The Ballad of Tom Jones

Catatonia

About The Ballad of Tom Jones

"The Ballad of Tom Jones" is a song by Space and Cerys Matthews, lead singer of the band Catatonia, which was released in 1998. Lead singer Tommy Scott described Tom Jones as 'brilliant'. The song became a huge radio hit and resulted in Space performing with Jones in Jools Holland's New Year's Eve programme. The song peaked at number four in the United Kingdom, number 26 in Ireland, number 46 in Australia, and number 27 in New Zealand. It is the band's highest-selling single in their home country, earning a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry for sales of at least 200,000 copies.  


Year:
2002
4:10
1,219 
#3

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[Tommy] What did i do wrong?
[Cerys] Oh you nearly drove me cuckoo
[Tommy] Am i really all that bad?
[Cerys] You're worse than hannibal lecter, charlie manson, freddy Krueger
[Tommy] Why are we still together?
[Cerys] Oh i can't leave you till you're dead			 f
[Tommy] You mean till death do us part
[Cerys] I mean like cyanide, strangulation or an axe to your head
[Tommy] It was lucky for us i turned the radio on
[Cerys] They say that music soothes the savage
[Tommy] There was something in that voice that stopped us seeing red

[Both]	 The two of us would surely have ended up dead
You stopped us from killing each other (tom jones, tom jones)
You'll never know but you saved our lives (tom jones, tom jones)

[Cerys] I've never thrown my knickers at you
[Tommy] And i don't come from wales
[Tommy] Still haven't solved our problem
[Cerys] You mean we hate each other's guts
[Tommy] Still want to poison your
[Cerys] And i still want to cut off your
[Tommy] I phoned the marriage guidance
[Cerys] I tied the phone line round your
[Tommy] I'm sick of all this hatred
[Cerys] Well that'll be the arsenic making you sick
[Tommy] You were about to drive me over the edge of a cliff

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Catatonia

Catatonia were an alternative rock band from Wales who gained popularity in the mid to late 1990s. The band consisted of Cerys Matthews on vocals, Mark Roberts on guitar, Paul Jones on bass (both now members of Y Ffyrc, and former members of Sherbet Antlers and Y Cyrff), Owen Powell (who is a judge on 'Wawffactor' – akin to a Welsh X Factor) on guitar, and Aled Richards (who now drums for Amy Wadge) on drums. Matthews and Roberts were the main songwriters. more »

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Written by: JAMES EDWARDS, FRANCIS GRIFFITHS, THOMAS SCOTT

Lyrics © Phoenix Music International Ltd, Ultra Tunes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Release
"The Ballad of Tom Jones" was released as a single in 1998.
Artists
The song is a collaboration between two British acts, Welsh band Catatonia and Liverpool-based band Space.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by legendary singer Tom Jones, who is also from Wales, like Catatonia.
Theme
The lyrics foreshadow an argument between lovers that escalates to the point of deadly violence, but they are calmed down when they hear a Tom Jones song on the radio.
Chart Performance
The single peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, making it one of the band's most successful songs.
Vocals
The song's duet format features Tommy Scott from Space and Cerys Matthews from Catatonia.
Music Video
The music video for the song shows both bands in a spaceship, arguing until they are calmed by a hologram of Tom Jones.
Album
Despite its success, the song was not featured on any standard album by either band. However, it did appear on the compilation album "Space: The Best Of", released in 2002.
Awards
The track was nominated for Best British Single at the 1999 Brit Awards, but did not win.
Legacy
"The Ballad of Tom Jones" remains popular today, often played on UK radio and mentioned by fans of both bands.
Live Performances
The song was performed live by Space and Cerys Matthews of Catatonia at Cardiff's International Arena in 1998 as part of a promotion for the Red Dragon FM radio station.
Reception
Despite its success and popularity, some critics have described the song as a novelty due to its unique concept and comedic music video.
Lyrics
The lyrics add a comedic twist, as they describe a couple who are so furious with each other they consider committing a murderous act, but are stopped by a Tom Jones song which makes them realise what they're doing.
Collaborative Effort
The song marked a unique collaboration between two successful bands of their time, crossing the genres of indie rock and alternative rock.
Cover Versions
Though no major artist has covered "The Ballad of Tom Jones", it remains popular among fans for cover renditions on social media platforms.

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