blockheads.
Live Performances
The song was a staple of Ian Dury’s live performances, and it's sometimes played as the set closer as the song's upbeat nature often leaves the audience on a high note.
Tribute
After Dury's death in 2000, the song has been played as a tribute to him on a number of occasions.
Proliferation of Covers
Numerous artists, including Robbie Williams and Fatboy Slim, have either referenced or directly covered "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3" in their own works.
Unique Song Structure
Although titled as 'Part 3', there are no 'Part 1' or 'Part 2'. This unpredictability and eccentricity is part of what made Dury and the Blockheads' music unique.

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