Hole In The Ground

Album: The Very Best Of Bernard Cribbins (1962)
Charted: 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This short novelty song - under two minutes in length - is a mini satire on the perceived class division of British society, something which was still fairly pronounced here in the early 60s. A workman is digging a hole when a man wearing a bowler hat - obviously a stereotype 1960s civil servant - walks up and proceeds to lecture him on how he should be doing it. The workman objects, and gives the busybody a piece of his mind in a whimsical manner. The song has a surprising and equally humorous if somewhat drastic ending.
  • Cribbins, a trained actor, portrays both protagonists masterfully. This Ted Dicks/Myles Rudge composition was their follow up to "Folk Song," which launched him on his albeit transient singing career. Recorded on the Beatles label Parlophone with an accompaniment directed by Gordon Franks, and sound effects, it was released as the A side of "Winkle Picker Shoes," and also as an EP which included "Folk Song."
  • The title on the record is "The Hole In The Ground" but the title on the sheet music is "Hole In The Ground." It was published by Noel Gay Music Co Ltd of London, Copyright 1962, and retailed for 2s6d. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."