Billericay Dickie

Ian Dury

About Billericay Dickie

"Billericay Dickie" is a song by Ian Dury, from his debut album New Boots and Panties!!. It is narrated by a bragging bricklayer from Billericay, and is filled with name-checks for places in Essex. The song is based around naughty rhymes such as: I had a love affair with Nina In the back of my Cortina A seasoned up hyena could not have been more obscenerEach verse tells a different short story, relating one of Dickie's sexual conquests around south-eastern England, while in the choruses the character insists he is a caring, conscientious lover and 'not a thickie', even giving the names of two girls ("a pair of squeaky chickies") as references to attest this. Dickie is a character most commonly referred to in the media as an 'Essex lad'. The song, perhaps the best example of Dury's 'Englishness' and 'Essexness', was given its oompah, fairground like arrangement by an American, Steve Nugent. Ian Dury stated on numerous occasions (as mentioned in both his biographies, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll: The Life of Ian Dury and Ian Dury & The Blockheads: Song By Song) that he saw Dickie as a pathetic figure. He would reflect this on-stage by breaking down, as if he were about to cry during the final part of the song, before returning to normal, to shout the final lines of the final verse. The song was rarely used as an opening track for live sets (another song from New Boots and Panties!!, "Wake Up and Make Love with Me", was used instead), but it does open the set recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, in 1985, that was released as the Hold Onto Your Structure VHS/DVD. Live versions can be found on both of Dury's live albums Warts 'n' Audience and Straight from the Desk. 


Year:
1996
57 
#1

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

Good evening I'm from essex
In case you couldn't tell
My given name is Dickie, I come from Billericay
And I'm doing very well

Had a love affair with Nina
In the back of my Cortina
A seasoned up hyena could not have been more obscener
She took me to the cleaners
And other misdemeanours
But I got right up between her
Rum and her Ribena

Well, you ask Joyce and Vicki
If candy-floss is sticky
I'm not a blinking thicky
I'm Billericay Dickie
And I'm doing very well

I bought a lot of brandy
When I was courting Sandy
Took eight to make her randy
And all I had was shandy
Another thing with Sandy 
What often came in handy
Was passing her a 'Mandy'
She didn't half go bandy

So you ask Joyce and Vicki
If I ever took the mickey
I'm not a flipping thicky
I'm billeicay dickie
And I'm doing very well

I'd rondez-vouez with Janet
Quite near the Isle of Thanet
She looked more like a gannet
She wasn't half a prannet
Her mother tried to ban it
Her father helped me plan it
And when I captured Janet she bruised her pomegranet

So you ask Joyce and Vicki
If I ever shaped up tricky
I'm not a blooming thicky
I'm Billericay Dickie
And I'm doing very well

You should never hold a candle if you don't know where it's been
The jackpot is in the handle on a normal fruit machine

So you ask Joyce and Vicki
Who's their brickie
I'm not a common thicky
I'm Billericay Dickie
And I'm doing very well

I know a lovely old toe-rag obliging and noblesse 
Kindly, charming shag from Shoeburyness

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!


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 »

0 fans

Written by: CHAZ JANKEL, IAN ROBINS DURY, STEPHEN LEWIS NUGENT

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist
The song "Billericay Dickie" was performed by British musician Ian Dury. Ian Dury was a pioneer in the punk and new wave scenes.
Album and Release
"Billericay Dickie" is in the debut studio album of Ian Dury, named "New Boots and Panties!!". The album was released in the year 1977.
Popularity
Despite the album not spawning any hit singles at the initial time of release, it steadily gained momentum and eventually became the best-selling album of Ian Dury's career.
Theme
The song is a comedic romp through the life of a fictitious character known as Billericay Dickie who hails from an English town of Billericay in Essex.
Ian Dury’s Personal Connection
Ian Dury himself was raised in Upminster, not far from Billericay, which could have inspired the backdrop for the song.
Music Style
Like many songs in the album, "Billericay Dickie" highlights Dury's distinctive blend of music, mixing elements of funk, rock, and jazz.
Lyrics
In terms of lyrical content, the song is known for its humorous and explicit puns, a characteristic trope of Dury's songwriting style.
Live Performance
"Billericay Dickie" was regularly featured in Dury's live performances and it has remained a fan favorite even after his passing.
Influence
The character of "Billericay Dickie" has since influenced other works in popular culture, including a character in "Billy Elliot the Musical".
Cover Versions
Although not widely covered as some of Dury's other famous songs like "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll", "Billericay Dickie" has been performed by various artists as a tribute to Dury's unique style of music composing.

Discuss the Billericay Dickie Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Billericay Dickie Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/25895942/Ian+Dury/Billericay+Dickie>.

    Missing lyrics by Ian Dury?

    Know any other songs by Ian Dury? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Billericay Dickie

    259.8K
    1,500     41

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    She can read, she can read, she can read, she's ____.
    A brave
    B bad
    C smart
    D clueless

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Ian Dury tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!