The Winker's Song (Misprint)

Album: Beggars Banquet: The Punk Singles Collection (1978)
Charted: 22
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was Biggun's debut single. Recorded as Ivor Biggun & The Red Nosed Burglars it was released September 2, 1978 on the fledgling Beggars Banquet label, backed by "Readers' Wives." Unsurprisingly, the BBC banned it from airplay, though it still sold well. The September 9 issue of Music Week listed it at Number 2 in the New Wave And Independant Label Chart (yes, that is how they spell independent).
  • This is good clean filth, and Biggun at his irreverent best strumming away at his ukulele like a latter-day uncensored George Formby. The multi-voice chorus at the end is a master stroke. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • The lyric isn't really "winker" but "w@nker," which is profane in England. That word is repeated 36 times.
  • Local UK radio station Mansfield 103.2 was besieged by a pirate, who repeatedly kept hijacking the airwaves to play this explicit tune. The Nottinghamshire radio station illegally broadcasted the song on eight separate occasions during June 2017, forcing broadcasting watchdog Ofcom to launch an investigation into identifying the culprit.

Comments: 1

  • Zabadak from London, EnglandBiggun also made poetic TV appearances on That's Life as "Doc Cox".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.