Besides "Right Said Fred" by Bernard Cribbins, what are some of the most quintessentially British songs you know about?

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hiking_n_stuff@reddit

I miss spoke the lyric once as “too many people dancing on the fight floor” once and then that is all I can hear now

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MediocreImpact3424@reddit

Barry Cryer and his "Purple People Eater"

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DunDonese@reddit (OP)

I'm listening to him now. How come he isn't speaking in a British accent?

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MediocreImpact3424@reddit

Probably connected to his age at the time and how a lot of singers took on a mid-Atlantic accent to try and sell on both sides of the world. The story goes that single did do well in Finland

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

I thought it was Sheb Woolley with the purple people eaters.

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MediocreImpact3424@reddit

You're right about Sheb but Barry also issued a version. A number 1 hit in Finland, I believe

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mdmnl@reddit

Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)

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I had this on tape when I was very little (along with loads of other novelty songs) and I was left completely inconsolable by the ending, every time! I don’t know why my parents didn’t just fast-forward it, they probably thought it was funny a three year old with no clue who Benny Hill was would get so emotional at the mention of ghostly gold tops.

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Sad_Radish7378@reddit

All Aboard

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TrousersCalledDave@reddit

God that brings back memories... We had that cassette when I was a kid. The changing guard at Buckingham Palace, Christopher Robin went down with Alice...

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Sad_Radish7378@reddit

My brother, Nelly the elephant. Wall to wall bangers

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pinkdaisylemon@reddit

Love this!

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Suspicious_Hotel_908@reddit

George Formby. When I'm cleanin' windows

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FrostySquirrel820@reddit

Great idea ! Here’s my suggestions, in no particular order:. Hopefully not too many duplicates with other posts. In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry Downtown - Petula Clark Anarchy in the U.K. - The Sex Pistols Going Underground - The Jam I’ve just seen a face - The Beatles Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard & The Shadows Blue Monday - New Order I Could Be So Good For you (Minder Theme) - Dennis Waterman Wannabe - Spice Girls Angels - Robbie Williams Fit But You Know It - The Streets Bonkers - Dizzee Rascal Sound of the Underground - Girls Aloud Price Tag - Jessie J Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi You’ll never walk alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers Whispering Grass - Don Estelle and Windsor Davies Fanny, Fanny - Arthur Askey Dedicated Follower of Fashion - The Kinks Kinky Boots - Honor Blackman and Patrick Macnee "Run, Rabbit, Run" - Flanagan and Allen. "The Lambeth Walk" - Lupino Lane "Nellie the Elephant" - Mandy Miller Mary From The Dairy - Max Milker Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye - Gracie Field The Dambusters March - Eric Coates (instrumental): Maybe It's Because I'm a Londoner - Bud Flanagan The Sun Has Got His Hat On - The Henry Hall BBC Dance Orchestra ( original versions uses racist language)

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WoodyManic@reddit

Anything and everything written by Noel Gay.

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Wydybyd@reddit

The Laughing Policeman When I'm Cleaning Windows - or anything by George Formby really. Come on Eileen.

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Banes_Addiction@reddit

Sheila goes out with her mate Stella...

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Sweet-Geologist9168@reddit

Let’s all go down the strand. Self preservation society - Italian job Being for the benefit of Mr Kite - the Beatles Happiness Ken Dodd Boom oo yatta ta ta - Morecambe and wise

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Azyall@reddit

Honor Blackman and Patrick Macnee - "Kinky Boots". [Kinky Boots](https://youtu.be/FI0v0GCFrjc)

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Scary_Application_70@reddit

My brother by Terry Scott

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Long_Tall_Man@reddit

Ere!! What you got in your and???

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BCF13@reddit

Up the junction- Squeeze The lyrics are Britain (well in the late 70’s) in a nutshell

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Due_Tailor1412@reddit

This morning at 4.50 ... Well at 4.51 on 2nd of June 2004 the midwife said "I'll put the time of birth down as 4.50am" At about 8.15am I put Katie into the car (wife hates hospitals) and turned on the radio .. The first song my daughter ever heard was "up the junction"

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ABlokeFromChester@reddit

One of my favourites. I love all Squeeze's songs, they are so good at telling a story which you can really visualise. Cool For Cats and Labelled With Love too.

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BCF13@reddit

Tempted is another cracker especially as it features Paul Carrack + Elvis Costello.

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ABlokeFromChester@reddit

I think I'm going to spend the rest of the night listening to Squeeze

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BCF13@reddit

Ha, I put East Side Story on about 10 minutes ago, great minds and all that.

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PullUpAPew@reddit

A masterpiece

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hiking_n_stuff@reddit

I prefer “Cool for Cats”. Cracking lyrics

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StuartHunt@reddit

Oops up side your head.

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StuartHunt@reddit

Chas and Dave's Rabbit

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L00ny-T00n@reddit

PJ and Duncan - Lets get ready to rumble. (My daughters choice) Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric (or The Proclaimers)

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FormABruteSquad@reddit

Common People

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Awkward-Tax102@reddit

I'd say Disco 2000 just as much if not more so

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ExArdEllyOh@reddit

"Sorted for Es and Whizz" too, there's something very British in the song's acknowledgement of the ridiculousness of the Rave scene and how the protagonist would much rather be at home than prancing around in a field with tedious people.

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SamW1996@reddit

Rabbit by Chas and Dave, or Margate.

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younevershouldnt@reddit

Excellent choices, from a very underrated act 👌

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SamW1996@reddit

Thanks. I know people sometimes dismiss them as a bit of a novelty act but their songs are happy and upbeat and they were popular sessions musicians in their own right.

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younevershouldnt@reddit

Great musicians and really good songs, I don't know if you have to be from London to really appreciate them or not though?

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

I'm a Lancastrian lad, and I really appreciated their talents; it's just that there ain't no pleasing some folk. 😁

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younevershouldnt@reddit

Gertcha coat and get out of here 😄

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SamW1996@reddit

I'm not from London and I like them. They incorporate a lot of Cockney culture into their songs but in this day and age you can find anything out if you're unsure of what it means.

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younevershouldnt@reddit

I have a geographic and cultural connection to them, so their music makes me feel nostalgic and I see it as a window to the past.

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pinkdaisylemon@reddit

Me too. Reminds me of my late dad, he used to follow my late mum around saying rabbit rabbit and gertcha! And also as a Spurs fan I'm forever connected to them!

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RRC_driver@reddit

Which is why they are on Eminem’s ‘my name is’ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is

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GrizCuz@reddit

Gertcha.

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SamW1996@reddit

There Ain't No Pleasin' You

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ABlokeFromChester@reddit

One of the greatest songs written. And if I did drunken karaoke, this would be my signature tune

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forced_majeure@reddit

The diddlum song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_NFqGYqt7iU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NFqGYqt7iU)

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ABlokeFromChester@reddit

National Express - The Devine Comedy

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confident_squeak@reddit

Kinky boots - Honour Blackman and Patrick McKnee

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casusbelli16@reddit

Mad Dogs & Englishmen... go out in the midday sun. Noel Coward.

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RRC_driver@reddit

Not a song but I love the fact that Noel Coward and Benny Hill were in the same film.

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hiking_n_stuff@reddit

You are only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!

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LidgetTheMidget@reddit

Freeda and Barry by Victoria Wood

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LaMaupindAubigny@reddit

It’s a family tradition to listen to Junior Choice on Radio 2 on Christmas Day and they’ve started playing this song, usually tucked in between more sentimental stuff like Morningtown Ride and Puff the Magic Dragon. It’s hilarious.

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Dyrenforth@reddit

YES!!!! She was so underrated as a song writer.

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ABlokeFromChester@reddit

Thank U Very Much - The Scaffold Lilly The Pink - The Scaffold Itchycoo Park - Small Faces The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks

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forced_majeure@reddit

National Express - Divine Comedy

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SensitivePotato44@reddit

National Shite Day - Half Man Half Biscuit

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Suspicious_Field_429@reddit

There's a man with a mullet going mad with a mallet in Millets

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dodgycool_1973@reddit

Overhead a rainbow appears, in black and white

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DTH2001@reddit

Pretty much all of their songs would count

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SonOfGreebo@reddit

Jilted John, by Jilted John.

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Rootes_Radical@reddit

This was the first one that came to mind for me too. It’s so great.

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SmokyBarnable01@reddit

A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square - Vera Lynne Ebenezer Goode - Shamen Down in a Tube Station - The Jam Pearl's Cafe - Specials

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dodgycool_1973@reddit

Combine harvester - The Wurzels

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fucks_news_channel@reddit

It's a cover, originally written by Brendan Grace, an Irish comedian who played the jungle music loving Father Fintan Stack on Father Ted.

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SamW1996@reddit

I Am a Cider Drinker as well.

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nick9000@reddit

*Waterloo Sunset* always struck me as being very British

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dianthuspetals@reddit

The Kinks are just super British in general. For some of their most British works, I'd recommend their albums 'Arthur', 'Something Else' and 'The Village Green Preservation Society'.

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JeremyTwiggs@reddit

Anything by XTC. Particularly, “Making plans for Nigel”

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Murphboyo@reddit

Especially "Respectable street" - those Avon ladies squeezing past caravans that never move from their front garden

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mronion82@reddit

The Hippopotamus Song https://youtu.be/4zpDF3Py7r8?si=pRyYYJDPQHaV5TuJ

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RRC_driver@reddit

A song of patriotic prejudice

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batch1972@reddit

The Floral Dance

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

We'll never forget Wogan!

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Able_While_974@reddit

RIP Terry

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ColdAd5920@reddit

Hurry up harry - sham 69

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Viking-Bastard-XIV@reddit

Margate - Chas n Dave The entire catalogue of Half Man Half Biscuit

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astromech_dj@reddit

Ernie.

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

Eugene and the Syncopaters — The Great Romantic. This is quintessential Britishness at its highest. 🤣 https://youtu.be/he6conm5AWc?si=5RALfYBPEpz7UkTh

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pajamakitten@reddit

Blur - Parklife

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Gazcobain@reddit

You've got more rabbit than Sainsbury's

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spiderglide@reddit

Half a Pint of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

That was the budget version. I had two pints of lager… 😁

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TinhatToyboy@reddit

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujb4Mcme18s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujb4Mcme18s) FRANKIE HOWERD & JUNE WHITFIELD - 'Up Je T'aime'

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

I can't believe I've never come across this before! Thank you so much, that's hilarious. 🤣🤣🤣

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Candy_Lawn@reddit

aaaa-gaaaaaa- do do do..

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Al89nut@reddit

"Bernard Cribbins" by Right Said Fred.

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krakeneverything@reddit

My Old Man's A Dustman - Lonnie Donegan

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Previous_Kale_4508@reddit

And "Does your chewing gum lose its flavour?". Skiffle at its finest.

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VanishingPint@reddit

Lilly Allen LDN

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Maester_Bates@reddit

Riding round the city on my bike all day cause the filth took away my license is my favourite opening line of a song.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

Bernard again : ♪ There was Fred, digging this hole ... ♫ Also: The Clash - London Burning Oh, and the theme from *Dad's Army*.

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HeartyBeast@reddit

“there was I”

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Dyrenforth@reddit

Sung by Cribbins, written by Miles Rudge and Ted Dicks. Cribbins wasn't the cuddly nice guy people think he was. he was a diva. When Rudge died, Cribbins threw a strop about not performong the song at the memorial service because there couldn't be sound effects.

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GrizCuz@reddit

He appeared in a very famous film set and filmed in the area where I was born and bred. I was admired and fussed over by another famous actor who was in it when I was a small baby (according to my mum) when it was being filmed. In the 80's BC must've been filming some kind of reunion or documentary about the film and staying in the pub/hotel where I worked as a teenager. He was sat in the bar after I finished my shift. So I approached him, I was going to tell him about my interaction with the actor as a baby. He gave me such a dirty and dismissive look after I said "evening Mr Cribbins" that I just left it at that and went no further.

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HeartyBeast@reddit

‘There was I digging a hole’ by Bernard Cribbins. ‘The Slow Train’ Flanders and Swann

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overladenlederhosen@reddit

Of the same era, some aged better than others: My Brother, Terry Scott Ying Tong Iddle I Po, The Goons I'm Walking backwards for Christmas. Spike Milligan Goodness Gracious Me, Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren Hole in the Ground, Bernard Cribbins was equally memorable as Right Said Fred.

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Oghamstoner@reddit

I’m British - Professor Elemental

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Zealousideal-Ad-2728@reddit

- [Run Rabbit Run - Flanagan & Allen](https://open.spotify.com/track/2bIGFF2V3gRMi965EJnMCW?si=O5iAzxufRgi05d_h9Q2FYA) - [Bring Me Sunshine - Morcambe and Wise](https://open.spotify.com/track/3C4Pem6lWfskQd51N8XQRF?si=W2T24oE7RSS9wFH8ppl7XA&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1E8USLK5Q7wILz) - [Dance To Yer Daddy](https://open.spotify.com/track/3hsdRjLoReDc5Oiuym7I2P?si=qPVCPlm6TWe3N5pSTPNDdw) Man the TV themes were off the charts - [The Wombles](https://open.spotify.com/track/7xYYiGxo23d7DoBcgfduvb?si=dpgwIEzYSg6oAHAy0zFyGQ) - [Soul Limbo - Booker T & the MGs](https://open.spotify.com/track/06yzME6dtXmBFO4DB5rVaT?si=i4DQIAgyRR2L12reDdcJtQ) - [Jessica - Allman Brothers](https://open.spotify.com/track/7AN22wQYwiCG49qYosygFq?si=crDbYSOHSv2KDtaLKigPBA) - [Drag Racer - Studio G](https://open.spotify.com/track/3IK6BzDcQFkAjwzjUrz8KN?si=531iJAJPQLmBSg30BTdLYA) - [Ski Sunday Theme](https://youtu.be/jOEO_fgG3-I?feature=shared) - [MOFTD](https://open.spotify.com/track/0QvtdGiqg126zU9E0vz7Li?si=_st7ZbsMSxSRPMtxbAH5ww) - [Grandstand](https://open.spotify.com/track/1BXPPJ0PGypgBIwh3917D2?si=EN4tvXlMRr6szQx6wZIFAw) - [Wimbledon](https://open.spotify.com/track/7IJpwT6LS4xtpZqiMabPb9?si=UKkH4nqTTP2rQen3Dfve6w)

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OldChorleian@reddit

The Allman Brothers and Booker T & the MGs are in no way 'quintessentially British'.

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Zealousideal-Ad-2728@reddit

I think both those songs are so closely tied to British culture, especially through the TV show themes they were part of. I’d also include Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain because of its iconic link to F1, and Nessun Dorma for its strong association with FIFA coverage during the ‘90s. For me, these songs remind me of growing up in the '90s. It’s hard to separate them from that experience of being raised in the UK. Maybe they’re not generationally British, but they feel deeply British for a particular time and place.

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Podimusrex@reddit

Swords of a Thousand Men - Tenpole Tudor Asthma Attack - Cocknbullkid (no one is likely to know this one, but it is definitely quintessentially British) No modern songs being put forth, which is interesting!

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AutisticElephant1999@reddit

Our House by madness

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DoctorOctagonapus@reddit

Does Jerusalem by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer count?

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Defiant_Practice5260@reddit

Snooker Loopy - Chas & Dave

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AvoriazInSummer@reddit

Portrayed wonderfully with embarrassed reluctance in The Rack Pack, a very enjoyable movie about Alex Higgins and Steve Davis.

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AvoriazInSummer@reddit

And Three Lions (On Your Shirt), and World In Motion

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Jimmy_KSJT@reddit

I'd claim that "That's What I Like" would be a better Chas 'n' Dave track for British things. Also if we are doing Londoner list songs, then I'll mention "Reasons to be Cheerful" by Ian Dury.

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FlossieAnn@reddit

To this day, this is how I remember what order to pot! *Pot the reds then screw back, for the yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black*

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Defiant_Practice5260@reddit

Me too haha!

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GrizCuz@reddit

Leslie Sarony - Ain't it Grand to Be Bloomin' Well Dead. Charles Coborn - The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo. Lindisfarne - Fog on the Tyne.

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Organic-Objective552@reddit

XTC – Towers Of London

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MustardCityNative@reddit

Down came the rain by Mitch Murray

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McGubbins@reddit

Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush

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BCircle907@reddit

Grocer Jack by Keith West

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nabster1973@reddit

Cool For Cats by Squeeze

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nabster1973@reddit

Oliver’s Army by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

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fuggerdug@reddit

Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society.

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nairobiny@reddit

Bonzo Dog Band - Gorilla

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RoyofBungay@reddit

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Music lessons at school circa 1980s.

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Hairy_Ad5141@reddit

Lily The Pink - by The Scaffold

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VanishingPint@reddit

Slow train - Flanders and Swann

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VanishingPint@reddit

London Is the Place for Me Lord Kitchener

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-mister_oddball-@reddit

Chippy tea-the lancashire hotpots

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Whulad@reddit

Itchy Koo Park - the Small Faces Parklife - Blur My Old Mam - Ian Dury & the Blockheads

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Insane-Membrane-92@reddit

I explained the Hokey Cokey to some folk at work, when I sang it they identified it as "the boogie woogie". Smh.

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MediocreImpact3424@reddit

The Wombling Song Remember You're a Womble

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markedasred@reddit

Don't Jump off the Roof Dad by Tommy Cooper. It's old by now, but still funny in a very British way. [https://youtu.be/VGdI7CXZUXc?si=UPyUCIO4Xa-VMW-l](https://youtu.be/VGdI7CXZUXc?si=UPyUCIO4Xa-VMW-l)

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arthursultan@reddit

Tracy Jacks - Blur Smithers Jones - The Jam At The Chime Of A City Clock - Nick Drake Nice Weather For Ducks - Lemon Jelly

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Throw_umbrage@reddit

Always look on the bright side of life.

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DrewidN@reddit

Pink Floyd: "See Emily Play", "Bike" "Grantchester Meadows" Jethro Tull "Heavy Horses" "Songs from the Wood" "Hunting Girl" "Jack in the Green" (Both HH and SAftW Ablums honestly" Bowie "Rubber Band" The sinister Ducks (Alan Moore, David J of Bauhaus, Alex Green), "March of the Sinister Ducks" The Jam "Eaton Rifles"

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Kayos-theory@reddit

The rifles are wielded by the nobs at Eton.

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obbitz@reddit

Kate Bush - [Ken](https://youtu.be/_Opl8t-Wahc?si=a3yG0IHFO3EDmD1I)

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obbitz@reddit

Divine Comedy - [National Express](https://youtu.be/-Fw73dBJGss?si=9NBl5PIuV90Fp84i)

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Vanblue1@reddit

A design for life - Manic Street preachers. Working class anthem and the alternative Welsh national anthem 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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NecroVelcro@reddit

Toast by Streetband.

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CrimFandango@reddit

Chumbawumba - Tubthumping Fat Les - Vindaloo

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Lost_Foot8302@reddit

Sound of the suburbs by The Members.

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Lost_Foot8302@reddit

Our House by Madness.

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