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

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.