Rabbit

Album: Rock and Roll Party (1980)
Charted: 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Song titles can be misleading; the rabbit in this song is not a rabbit, it's not even a noun, but a verb. Rabbit is a colloquialism for talking too much, in this case a gorgeous but anonymous young lady is the rabbiter. Although an innocuous part novelty, part Cockney dialect song, it led to a certain amount of manufactured controversy in the tabloid press back in 1981. According to Daily Mirror correspondent Claire Packman of Tunbridge Wells, "The song promotes the stereotype idea that women are objects for men to admire and use." Or perhaps it implies that men don't like women who talk too much, however physically prepossessing they may be? >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • In defense of this song, Chas Hodges told the Metro in 2018: "It was just a bit of fun. It was about a girl who had everything going for her but would talk at all the wrong times. We got a few feminists on our backs."

    He added: "The majority of people who bought 'Rabbit' were little kids who thought it was about actual rabbits and blokes who wanted us to sign copies for their mothers-in-law."
  • This song has a connection with Elly Jackson of the electropop duo La Roux. Any suggestions…? Well, to put you out of your misery, Ms. Jackson's father Kit is a jobbing actor and in his capacity as a thespian, he appeared on the cover of the "Rabbit" single.
  • "Rabbit" like Gertcha was used in a television advertising campaign for Courage Bitter.
  • Dave (Peacock) of Chas and Dave said to The Guardian: "A lot of rock'n'roll stuff has humor in it. Like the Coasters, 'Take out the papers and the trash.' Rabbit is an English version of that."
  • "Rabbit" was co-written by the duo and is copyright 1979 by Chasdave Music of London. It was released on the Rockney label backed by "The Sideboard Song," November 29, 1980.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.