Hi. Out of lurk mode for a moment ;-)
I'm trying to transcribe -- for use in an English Class next term -- the lyrics to an obscure British song (sung by -- if I recognise the voice right -- the guy who plays Terry Macann on 'Minder'. I have 99% of it done, but am having trouble with a few words. The first, I believe might be a place name -- likely the name of a suburb (burough?) in London (possibly in the east end). The later two are likely slang that is too far outside of my Australian vernacular.
The song is 'Cash in Hand' and contains a large number of different colloquialisms for 'money'. It tells the story of a guy who buys an old undertaker's van at the wreckers, thinking to rent it out as a limo, but then has to sell it down the pub. A few weeks later it is the get-away vehicle in a hold-up and he has to go to court to answer some questions.
The problem lines (hash/crosshatch marks around phonic guesses at troublesome words):
and what with one thing and another,
I forgot all about the stiff-mobile
Then it turns up!
Impounded by the #Haystone# force,
painted pink and stashed with loot,
and the Old Bill's at my door.
and (two in this monologue at the end):
Yeah, marvellous, isn't it? I mean, they call it a credit-card society and no-one will take them! Not even the #beep-wally-neilson# [from context, some colloquialism for court or judge], that is. Yeah, naah, it's obvious, isn't it! Look, you do a little number for the #bus#, you can't shove an access into your black billy and get yourself a drink out of it, can you?
Thanx. |
