The Housemartins - Flag Day

[@MrGrungefuttock]

Back in the day …I’m 54 now…living in student land (I wasn’t a student) in Hull we used to see and drink and have the odd kick about with Paul Heaton and the gang on a regular basis . I remember him as a very natural, very human human being. We are immensely proud of the Housemartins. One of the least recognised and most under acknowledged song writers this country has ever produced. So much passion in his voice and lyrics. A flawed being, as we all are, and a top top bloke

[@andyhampshire1366]

A minor early hit for Norman and the team but what an awesome classic

[@noraadrianadigiorno3463]

Te envidio, son mis idolos. Saludos desde Argentina❤

[@MrGrungefuttock]

@@andyhampshire1366 it was indeed

[@MrGrungefuttock]

@@noraadrianadigiorno3463 ❤

[@noraadrianadigiorno3463]

Gracias por leer mi comentario. Tengo 56 años, después de Queen, los Housemartins son mis idolos. Sobre todo Stan Cullimore❤

[@bikkies]

One of the finest songs by any artist, ever. Still completely relevant, perhaps even more so. I agree with every word in this, from the first to the last.

[@garymcmanus9946]

...and what did we do about it....

[@bikkies]

@@garymcmanus9946 Nowhere near as much as we should. Little has changed.

[@lindaduffy5063]

I completely concur from the best lyrics and the absolute relevance being more so this day than when it was first written. The man is a lyrical poetic genius 👏 🙌 I'm off to see him in Dublin and hopeful this will be on the play list 🙌

[@jamieburrows6486]

So relevant mate

[@shane-irish]

Steady

[@chrisseel5838]

The Housemartins and The Beautiful South the greatest ever for me

[@David-j9h9g]

dont forget fat boy slim...

[@carldyson9342]

Paul Heaton lyrical genius what a song what a band just love The Housemartins

[@Porsche996driver]

My oldest son’s birthday is June 14 US flag day. What a great band used to listen to these guys all the time back in the Army stationed in West Germany. Peace all 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇦🕊️

[@JoaoACPaulo]

It was probably '89 and from February on (we had a terrible drought that year, and it was also unusually warm ) I drove to the beach in the afternoon, as soon as classes ended. Kept hitting the rewind button on the car stereo all the way, listening to this song over and over again. On the way back, it was "The light is always green". Wonderful times, eternal songs, etched forever in my memory.

[@mariesuzannaburns8133]

Came here amidst the 'Platty Jubes' (yuk) hysteria of this bank holiday.Loved this song then,love it now. Paul Heaten is a lyrical genius.I will be listening to this whilst all the sheep sing along to Sweet Caroline.

[@dirkbogarde44]

It's the passion in Paul's voice at the end, that turns this from a good song into a great song. Still moves me all these years later.

[@chrisedwards3883]

What a great track.So emotional.

[@StevieRevbo]

throughout the song!

[@johnclark448]

I Definitely feel the same about Pauls voice on this That is what grabbed me way back in the 80s when i first heard the song, which is the outstanding track on the album for me I also think the backing vocals lend to this

[@helenwaldron5858]

I was just thinking the same thing. Very distinctively and powerful.🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎼🎼🎼

[@robertcarroll8563]

He channels the pain of the world with those vocalizations.

[@michaelobrien9825]

One of the most underrated bands of all time.

[@tonybaloney4195]

Not underrated by me

[@jimmccabe5077]

One of the most underrated songs of all time

[@danmorley6517]

A song of absolute beauty

[@GuvnarP]

Wasn’t underrated just under exposed , those that know ,,knew !!

[@garymcmanus9946]

Very well said...old fashioned censorship in action ...now look at us.....

[@approachingthesky]

Facts

[@howiejon4243]

@@GuvnarP absolutely agree just wasn't exposed hidden gem 💎 tho ? X

[@mavismcdavis]

One of my favourite songs of all time. Under-recognised & under-appreciated.

[@andyhampshire1366]

not by us they were awsome

[@stephenkeegan9768]

Shaped my thoughts on the monarchy many moons ago....thanks Paul Heaton

[@bobdobalina838]

Better music from a better age, now long gone.

[@MisterSitter]

I would absolutely love to see the Housemartins together again

[@bikkies]

From an outstanding catalogue of songs, Flag Day is possibly the one that speaks to me the most. Every word of it is how I feel and those feelings do not get more diluted as I age.

[@GaryM67-71]

Heaton is a female. No adams apple. Sad eh.

[@callydevaney8750]

My sentiments exactly 🙂

[@nickjohnson2570]

Im 40 and have never seen the video of this one until now. Now it makes perfect sense and I get it. Im with you there 100% - I remember watching those exact blue peter episodes when I was 8 or 9, always hated them and thought they were superficial do gooding bastards way back then but we only had one TV in the house and my sister liked it so I had to watch them. We were told to collect aliminum cans as kids and bring them in to school where we had a can crushing machine sent to the eschool by blue peter with their logo on it. I have a mate we call blue peter coz his name is pete and hes always smashed on valiam

@@GaryM67-71 savage

[@shamodonnelly6215]

We need a bit of passion in our society. I was a punk in the 70s at we stood up against the machine unfortunately our kids of today have never had to stand up for anything there technology sorted that on out no fright in them. Only on the keyboard flag day is one of the classics of all time that box is needing a good shake 💯🍀

[@classicteachings]

Stunning social commentary. The Northern pronunciation of “poor” is simply exquisite onomatopoeia.

[@audioreviews]

I saw them in 1986 at Hull City Hall. Made my year!

[@beano3868]

The most truthful song written over the last decades and will carry on .

[@carstenmarquardt9416]

What an incredible song with a killer piano!! Pure and simple. But totally unknown to the world. What a shame.

[@magnus75damkier]

I'm genuinely of the belief that the vocals in latter 1/3 or 1/4 part of the song are some of the greatest ever recorded. I've never stumbled upon anything with the same passion and utter perfection. That's not to say it's the greatest song ever, but the vocals by as performed by P.D. Heaton are.

[@quogir1]

Nice..

[@rememberdavycoadprojectwat9252]

Freddie mercury......

[@garymcmanus9946]

It was wasted on us....we did nothing with the message.....look at us...

[@everythingexplored5233]

Massively underrated piece of genius

[@NotAFanAnymore]

These lads. Open up your heart

[@simonwright9735]

I've loved music from the word go...born in the early 1970s..... I wished for the Eagles to reform and that happened in 1995 .......that was fucking amazing to see them on the Hell freezes over tour and Paul always says his favourite Eagles hit is I carnt tell you why.... my second wish would be these guy's getting it back together.

[@ultanbeare]

met the housemartins as a wee lad orignal members they were beauitful sound out let me hang with them for the day played football during sound check before gig Dublin many moons ago something i never forget kindness of which doesn't come unless they are that of kind heart & that they went beyond plus super live act wow good .

[@mikeweirdd]

That s what I call quite good

[@francinevanvolsem5300]

La voix (leurs voix)est très belle comment les gens peuvent oublier des voix qui donnent des frissons. Merci francine de tubize Belgique. ♡

[@sherbertdip6924]

Great song off a superb album.

[@rikfoster2167]

The relevance of this song will last for eternity. 😢❤

[@easygoingbloke]

This is stunning, the video is superb and this version of the tune with the piano is a classic. I'd love an acoustic version of this with just Paul Heaton and the piano on their own. Magical. Still relevant to this day. History repeating, this was written under Conservatism.....its still relevant then and relevant now cause....conservatism is in power again in our Country :-( Housemartins were a very strong socially politically minded group then their music cause of that still stands the test of time and the fact its superb.

[@NotAFanAnymore]

I love these blokes with my whole heart

[@alisonminett2129]

absolutely brilliant band

[@andyhampshire1366]

got every hit we are all house martins today

[@richeturbo21071982]

Paul has come up with some of the best lyrics in music, not just in this song.

[@carlosmansilla3880]

Creo que es la mejor canción de los Housemartins . Tiene tanta pasión fuerza y emocion

[@henrymorgan8251]

fantastic this band, great song and great voice, I love England

[@chrisseel5838]

One of the biggest bangers of all time 👌🏻

[@gordondearlove]

Genuinely made me smile.. It's the best song

[@andrewmountford3608]

I first heard them…maybe ‘85 supporting Terry n Gerry at Stakis Grand Hotel, Hanley, Stoke on Trent. They were incredible. I got this song on 12” as soon as it came out. Simply brilliant.

[@chrisedwards1333]

Always.

[@spaghettieast]

Masterpiece ❤

[@generalmassive1907]

The only band in the world i want to get back together 🤘Come on paul, make it happen 🙏

[@leefletcher3113]

What a voice ❤

[@falldownhard]

VERY well done - this is one of my favorite Housemartins/Beautiful South songs too. Pinnacle of pop with a very serious message.

[@edubmf]

I wonder what Paul thinks about life now. Did he write these hoping for change for the better? We've seen change for the worse in the UK. However he feels, disappointed or otherwise, nothing can change the facts. Paul Heaton is a lyrical genius. The Housemartins were an amazing band who used pop to push politics. Even more than this: Paul Heaton tried. Thank you Paul.

[@elektroshop3388]

If you think the UK changed for the worse, imagine Brazil... We have a fucking fascist government right now...

[@mike2462]

Love Paul Heaton. A great man of the people. Put money behind the bar in the pub near me on his 60th amongst many others to bring people together.

[@garynorman2787]

First song theyever released not a huge hit but definitely an emotionally evokung song makes me feel very humble and to always remember therw's always someone worse off than yourself which is so so sad to think about we could all do with a miracle

[@eisforegg]

Essential listening right now

[@oldcollins]

Paul Heaton will be one of the few people in the world right now to be pleased at the passing of our Queen. He's as patriotic as he is sober.

[@tommythetrain1945]

fuck the royal pedo fam.

[@Eldritch_Lisa]

“One of the few” mate you clearly don’t have many Irish friends, do ya?

[@oldcollins]

@@Eldritch_Lisa No certainly not. I can't stand the bloody Irish and quite passionately so.

[@wavelengthrecords-1]

@@oldcollins Well that's just a shame on you really isn't it?

[@bobdobalina838]

God how I miss music.

[@Tiddybeth]

I love this song, with love to you from England.

[@rebjiii]

YEP...one of their best songs....my other favorites are OVER THERE, BUILD, Get up off your knees and WE're Not Deep and Bow Down and 5 get over excited

[@crazyferret9409]

Sickly nostalgia, the message still stands

[@gamechanger416]

This is great music 🎶👍🏽👌🏼🙌🙏✌️💡👋🤞🤙🎵

[@RobertKelly-it8wm]

Got album London 0 hull 4 when I was a kid for me birthday, loved it thought it was great, it was vinyl.

[@Katehowe3010]

Strangley enough, there are moments on this great song where Paul sounds like the Godlike Mark Hollis!!

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

Hello u! Just wrote on JP for this song and now I see yer on here! Bliss :>) Time he heard it

[@Katehowe3010]

@HP SOS If he did a Housemartin's album, would you prefer their debut, or the second one?

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

@@Katehowe3010 i loved the debut but I’d like to hear grinned objectively on just jp- to remind me of it’s strength & weaknesses possibly

[@Katehowe3010]

@@HippoYnYGlaw I agree with that.

[@shamodonnelly6215]

A pure soul song the hippoxery of the Rich some things never change 💯🍀🌹

[@SchlumiBenLuschi]

Hypocrisy?

[@oDubnobasswithmyhead]

I bought this album in 1986 the year it came out, my brother said this is crap he was 4 years old than me 20, i said this album will stand the test of time beleive me and it has.

Simply wonderful x x Share

[@callydevaney8750]

Absolute truth 💯

[@matmc71]

This album was the soundtrack to my 16 year old spotty/first pint in a pub/just left school era. It was comforting, melancholy and poppy and all things in-between. They were funny guys and Caravan of Love was the best Christmas song ever! (tho never mentioned in the top 100 xmas songs). Who's cares about stupid xmas songs anyway! Underated band but look what Paul and Norman went on to create respectively.

[@samuelalexander558]

youve totally missed the point of the Housemartins

[@garymcmanus9946]

Glad it was part of your journey, big influence on many of us Hull kids too.....did we need the messages....that is the question now...

[@wavelengthrecords-1]

@@samuelalexander558 Don't be daft. Some just enjoy the songs. It's perfectly fine.

[@petraborn6204]

Thanks for this song.

[@loadsofshite4887]

A beautiful song and so accurate, absolutely nothing has changed since this song was released. The world continues to get worse and it will never get better. I can't wait until I die

[@SoundmanForEver]

Wow, what an amazing video. thnx for posting!

[@canacaxddx]

this is just epic

[@PsyMongazoid]

London 0 Hull 4 was a truly top album and this was my favourite song on it.

[@bronwynevans]

What a voice .. to voice... Brilliance

[@RobertKelly-it8wm]

😊lovely song, nice lyrics.serious communists these guys🤩!!?

[@docco007]

Song for the moment

[@HelenePaniez-rs1yb]

Wonderful nothing else to tell anyone

[@katrinbaumeister2790]

I love it!

[@timmyjoe9669]

Class 💚💚

[@luciogarofalo64]

(La giornata della bandiera) Non servono commenti ulteriori, assolutamente superflui. Il singolo, "Flag Day", fa parte dell'album del debutto discografico degli Housemartins, cioè "London 0 Hull 4", datato 1986...

[@oggioggi7915]

Not much chance of hearing this on the radio these days.

[@danielwachter1790]

Great! 🤘

[@thurtletoncrackwinnet1779]

Too many florence nightingales Not enough robin hoods Too many halos not enough heroes Coming up with the goods So you though you'd like to change the world Decided to stage a jumble sale For the poor, for the poor So you thought you'd like to see them healed Got Blue Peter to stage an appeal for the poor, for the poor It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Try shaking a box in front of the queen 'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Too many hands in too many pockets Not enough hands on hearts Too many ready to call it a day Before the day starts So you thought you'd like to see them healed Decided to save a jumble sale For the poor, for the poor So you though you'd like to change the world Decided to stage a jumble sale For the poor, for the poor It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Try shaking a box in front of the queen 'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Flag day, flag day, flag day Flag day, flag day, flag day

[@johnbarry1965]

A Royal wedding and Food Banks are flourishing - UK 2018!!!!!!

[@chrisjones195]

John Barry life was better back in the day... Oh wait a minute, think for a minute. I remember putting hot water on weetabix cause we had no milk. Not a lyric just truth

[@daveh5986]

It’s worse in 2022, hey I know: let’s have a jubilee costing at least £28 million …!!!

[@NorthernFella]

Think Paul is an Under appreciated artist!

[@JaysonElliot]

I never knew that! I'm from the US, and didn't know about the lapel pins. In fact, this song is where I first learned of Blue Peter as a kid. Glad you liked the video, it was fun to make.

[@motorpima]

Wonderful...no other abjectives

[@AutonomousVoice]

Too many Florence Nightingales Not enough Robin Hoods Too many halos not enough heroes Coming up with the goods So you thought you'd like to change the world Decided to stage a jumble sale For the poor, for the poor It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Try shaking a box in front of the Queen 'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Too many hands in too many pockets Not enough hands on hearts Too many ready to call it a day Before the day starts So you thought you'd like to see them healed Got blue Peter to stage an appeal For the poor, for the poor It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Try shaking a box in front of the Queen 'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams It's a waste of time if you know what they mean Flag Day, Flag Day, Flag Day

[@quogir1]

Anna

[@richeturbo21071982]

Lyrical master.

[@6571Lee]

So you thought you'd like to change the World decided to stage a jumble sale.... Great lyric absolutely spot on... So you thought you'd like to see them healed so you got blue peter to stage an appeal...

[@tronderkris]

Housemartins w latach 80tych to był rewelacyjny zespół

[@davidfennell6618]

What’s band and from my home town Hull

[@aislingconsidine9970]

Pointing out virtue signalling before the term came into popular use. I love this song

[@chrisedwards3883]

Indeed!!

[@nuttyboy11]

Good job..... I search and search but nothing...... This is....

[@danieljarvis9171]

punk? Pop?....no .. just beautiful. Thanks Paul and the boys.

[@timhorrocks3515]

This is the Queens favourite song

[@chrisedwards3883]

Respect.

[@robertocalledecresta2312]

Just about nailed it there... Nice one. I woke up thinking of a Housemartins' track that I haven't heard for many many years 'Sitting on a Fence'... I've been listening to the album 'London 0 Hull 4' all day since then. Our current plandemic is going on because it has been meticulously planned by those who have been in power for centuries and also their accomplices... It is way past time we all woke up. ;)

[@robertocalledecresta2312]

To be 100% honest none of the political systems in our paradigm work anymore... They are ALL controlled by humanity's biggest mistake up until now that being Money.... If you want to understand any human problem follow the money or power structure far enough back and you will find its roots. It is way past time we all evolved past this Neo Feudalistic system we have been living in throughout our whole lives... Have nice day now... ;)

[@samleyton5316]

You couldn't be more right.hat off to you my friend.👌

[@russellbriggs9644]

Funny guy. Gullible but funny! 😆

[@thefog7067]

I love this song I think it was possibly an influence on Kevin Carter by MSP

[@TT-fq7pl]

Rated a little bit under an over rating but not over an under rating. Nice back-heel assist in the video clip.

[@wieauchimmer5916]

German loves Housemartins too

[@elektroshop3388]

4:30 Great backheel pass lol.

[@HairyBosch]

No dislikes. Says it all.

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

Can someone explain the songs meaning? I get that the government won’t help the poor and neither will telethons (or jumbo sales), but what does that have to do with “flag day”? Also is blue peter referring to the 60 minutes like tv show blue peter?

[@johnclark448]

A Flag Day was a day charities sold a small flag, usually on a busy street on a saturday, which had a pin as a pole and you would stick in in your lapel etc, having done your bit for whichever charity Yes Blue peter as in the British tv show, they always had a fund raising appeal on the go, for all sorts of causes

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

@@johnclark448 Thank you! Growing up in America I never knew this but now it gives the song depth.

[@johnclark448]

@@michaelgerhardt7130 Its also "jumble sale" which is probably similar to what you would call a yard sale, except it would usually be held in a church hall or similar, where they would charge a small fee for setting up your table/space, to sell your old clothes and nik naks, there would usually be refreshments, cake stalls etc available, sometimes a small entry fee would be charged, with all proceeds going to charity, usually sonething to do with said church hall/church Its very rare to see these nowadays, but they were a regular occurence back in the 70s & 80s, many is the time my mother would arrive home with "new" clothes for us kids

[@RobertKelly-it8wm]

❤😊i remember when i was 2 in february, earlting chocolate on blue peter😊

[@ejcmartin]

Where can one find this piano version of “Flag Day?”

[@JaysonElliot]

This is the version from "London 0, Hull 4"

[@ejcmartin]

Jayson Elliot thanks! I had that vinyl way back when, but only now have “Now that’s what I call quite good” version. Looks like I’m making a purchase!

[@lifespundit2767]

Nothing changes...

[@corinnehansen4316]

Now we have a coronation looming over us. Down with the crown.

[@quogir1]

What good is life for if you dont know Housemartins

[@fraserconnell21]

Solid English blues music😊. Nothing wrong with been angry about the ruling classes mismanagement and dereliction of duty. So shame on them who have no shame 😮😑🙄