Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)

Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley

About Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)

"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" is a song by the British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, released in 1975 as the second and final single from their third studio album The Best Years of Our Lives. It was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons. On the album, the song's title is shortened to "Mr. Raffles". The song reached No. 13 in the UK.


Year:
2006
4:36
17 
#1

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Man, it was mean to be seen in the robes you wore for
Lent you must've known that it was Easter
There for a while, in your smile, I could see Mexico blood say
"This is true I was a Teaser"
There were a thousand! Man it has being exchanged for Pesetas
Man! It was hard not to laugh out loud
I couldn't believe the size of the crowd
You must have fooled them into coming
Wow! There were women and children, too
They would have hanged us if they knew
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, you only came for the party
Man, it was mean, it was mean, Man, it was mean
Remember the time, what a time, we had down in Barcelona after you'd been slaying babies
There, for a time, I was fooled by your disguises, but I never thought of smashing rules
You wore the yellow bandana and gave out Heavenly Manna
Then in Amsterdam you were perfect fun
You never let on you had a gun and then you shot that Spanish Dancer
The speed at which we ran for a mile or two, they would have crucified us if they knew
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, we only killed for the party
Man, it was mean, it was mean, Man, it was mean
Man, show me something I've never seen, you're only real in your
Dream Machine
And all your games are a little drastic
Just throw me out if I get obscene but that's the way that I've always been
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, we're only living a party

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Steve Harley

Steve Harley (born Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice, 27 February 1951,Deptford, London, England) is an English singer and songwriter, best known for his work with the 1970s rock group Cockney Rebel, with whom he still occasionally tours (albeit with many personnel changes through the years). more »

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Written by: STEVE HARLEY

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Information
"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" is a classic song by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, released as a single in 1975.
Genre
The song is in the style of glam rock, an influential genre of rock music which included artists such as David Bowie and T. Rex.
Chart Performance
Despite its memorable style, the song failed to reach the UK Singles Chart top 10. It peaked up to only 13 place.
Concept
The song is about a man named Mr. Raffles who seems to be a fearlessly rebellious individual. It captures the tension between wealth, authority, and wild living.
Album
This song is a part of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's third studio album "The Best Years of Our Lives" which was produced by Alan Parsons.
Band
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel were an English glam rock band from the early 1970s. Their music covers a range of styles from pop to progressive rock.
Lyrical Meaning
The song is often interpreted as a commentary on the hedonistic lifestyle led by many popular and wealthy figures in the '70s, highlighting the contrast between public expectation and personal reality.
Legacy
"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" is considered to be one of Harley's most popular songs, often played at his live concerts.
Song Writing
Steve Harley had admitted in interviews that "Mr. Raffles" among his other songs, was written while he was under influence of LSD.
Music Video
"Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)" doesn't have an official music video, similar to many songs from the same era, due to the fact that music videos didn't become standard promotional tools until the early 1980s with the emergence of MTV.

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    "Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/9844655/Steve+Harley/Mr.+Raffles+%28Man%2C+It+Was+Mean%29>.

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