The JCB Song

Album: Half These Songs Are About You (2005)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • JCB is a company that makes construction equipment. In the December 16, 2005 Daily Mail, guitarist and singer Luke Concannon said: "The single is based on a true story. My family run a construction firm, building roads. As a youngster, I'd often sit in the (JCB) diggers with my dad. We'd have a great laugh, singing songs and holding up the traffic as we drove down country roads. It's a song about memories, essentially. It's about me feeling proud of my dad, but also about the emotions of a 5-year-old boy who is having a tough time with bullies at school. Sitting in my dad's digger was a release from that."
  • Nizlopi is the duo of Luke Concannon and bassist John Parker. They formed in 2001, taking their name from a Hungarian schoolgirl, Nina Nizlopi, who they both fancied during their teenage years in their hometown of Leamington Spa near Birmingham in England.
  • Luke Concannon on BBC3's 100 Most Annoying Songs: "It's a song from that really strong vivid memory of being young and being with my Dad in a digger and holding up the traffic spaceship and imagining it turning into a spaceship and destroying all the bullies and teachers." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above
  • A teenage Ed Sheeran was Nizlopi's guitar technician in the late 2000s. "I followed them to every gig," he told The Mail on Sunday. "After a while they were like, 'OK, do you want a job?' So, rather than following them about, I was in a van with them. That experience – seeing how they performed, how they interacted with their fans and how professional they were backstage – was the foundation for what's happening to me now. It's all about hard work, graft and being nice to people. That's the best way to do it."

Comments: 6

  • Amanda Bibby from WokingParty appearance
  • Lloyd from Birmingham Hits me right in the feels this one does
  • Louise from Newcastle, United KingdomOooh, this is so irritating! The video was cute, however.
  • Michaela from Shropshire, Englandthis song is really cute, with the lilo boy in the video aswell :) awwww!
  • Sander from Wirdum, NetherlandsIt's a really cute song! Especially the clip, so sweet =D
  • Claire from ManchesterAwww i love this song it's soo cute =) And whoever does the vocals on it has a really nice voice.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

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.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.