National Express
The Divine Comedy
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Take the National Express when your life's in a mess It'll make you smile All human life is here From the feeble old dear to the screaming child From the student who knows that to have one of those Would be suicide To the family man Manhandling the pram with paternal pride And everybody sings 'ba ba ba da' We're going where the air is free On the National Express there's a jolly hostess Selling crisps and tea She'll provide you with drinks and theatrical winks For a sky-high fee Mini-skirts were in style when she danced down the aisle Back in '63 (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) But it's hard to get by when your arse is the size Of a small country And everybody sings 'ba ba ba da' We're going where the air is free Tomorrow belongs to me When you're sad and feeling blue With nothing better to do Don't just sit there feeling stressed Take a trip on the National Express, the National Express, let's go
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Written by: Neil Hannon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Origin"National Express" is a song by "The Divine Comedy" - a chamber pop band from Northern Ireland led by Neil Hannon.
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Chart PerformanceReleased as a single in 1999, "National Express" stands as one of the band's most successful songs. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Album InformationThis song is part of their sixth studio album titled, "Fin de Siècle", which was released in 1998.
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Song InspirationThe song was inspired by Neil Hannon's experiences and observations while traveling on the National Express coach system in the United Kingdom.
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Music VideoThe music video for "National Express" was directed by Matthew Kirkby. It employs a comedic approach, showcasing a series of absurd and humorous scenarios aboard a National Express coach.
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LyricsThe song's lyrics humorously capture the diversity of passengers on the coach, from "a host of over-friendly sales representatives" to "the family from hell".
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Song StyleThe track features the distinctive Divine Comedy musical style - rich and orchestral pop combined with witty, often satirical lyrics that demonstrate Hannon's sharp observational skills.
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CriticismDespite its popularity, "National Express" received some criticism for its portrayal of coach drivers and passengers, and was even temporarily banned from being played on National Express coaches.
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Tour"National Express" was regularly played during The Divine Comedy's 1998 and 1999 tours and continues to be a fan favorite during live performances.
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RecurrenceDespite the criticism, the song has stood the test of time and has appeared in various cultural contexts including movies and TV shows such as "Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa" and "The Royle Family."
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Citation
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"National Express Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4888677/The+Divine+Comedy/National+Express>.
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