The Housemartins - Happy Hour - Lyrics Meaning

Happy Hour by the Housemartins was released in 1986 and reached number 4 in the UK charts.

In England during the 1980's the Happy Hour could be found in many pubs, especially the ones in city centres.

This consisted of one hour usually in the early evening when the pub would usually be quiet where all drinks were offered at a cheap price or on some occasions 'but one, get one free'

The lyrics in this song describe the happy hour in a humorous but scathing observation of how it affected the working classes.

It describes going drinking with your workmates and on occasions with your boss, and really not wanting to be there, everyone ends up having to much to drink and saying things that they don't mean and deeply regretting it the following day at work.

It goes on to say that many of the people in the pub might as well be speaking a different language as he has nothing whatsoever in common with them.

Happy hours can still be seen today at various pubs but they are not as popular as they were in the 1980's