Diary of Horace Wimp

Electric Light Orchestra

About Diary of Horace Wimp

"The Diary of Horace Wimp" is the fourth track on the Electric Light Orchestra album Discovery, written by Jeff Lynne. Released in 1979 as a single, the song is Beatlesque in nature and became a Top Ten hit in the UK and Ireland. The lyrics describe a week in the life of a repressed man who wants to express his affection towards a woman he meets, and overcomes his shy nature with the help of "a voice from above." The day Saturday is omitted – this is because, as explained by Jeff Lynne: "The football match is played on a Saturday". The music video references Citizen Kane in its ending, showing a closeup of Jeff Lynne saying "Horace Wimp," echoing Orson Welles' character in the film saying "Rosebud" as he dies. 


Year:
1989
113 
#1

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Monday: Late again,today,he'd be in trouble though
He'd say he was sorry, he'd have to hurry out to the bus.

Tuesday: Horace was so sad,he'd never had a girl that he
could care for, and if he was late once more,he'd be out.

Don't be afraid,just knock on the door,
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Then a voice from above said--
Horace Wimp,this is your life,
Go out and find yourself a wife.
Make a stand and be a man,
And you will have a great life plan.

Wednesday: Horace met a girl,she was small and she
was very pretty, he thought he was in love,he was afraid.

Thursday: Asks her for a date,the cafe down the street 
tomorrow evening,his head was reeling,
when she said. Yes O.K.

Don't be afraid,just knock on the door,
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Then a voice from above said--
Horace Wimp, this is your life,
Go out and find yourself a wife.
Make a stand and be a man,
And you will have a great life plan.

Friday: Horace,this is it,he asks the girl if maybe they
could marry,when she says, Gladly-- Horace cries.

Sunday: Everybody's at the church,when Horace
rushes in and says, Now here come my wife,
for the rest of my life--and she did.

Don't be afraid,just knock on the door,
Well he just stood there mumblin' and fumblin'.
Then a voice from above said--
Horace Wimp,this is your wife,
Go out and find yourself a life.
Make a stand and be a man,
And you will have a great life plan.

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are a British rock group from Birmingham, England who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. After Wood's departure following the band's debut record, Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album. more »

7 fans

Written by: JEFF LYNNE

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Date
"Diary of Horace Wimp" was released on 16th July 1979, as part of Electric Light Orchestra's seventh studio album "Discovery".
Chart Success
The song achieved notable chart success. It reached number 8 in the UK, becoming the band's 10th top-10 single and number 27 in Ireland.
Concept
The song tells a story of a person's week, Monday to Saturday, each day being described with both positive and negative events happening to Horace Wimp.
Musical Style
"Diary of Horace Wimp" encompasses Pop, Rock, and Symphonic Rock styles. The song is also known for its distinctive Beatlesque sound, featuring heavy use of cello and violin.
Unique Aspect
The song features a dramatic narrative voice combined with a high-pitched chorus. This, along with the orchestral arrangements, makes it stand out from many standard pop songs of the era.
Live Performances
Despite its chart success, "Diary of Horace Wimp" was never included in the band's live setlists at the time of its production. However, recently it has been played at Electric Light Orchestra's live performances.
Band's Reaction
While band members have had varying attitudes towards the song over the years, Jeff Lynne, one of the core members and writers of the song, once stated in an interview that this was one of his favorite songs to perform.
Music Video
The song has a creative music video, which portrays the narrative of the song through a mixture of live-action and animation. This format is quite common in modern music videos but was somewhat innovative during the late 1970s.
Unreleased Demo
A demo version of "Diary of Horace Wimp" exists and circulates among fans, but has not been officially released. This version is more acoustic and stripped-back, without the orchestral elements of the final release.
Cultural Impact
Despite being released over 40 years ago, "Diary of Horace Wimp" has remained popular, regularly being played on classic rock radio stations. The song was also featured in the soundtrack of the 2008 British comedy-drama film "Son of Rambow".

Discuss the Diary of Horace Wimp Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Diary of Horace Wimp Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/7340534/Electric+Light+Orchestra/Diary+of+Horace+Wimp>.

    Missing lyrics by Electric Light Orchestra?

    Know any other songs by Electric Light Orchestra? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Diary of Horace Wimp

    529K
    2,801     92

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Which Irish rock band sang The Boys Are Back In Town?
    A Led Zeppelin
    B Thin Lizzy
    C Slade
    D Black Start Riders

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Electric Light Orchestra's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Electric Light Orchestra tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!