Dave Hemingway
Encyclopedia
Dave Hemingway is a British musician and songwriter, and was a lead vocalist for the Hull-based band
The Beautiful South
until they disbanded in 2007. Previously, he had been a member of The Housemartins
.
Hemingway was the son of a lorry driver and local comedian on the club circuit, Harry Hemingway and Flo Hemingway who worked in a bar called The Kingfisher. In Hull's Henry Cooper School, Hemingway was in the same class as The Housemartins
' future drummer
, Hugh Whitaker
. The two shared an interest in drumming, and one day, when the class were asked who would like to learn drums, they put their hands up first. Hemingway followed Whitaker into bands, first the Newpolitans with Dave Rotheray
on bass
, and then the Velvetones.
His break came when he got a call from Rotheray telling him Whitaker had left The Housemartins. Rotheray recommended him to Housemartins guitarist Stan Cullimore
, who phoned him. He was working as a purchase ledger
clerk at the time for the Crystal Motor Group. Hemingway quit his job on 6 March 1987, and soon found himself in the recording studio
, recording the band's second album
, The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
.
After the Housemartins disbanded, he and Housemartins founder Paul Heaton
put together the Beautiful South from its ashes, featuring roadie and bassist
Sean Welch
.
album, Hello Cruel World, has been released and is available as a download only on iTunes
. The album's title was inspired by Hemingway's experience recording in the capital, he found London to be grey and cruel. It used to make him cry. He often found himself walking around at night, seeing the homelessness and it inspired the lyric from the title track of 'Hello Cruel World'. It also inspired the other 11 tracks on the album, and the hidden track, and all the B-sides. He also produced an EP from the album, inspired by the Homelessness he saw in London. This is particularly noticeable in the second track called 'grey and Cruel'.
'To Hate Oneself (Sex Pest)- by David Hemingway'
I look in the mirror
and what do i see
a tired old sex pest
looking back at me
i used to be handsome
i used to have some charm
but time has been cruel
you can see it in my palm
look at my lifeline
its very soon to stop
my headline
my heart line
very soon to flop
(Chorus)
My fingers have fingered
My thumbs they have thumbed
My fists they have fisted (you)
My face has seen many many bums
(Repeat Chorus in higher key to fade)
'Grey and Cruel - by David Hemingway'
(spoken) Grey
Cruel (cruel)
Grey Cruel Cruel (Grey)
Grey Cruel Cruel (Grey)
It's a grey grey cruel world
Walking the streets
seeing the young girl
any change she says?
'No'
They've been cruel to me
so i give it back
don't care about you
i give zero slack
you want my money
you'll have to perform
if i give it away
i'll just feel forlorn
so don't ask me for change
don't ask for any tea
cos it's a grey cruel world
that's how it's made me
Ask me for money
i'll ask you for favours
ask me for a tenner at the bank
i'll ask you to give me a w**k
And i'll walk on by
like a thousand strangers before
'f**k you' i say under my breathe
I don't care if you freeze to death
Come on street child
perform for me
i don't live where you live
Yes it's a cruel world
Yes it's grey
I'm part of that
Don't mistake me for someone who gives a f**k.
Mines a pint
(repeat to fade)
Hello Cruel World - by David Hemingway'
I see you there in the doorway
You're sleeping
Or am I dreaming?
I feel like I am
I'm a shadow of a man
Chorus
Hello Cruel World
Get me out of here!
I'm a celebrity
But you still don't hear!
Call me
Draw me
Make me real
Otherwise I'm just a shadow, in a cruel cruel world
I see you there on the corner
You're working
Or am I dreaming?
I feel like I am
I'm a shadow of a man
So how much then?
For a feel.
a chewed up fiver?
Come on then
make me real.
I hitch you up, gasp on your shoulder
Then walk away, still empty.
It never works
I look at my white hair
my jowels
my own breath knocks me out
Goodbye cruel world
Don't Turn Grey - by David Hemingway'
At the end of the day
All is grey
All is turning to grey.
What's that you say?
No, no change today.
Nowhere to stay?
Alright. Okay
Have fifty pee
Towards a meal deal.
From Boots.
But don't shoot
It up your arm
Or do youself harm
In the nose
With those
Drugs that they do
Just say no
Thankyou.
These upbeat high energy tracks are still available on Itunes for 79p. (each)
It features a wide array of styles, from stripped-down acoustic and piano ballads to reggae, to hard rock, thrash metal, Abba, Bee Gees-esque, to full band workouts and even some more contemporary electronic influences (Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Communards).
An official music video
to accompany the song Hello Cruel World was made by film makers Lee Burrows and Martyn Grey. It shows Hemingway in the streets of London, looking sad and miming to his songs. He dies his hair for the video.
Hemingway continues to perform as The Beautiful South under the name The South performing some of the well loved classics and also some new material with a brand new line up.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
until they disbanded in 2007. Previously, he had been a member of The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
.
Hemingway was the son of a lorry driver and local comedian on the club circuit, Harry Hemingway and Flo Hemingway who worked in a bar called The Kingfisher. In Hull's Henry Cooper School, Hemingway was in the same class as The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
' future drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, Hugh Whitaker
Hugh Whitaker
Hugh Whitaker is the former drummer for the British indie rock band The Housemartins. He replaced original drummer Chris Lang and drummed for the band's first album, London 0 Hull 4, and its attendant single releases. He left the band before the recording of their second album, The People Who...
. The two shared an interest in drumming, and one day, when the class were asked who would like to learn drums, they put their hands up first. Hemingway followed Whitaker into bands, first the Newpolitans with Dave Rotheray
Dave Rotheray
David Rotheray is a British musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South.Rotheray was born the fifth of five children. His parents were both intellectual and had met through the Young Communist League...
on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and then the Velvetones.
His break came when he got a call from Rotheray telling him Whitaker had left The Housemartins. Rotheray recommended him to Housemartins guitarist Stan Cullimore
Stan Cullimore
Stan Cullimore played guitar, between 1983 and 1988, for the Hull based indie rock band called The Housemartins.-Biography:Cullimore studied maths at the University of Hull, graduating in 1984....
, who phoned him. He was working as a purchase ledger
Purchase ledger
A purchase ledger is a system in accountancy by which a business records and monitors its creditors. The purchase ledger contains the individual accounts of suppliers from whom the business has made purchases on credit...
clerk at the time for the Crystal Motor Group. Hemingway quit his job on 6 March 1987, and soon found himself in the recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, recording the band's second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death was the second and last studio album by The Housemartins. It was released in 1987. The songs "Five Get Over Excited", "Me and the Farmer" and "Build" were released as singles...
.
After the Housemartins disbanded, he and Housemartins founder Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
put together the Beautiful South from its ashes, featuring roadie and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Sean Welch
Sean Welch
Sean Welch was the bassist for The Beautiful South and previously roadie for The Housemartins.During his childhood, he played in a number of school bands, but unlike many budding musicians he was dismissed for his lack of musical skill...
.
Going solo
Hemingway's first soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album, Hello Cruel World, has been released and is available as a download only on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. The album's title was inspired by Hemingway's experience recording in the capital, he found London to be grey and cruel. It used to make him cry. He often found himself walking around at night, seeing the homelessness and it inspired the lyric from the title track of 'Hello Cruel World'. It also inspired the other 11 tracks on the album, and the hidden track, and all the B-sides. He also produced an EP from the album, inspired by the Homelessness he saw in London. This is particularly noticeable in the second track called 'grey and Cruel'.
'To Hate Oneself (Sex Pest)- by David Hemingway'
I look in the mirror
and what do i see
a tired old sex pest
looking back at me
i used to be handsome
i used to have some charm
but time has been cruel
you can see it in my palm
look at my lifeline
its very soon to stop
my headline
my heart line
very soon to flop
(Chorus)
My fingers have fingered
My thumbs they have thumbed
My fists they have fisted (you)
My face has seen many many bums
(Repeat Chorus in higher key to fade)
'Grey and Cruel - by David Hemingway'
(spoken) Grey
Cruel (cruel)
Grey Cruel Cruel (Grey)
Grey Cruel Cruel (Grey)
It's a grey grey cruel world
Walking the streets
seeing the young girl
any change she says?
'No'
They've been cruel to me
so i give it back
don't care about you
i give zero slack
you want my money
you'll have to perform
if i give it away
i'll just feel forlorn
so don't ask me for change
don't ask for any tea
cos it's a grey cruel world
that's how it's made me
Ask me for money
i'll ask you for favours
ask me for a tenner at the bank
i'll ask you to give me a w**k
And i'll walk on by
like a thousand strangers before
'f**k you' i say under my breathe
I don't care if you freeze to death
Come on street child
perform for me
i don't live where you live
Yes it's a cruel world
Yes it's grey
I'm part of that
Don't mistake me for someone who gives a f**k.
Mines a pint
(repeat to fade)
Hello Cruel World - by David Hemingway'
I see you there in the doorway
You're sleeping
Or am I dreaming?
I feel like I am
I'm a shadow of a man
Chorus
Hello Cruel World
Get me out of here!
I'm a celebrity
But you still don't hear!
Call me
Draw me
Make me real
Otherwise I'm just a shadow, in a cruel cruel world
I see you there on the corner
You're working
Or am I dreaming?
I feel like I am
I'm a shadow of a man
So how much then?
For a feel.
a chewed up fiver?
Come on then
make me real.
I hitch you up, gasp on your shoulder
Then walk away, still empty.
It never works
I look at my white hair
my jowels
my own breath knocks me out
Goodbye cruel world
Don't Turn Grey - by David Hemingway'
At the end of the day
All is grey
All is turning to grey.
What's that you say?
No, no change today.
Nowhere to stay?
Alright. Okay
Have fifty pee
Towards a meal deal.
From Boots.
But don't shoot
It up your arm
Or do youself harm
In the nose
With those
Drugs that they do
Just say no
Thankyou.
These upbeat high energy tracks are still available on Itunes for 79p. (each)
It features a wide array of styles, from stripped-down acoustic and piano ballads to reggae, to hard rock, thrash metal, Abba, Bee Gees-esque, to full band workouts and even some more contemporary electronic influences (Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Communards).
An official music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
to accompany the song Hello Cruel World was made by film makers Lee Burrows and Martyn Grey. It shows Hemingway in the streets of London, looking sad and miming to his songs. He dies his hair for the video.
Hemingway continues to perform as The Beautiful South under the name The South performing some of the well loved classics and also some new material with a brand new line up.