Ian Dury & The Blockheads - You'll see glimpses (lyrics on clip)

The sound is fading in slowly, so there's no need to adjust your volume!
You'll see glimpses (see also below for the lyrics) was the b-side to the 7 inch-single "Sueperman's Big Sister", released in 1980
You might also like my clip for Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3 : • Video
Slideshow put together by Rapunzzl
I do not claim to own the music, nor the images I used, I just put things together like this
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might
otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal
use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Lyrics:
You'll see
They think I'm off my crust as I creep about the gaff
But I'm really getting ready to surprise them all
Because I'm busy sorting out the problems of the world
And when I reveal all, won't they get a crinkly mouth?
I've given my all to the task at hand unstintingly
When it's all over, I'll rest on my laurels
Here, for a moment, is a glimpse of my plan
All the kids will be happy learning things
The wind will smell of wild flowers
Nobody will whack each other about or nasty things
All the room in the world
They take me for a mug as I smile
They think I'm too out of tune to mind being patronised
All in all, it's been another phase in my chosen career
And when my secrets are out they'll bite their silly tongues
All I want for my birthday is another birthday
When skies are blue, we all feel the benefit
Glimpse number two for the listener
Everyone will feel useful in lovely ways
Trees will be firmly rooted in town and country
Illness and despair will be dispensed with
All the room in the world
They ask me if I've heard the voices yet
They don't think I know any true answers
It's true that I haven't quite finished yet
When it all comes out in the wash, they'll eat their words
I've got all their names and addresses
Later on I'll write them each a 'thank you' letter
Before I stop, here's a last glimpse into the general future
Home rule will exist in each home forever
Every living thing will be another friend
This wonderful state of affairs will last for always
This has been got out by a friend
Slideshow by Rapunzzl
I do not claim to own the music, nor the images I used, I just put things together like this
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might
otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal
use tips the balance in favor of fair use

[@MegaSwan2]

He was truly gifted, i miss you Ian x

[@desperatemohammedantheworl5833]

My dad had this played at his funeral. He always said the line "all I want for my birthday is another birthday" pretty much summed up his attitude to life now he'd reached old age and had all he ever really wanted or needed (a family he loved and loved him, a nice flat that he owned and though far from rich enough money not to worry) I miss him dearly.

[@originalveghead]

Sorry for your loss brother

[@zummerzetwoodsman1067]

I'm having this played as well at my departingday .and I play it e every birthday as well ,beautiful lyrics great meaning love and peace to you and your dad

[@grahambarber2766]

'My Old Man' is another very personal and poignant song of Ian's. 'All the best mate from your son' 🤝🏻

[@bobgnarley1]

When the day comes I'm having this played at my funeral. Just perfect.

[@MothraBlues]

Ditto! Along with 'Mystery Train' by Elvis P, & probably Bowie's "happy live late-period version" of 'Heroes' kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKS8oWynaLaBl7M. Cheers!

[@LoneStoat]

I read this out as part of my best man's speech at my brother's wedding, because it tells the story of how simply beautiful my brother is in his outlook on life. This is a song of love for the world. No malice. Gentle, and a wondrous, beautiful look at the world. It's Ian, but it's my brother too. Here's to immense love for gentle souls.

[@JeffreyMcMahon]

Half ironic, half heart-felt anthem, a true classic. Always brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for posting.

[@katoness]

God Bless You Sir Ian.

[@andrewfrancis7272]

Forget Lennon's Imagine. This song speaks to me and his vision for a much better world... God bless, Ian.

[@harvey1954]

"In My Life" was a far more honest tune by Lennon than "Imagine". Having a multi-millionaire telling me to "imagine no possessions" is a little hard to take. You first, Johnnie. Ian Dury is one of rock's top lyricists even though he's been dead for a number of years.

[@pyeltd.5457]

@@harvey1954John Lennon has been dead far more longer than Ian

[@jamiedawe1758]

I remember listening to all of Ian Dury's music on vinyl. The delivery of this song is poignant, satirical and conveys ideal thoughts of the preposterousness of warm and fuzzy production line "inspirational" and motivational sanctimonious rhetoric we hear all too often. In the times of Ian Dury the words were the song. Alas, not anymore.

[@harvey1954]

It is a punchline song with the last line changing the whole perspective of the tune.

[@teamcrumb]

beautiful Ian killing us softly. what a thing! magnificent forever

[@MrJcollins21]

A timeless song about persons ahead of their time while living in it. It captures the smugness of the ignorant without malice, profound in it's simplicity. Ian is touring the universe.... Nice video too!

[@andrewperrin9806]

This delightful piece of work seems more and more apt today than when I first heard it, all those years ago. Such a talented bunch.

[@bonesamy]

I've never hear this before, but it's a nice tribute to Ian.

[@barrymay4017]

Ian will always be the crumb in my lemonade - love what you done with the vid man - a lyrically lovely insight into the musings of a genius.

[@vistacruz]

Brilliant .... An anthem for us who are off our crust ...

[@MegaSwan2]

I'm a big fan too and have been since '77 and i love your video of this song,glad you like him, i think people underated him and the Blockheads. I saw him live in 1984 and saw the Blockheads earlier this year. I've also had the priveledge to see his son Baxter live in Paris this and met him aswell and i met his daughter Jemima last month. Anyway, great vid' to a fine song. Thanks.

[@MothraBlues]

WoW! What a fabbo video for one of my Top 2 Very Favourite Ian Dury songs ('...Clever Bastards' is the other song). Both tunes never fail to happy my face, but weirdly this song's often left off many 'Best Of' compilations, but. I first heard it on the very first 'Best Of' circa the early '80s. Yes, I was a late-70s punk, & I always felt Ian represented the warm & humane side of that still much-misunderstood cultural movement. It wasn't ALL spit 'n' vitriol like Lydon & Strummer, kidz..!. Cheers, & your 'Thank You' letter is in the post! :-D Oh - here's a neat wee story as a bonus 4 ya: Many years later - just prior to Christmas in 2010 or '11 - I happened to serve Andy Serkis in the bookshop where I was working at the time in New Zealand. I tried to be all cool & pretended not to recognise him as I served him* , though of course inside I was all "Omifreakingod - it's frikken Andy Serkis! And he's given me some money for a coupla mags! And now I'm giving him some change back! Omfug!!!" But just as he was about to leave, I thought "Oh Fukkit - I've GOTTA say SOMETHING", so I said: "Oh, excuse me, Mr Serkis, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your rendition of Ian Dury in the 'Sex & Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll' movie. " I think he was probably hexpecting me to say "your rendition of Gollum, or King Kong, or wotsizface from Rise of the Planet of the Apes" so he looked quite taken aback, then grinned & said: "Hey thanks - not many people know about that movie, & it's a favourite of mine". Then he stuck out his hand & shake my hand (which took ME aback then) & wished me a Merry Christmas! Needless to say, I've NEVER washed that hand ever since...ahem! :-D (*We try to be cool about celebrity in NZ, & not bug famous folk if we can help it, & living in 'Wellywood', we do see our fair share around the gaff)

[@Segnborah]

Can't believe that it's already 12 years since he died...

[@kenbarber6592]

I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and shall, no doubt, be returning to it on occasion. Looking forward to meeting you in the future.

[@kahlodiego5299]

When my mentally ill neighbors were harassing me I used to put this song on my cd Walkman, put on my headphones, hit the repeat button and go about my business.

[@adejaxon6350]

Absolutely love this track from the genius Ian Dury. Thanks for the video it was spot on. Long live the Blockheads!!!

[@rapunzzl]

Thanks for saying that my video is spot on; I consider that as a huge compliment :-)

[@abro555]

I see glimpses all the time! btw i love the images you chose for this...really beautifully done :)

[@rspratt]

Have always loved this song

[@janeparfitt65]

My schoolgirl crush.Thank you for the amazing video

[@rapunzzl]

Thank you for your compliment!

[@gedda6262]

My favourite Ian Dury song - thanks for posting!

[@rapunzzl]

You're welcome, and it's my favorite Dury song too!

[@comebackwimeapplepie]

+Rapunzzl and mine!

[@jackthehatuk]

Make that 4!

[@MothraBlues]

Yeah, it's first equal for me too, along with '...Clever Bastards". Never get sick of them two songs, & they happy my face unstintingly!

[@robbiesize]

Love you Ian. X

[@robinstevenson1098]

Lovely! Such a moving song. Wavy hands to the uploader😊

[@rapunzzl]

Thanks!

[@chrisharrison4060]

This has been got out by a friend

[@claudettedalton3281]

you,l see.........they think im off my crust...........xllent song!

[@BirdyBlueDay]

I've always loved this and your choice of images was just perfect.. Thanks very much! :)

[@cmonmappleys]

Ian top dog XX

[@MegaSwan2]

I knew about the other upload with just one pic' then i saw yours and thougt i'd give a watch.

[@MegaSwan2]

Oh and thank you for posting this video, good stuff.

[@Nemesismerve]

I'm reading now iyi bir hayat .this book saying this song amazing :)

[@sarara1532]

Love this song, and the vid too!

[@pippijane20]

2021....

[@DShane99]

Great vid! This is my favourite Blockheads' song. Love the bicycle wheel opening, and some of the chosen pics, especially the duck and the cat. The 'I' is not Ian Dury himself of course, but one those oddball English characters he sometimes gave a sympathetic voice to in his songs, one this time with a private Paradise vision of his country.. The penultimate line 'This wonderful state of affairs will last for always' I think is ironic, and he sings it so. This world will never happen, sadly.

[@keef71]

the last line is the killer - the whole song is a manifesto for what everyone would really want, but to say it you'd be labelled as a loony

[@blackberet747]

Heaven. "They'll see" Maybe they will or probably they won't or wotevah.

[@MegaSwan2]

I got to ask Rapunzzl, are you a fan of Ian Dury?

[@Oliviacaptain]

You'll see. They think I'm off my crust as I creep about the caff. But I'm really getting ready to surprise them all. Because I'm busy sorting out the problems of the world. And when I reveal all, won't they get a crinkly mouth. I've given my all to the task at hand unstintingly. When it's all over, I'll rest on my laurels. Here for a moment is a glimpse of my plan: All kids will be happy learning things. The wind will smell of wild flowers. Nobody will whack each other about and nasty things. All the room in the world. They take me for a mark, because I smile. They think I'm too out of tune to mind being patronised. All in all, it's been another phase in my chosen career, And when my secrets are out, they'll bite their silly tongues. All I want for my birthday is another birthday. When skies are blue, we all feel the benefit. Glimpse Number 2 for the listener. Everyone will feel useful in lovely ways. Trees will be firmly rooted in town and country. Illness and despair will be dispensed with. All the room in the world. They ask me if I've had the voices yet. They don't think I know any true answers. It's true that I haven't quite finished yet. When it all comes out in the wash, they'll eat their words. I've got all their names and addresses. Later on I'll write them each a thank-you letter. Before I stop, here's a last glimpse into the general future. Home rule will exist in each home, forever. Every living thing will be another friend. This wonderful state of affairs will last for always. This has been got out by a friend.

[@thunderbird864]

Of course to think like that means you must be mad.

[@dmg7111]

Today kisses arse !!!!!!!! The joints only gotten WAY worse since you shipped off Ian... Hard to see glimpses since You wandered off Cobber... ♥

[@rapunzzl]

:-)

[@RayMelville]

Always thought he was being sarcastic in this song. Wasn't he?

[@harvey1954]

This is a punchline song. You have to wait until the very last line to understand it in its true context.

[@zoothornrollo9960]

It's nice to see so many comments commending this song but seem to miss the point. It's satire and Dury is singing about seeing the world through the eyes of a total wackjob in a loony bin.

[@CharlesCCRidesChandler]

Wishful thinking???...:)O(:...

[@CaroleRogersCSL]

+Charles “C.C. Rides” Chandler No, Secret Services.