Three more pieces of pop music which mention Crewe
By Alex Greensmith
20th Nov 2022 | Local News
Last month, we shared the story of three songs which mention our town in their lyrics.
The three previous songs which mentioned Crewe can be read about here.
And today, we have three more top tunes which feature Crewe among their versus or choruses.
In this list, we have a wider spread of genres, and a UK Top 10 hit.
Now, without further ado, let's hear about the times pop music has mentioned Crewe...
The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu
The highest charting song with Crewe in the lyrics is the 1991 dance track It's Grim Up North.
Released by the band better known as The KLF under the moniker The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu. this UK top single shouts out 78 northern towns and cities over a thumping beat.
Bill Drummond's soft Scottish accent reads out the placenames, and at the 28 second mark you can hear Crewe as the eighth town given a shoutout, just after Buxton.
Other local towns get a shoutout like Macclesfield and Nantwich. Crewe is among nine Cheshire towns given a shoutout in the song.
It was a Top 10 hit in the UK, Denmark and Finland. Listen to the thumping rave trap at the top of the article or by clicking here.
Herman's Hermits
From the longest song on the list to the shortest, Manchester beat group Herman's Hermits gave a nod to our town's railway heritage on their second album Both Sides of Herman's Hermits.
In the track Oh Mr Porter, Crewe is given a mention on the third line. The song is just one minute 28 seconds long, so we might as well just include most of the lyrics for context:
"Oh Mr. Porter, what shall I do?
I want to go to Birmingham
But here I am at Crewe
Take me back to London
As quickly as you can
Oh Mr. Porter what a silly girl I am."
The jury is still out on whether the character from the song ever left Crewe.
As an interesting tidbit, some versions of the songs say 'Liverpool' instead of 'Birmingham', or say silly 'boy' instead of 'girl'.
The song was an album track. Not a surprise, given it is almost ten seconds shorter than the record for the shortest charting UK song.
Listen to the track yourself by clicking here or here.
Half Man Half Biscuit
Birkenhead rock outfit Half Man Half Biscuit create some surreal and out there songs.
Certainly one to never trouble the charts, but they have their own little niche in pop culture, particuarly if you mention the words 'Joy Division Oven Gloves' in certain mod or punk-oriented bars in Crewe you will get some faces to light up.
The alternative band released their thirteenth album Urge for Offal in 2014, and the track Stuck up a Hornbeam mentions our town.
The context is "For you I'd lose my self-esteem, For Crewe I'd use Junction 16." Other than motorways we have no clue what to interpret with this song, so we'll leave it up to you to listen to.
Get your ear holes around here.
And that was it! Did we miss any tracks? Check out our previous list and Let us know on our social media and who knows we may even make a third list of this kind.
READ MORE: UP CLOSE: With Crewe brewer Sean Ayling of Tom's Tap and Brewhouse
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