Push A Little Button

Album: not on an album (1966)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Push A Little Button" was a surprise hit for the British composer Tony Hatch in 2010, not least because he wrote it in 1966! It was recorded way back then by his fifteen year old sister Ninette, and sank without trace, in spite of its obvious novelty value.

    Hatch himself said it was "originally intended as a gentle warning against accepting too much 'automation,' not knowing where it might lead us all." The punchline comes at the very end of the song with the implication that when someone - perhaps the President of the United States - pushes the wrong button, we've all had our chips. Bearing in mind that 1966 was the height of the Cold War, it is perhaps a little surprising that it flopped. The previous year, Barry Mcguire made #3 in the UK chart and topped in the US with (the admittedly much darker) "Eve Of Destruction" on the same theme.
  • By 1966, Tony Hatch had already made a name for himself in Tin Pan Alley with such songs as "Downtown"; bigger and greater things were yet to come, so he had probably forgotten this little ditty, and the accompanying video (which he stressed does not feature his sister), when the wheel turned full circle, and the song, which was originally recorded for Pye, was released as a download by Universal Records, February 18, 2010, after it was used in a TV promotion. The following month, Hatch appeared on the BBC news programme Breakfast where he related the story behind it. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."