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XTC — Grass
Album: Skylarking
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1992









Released: 1986
Length: 2:37
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Laying on the grass, my heart, it flares like fire
The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get
'Cause you're teacher's pet
But when the boats have gone
We'll take a tumble, excuse for a fumble

Shocked me, too, the things we used to do on grass
If you fancy, we can buy an ice cream cone
Your mate has gone, she didn't want to be alone
I will pounce on you
Just us and the cuckoos
You are helpless now
Over and over, we flatten the clover

Shocked me, too, the things we used to do on grass
It would shock you, too, the things we used to do on grass
Grass
On grass
Things we did on grass
Comments (250)add comment
I remember the days when I could get down on the grass. And get up again. 
This is the second time recently I've noticed Grass played after Summer Cauldron. Researching the comments, l found these comment

Posted 5 years ago byAyejoe:
Its the crashing transition from this into 'Grass' that is just perfect and hence needs Grass to always be played immediately after !

Posted 3 years ago byseasonscycle:
Thanks for keeping Summer's Cauldron and Grass together, they are two songs, but really one....a great album.

William obliges, and why i love RP!
I actually saw XTC live, opening for the Police. The Police hadn't yet reached their megastar status and Andy Partridge was still on stage performing. Great show and, dare I say, XTC was the better band that night. Touring behind Black Sea, my favorite album of theirs.
 Proclivities wrote:

Well, it's probably not "things we used to do on graphs".
graphs



Nerd! 
 marysclark wrote:

Cheese.



A very fine cheese indeed!
skylarking was produced by the amazing Todd Rundgren…
 itsme_bygolly wrote:



The playlist is malfunctioning. Two XTC songs back to back.  From the same album. I'm a fan but I could listen to the album Skylarking without RP.


nah, they should be played together. this time, they weren't though.
 nicknt wrote:

As Andy Partridge said about this song, it's a "teenage sex nostalgia".



Alan Partridge perhaps?
It's two in a row on Paradise Radio!
So many hours spent in high school, lying on my bed listening to this album. The 80s was a decade full of such great music. I didn't know it at the time.... but it was a great time. 
I will pounce on you
Just us and the cuckoos
 
Ah, ok, cuckoos.  All this time I thought he was trying to use that cutesy babble talk.
Cheese.
 Rockit999 wrote:

Grass is just swell.




The playlist is malfunctioning. Two XTC songs back to back.  From the same album. I'm a fan but I could listen to the album Skylarking without RP.
Grass is just swell.
 2and4 wrote:

A great album that I almost always have to listen to from front to back. It's weird hearing individual songs and anticipating the next song.   

this is why I still enjoy listening to albums/CDs

...I wish they all could be California girls... Beach Boys influence spotted.


The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get






Ok Bro. 
Takes me back 40 some odd years. This song means so much to me. Thank you Bill!
Summers cauldron skipped right into Grass!!! Wow cool
Moral of the story
Things are not always as they seem.
Over and over- we flatten the clover...  oh my!
Grass makes me itchy 
H E L P .
 seasonscycle wrote:
Thanks for keeping Summer's Cauldron and Grass together, they are two songs, but really one....a great album.
 

I'm glad you wrote this because it sounded awful and I didn't know why.
A great album that I almost always have to listen to from front to back. It's weird hearing individual songs and anticipating the next song.   
Quintissential English rock band, whenever I drive across Wiltshire or the Vale of the White Horse I just have to listen to a bit of XTC.
 morganmike wrote:
Perfect, this following Summer's Cauldren is how life is meant to be,  excellent Bill, thanks
 
Yes.  What a great band!!  What a marvelous radio station!!
Perfect, this following Summer's Cauldren is how life is meant to be,  excellent Bill, thanks
Thanks for keeping Summer's Cauldron and Grass together, they are two songs, but really one....a great album.
 erdo41 wrote:
Irritating, More Tweeting Than Our President! (And that's saying something)
 
Oh ya? Well....YOU'RE irritating. So there.
As Andy Partridge said about this song, it's a "teenage sex nostalgia".
 lemmoth wrote:

Being as how Grass follow's Summer's Cauldron immediately on this great great recors — of course, and hooray!!!

 
didn't look back far enough to find this, but doesn't surprise me either.
"Summer's Cauldron" followed by "Grass" via the fast forward button.

I'm not much of an XTC fan.  Always been partial to astroturf.  
You know the good modern high potency stuff.
this song could be double the length... so seductive. 
 Will62 wrote:
Brilliant band. "English Settlement" has been at the high end of my "all-time" list since release. 
 

So many great albums. Brilliant band for sure.
"Black Sea " is a desert island disc - no brainer.
( I am not bringing my turntable to the Island )
Brilliant band. "English Settlement" has been at the high end of my "all-time" list since release. 
Ahead of it's time
Drums and Wires and beyond. XTC produced so many wonderful songs. Think I saw them live in Detroit! LOL
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Probably an indacator of how my mind works, but when he sings "the things we use to do on grass" I was thinking about the kind you smoke. Now having actually read the lyrics I realise he probably means the kind you get in a lawn?!?
Much prefer King For a Day or other upbeat tracks to this one
Love XTC.

Beatlesque of course, but why not?

Vastly underrated band.
Remember when knob singers would come on Sesame Street and sing about the number 2 and the letter V?
 TerryS wrote:


Saccharin  Kinks
 
I love the Kinks. XTC  are righteous progeny!




Saccharin  Kinks
Irritating, More Tweeting Than Our President! (And that's saying something)
 ziggytrix wrote:
Yay! I hate it when Bill plays anything other than Grass after Summer's Cauldron. {#Eyes}

 
Just had that {#Eyes} experience. 
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Probably an indacator of how my mind works, but when he sings "the things we use to do on grass" I was thinking about the kind you smoke. Now having actually read the lyrics I realise he probably means the kind you get in a lawn?!?
 
Well, it's probably not "things we used to do on graphs".
graphs
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Probably an indacator of how my mind works, but when he sings "the things we use to do on grass" I was thinking about the kind you smoke. Now having actually read the lyrics I realise he probably means the kind you get in a lawn?!?
 
I was thinking the same, but reading the lyrics, could be both, right? I mean first one then the other....{#Daisy}{#Tongue-out}
I've always enjoyed GRASS!
Probably an indacator of how my mind works, but when he sings "the things we use to do on grass" I was thinking about the kind you smoke. Now having actually read the lyrics I realise he probably means the kind you get in a lawn?!?
 coarsely_ground wrote:
nice 4-20 timing.....:)

 
Bravo BillG!  I've been listening from behind the playlist for a bit here (you know, work isn't all listening to RP) and now I got my headphones back in and YES you did give us a holiday treat. 
Yay! I hate it when Bill plays anything other than Grass after Summer's Cauldron. {#Eyes}
 stunix wrote:
Not often you hear 2 tracks by the same band back to back on RP, whoever it is.  Apart from Floyd.

 
It would be a travesty to not play these two song together.
nice 4-20 timing.....:)
Thank you Bill for playing this and for allowing the Summer's Cauldron~ Grass seque.    Peace
 Propayne wrote:
Andy Partridge's contribution to the new Monkees album is wonderful and would slot in wonderfully right after this.

hint, hint....

 
Good idea!
XTC...Dukes of Stratosphear...always.
In the early '80s I was living and working in Swindon, England. This was a very low time of my life. The (only) 2 good things about Swindon are XTC and Arkells Brewery, cheers {#Cheers}
Excellent tune and album!  Could really stand to hear more from this incredible band on RP.
Andy Partridge's contribution to the new Monkees album is wonderful and would slot in wonderfully right after this.

hint, hint....
 Birds do like music.
    So real XTchic.
Not often you hear 2 tracks by the same band back to back on RP, whoever it is.  Apart from Floyd.
Thanks, Bill. After a day filled with shock and grief, I needed something life affirming.
Nope, not doing anything for me. 
 tonypf wrote:

Oy!  Such a visual.  Love XTC.

 
Love XTC, love Todd Rundgren, love this album.
 I had never heard them until now and suddenly, there are two of their songs back to back. I'm trying to decide if I like them or not...  I think I'll need to hear them again, or maybe a third song ? ;)
 Lonestar wrote:
Back to back crap. 

 
Oy!  Such a visual.  Love XTC.
Thanks Bill
 matz wrote:
Does anybody know the "Winnetue"-Theme from those cult like movies in the 60s? It was a German movie series (not really good and far from being impressive western movies, but anyway).

BUT - the theme song really reminds me of XTCs Grass, only much slower, but it really has the same soundscape created by the string arrangements and the conga rhythm section.

Just listen into it and hear what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzeydENt0yQ 

 
Just in case you're ever reading this: I know the movies from when I was a child, and that's a VERY nice spotting! Everything you said is there {#Cool}
One of those perfect songs.
Thanks Bill for the Summer's Cauldron just prior.
Back to back crap. 
Somehow (Brian) Eno'esque. Like it.
Now that I've actually paid attention to the lyrics, I'm not convinced that the grass-based activities were entirely consensual...

Maybe I'm reading too much into it.
 GeorgeMWoods wrote:
What am I missing? This is awful. Sounds like early 60's pop only worse.

 
What are you missing? Idk. The happy gene?
More cowbird. {#Bananajumprope}
{#Heartkiss} .... love this album a lot - great track, "Outstanding" from me
 msymmes wrote:
Nice to hear even if only twice a year.

 


got a bug in your brandy woodsy, chill
Nice to hear even if only twice a year.
What am I missing? This is awful. Sounds like early 60's pop only worse.
what a pleasant reminder
Nice selection Bill !!
 
Kissing my fingertips!
I think it was Todd Rundgren's idea to blend alot of the songs on this album together and he met much resistance from the band. Still all these years later this album is truly a work of art the way it was assembled.
God I love this album!

Makes me wish it were Spring.... 
Wow Bill, thanks for the double shot of XTC! Summer's Caldron followed by Grass 

Does anybody know the "Winnetue"-Theme from those cult like movies in the 60s? It was a German movie series (not really good and far from being impressive western movies, but anyway).

BUT - the theme song really reminds me of XTCs Grass, only much slower, but it really has the same soundscape created by the string arrangements and the conga rhythm section.

Just listen into it and hear what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzeydENt0yQ 
have to admit that these songs do sound better on grass
Wow, takes me right back to high school and college. XTC was a staple of my playlist back then. Thanks Bill.

Groovy :)


Everyone's animated avatars are dancing in perfect sync with this song. {#Dancingbanana}
(Not dancing banana, however.)
There doesn't seem to be any negative comments about this song. Well I friggin hate it, so there.
Love this!  Played this vinyl the morning before my wedding in 87.  Still together.
What a nice combo!
Thanks for letting those two flow together!
 Randomax wrote:
wow - a 1st for me...I have NEVER seen Bill play two in a row by the same artist!
 
He does a Robert Palmer three-fer every once in a while, because the songs just flow into each other, much like Summer's Cauldron and Grass do...however, I heard a jump. I should get this album on vinyl, rip it, and upload the two songs. Because really, there is no pause in between them. They were meant to be played together, forever and ever, ramen.

 Businessgypsy wrote:
Thanks! Wally is 140 (by 7x human years reckoning), blind and deaf - but try making a sandwich without his help.

We were both young pups once upon a time.


 
Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? ;-)

 Randomax wrote:
wow - a 1st for me...I have NEVER seen Bill play two in a row by the same artist!
 
Being as how Grass follow's Summer's Cauldron immediately on this great great recors — of course, and hooray!!!

wow - a 1st for me...I have NEVER seen Bill play two in a row by the same artist!
ptooey wrote:
Now that there is one cute dog.
Thanks! Wally is 140 (by 7x human years reckoning), blind and deaf - but try making a sandwich without his help.

We were both young pups once upon a time.


 Businessgypsy wrote:
You can always visit, most welcome to our grass.


 
Now that there is one cute dog.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason, this song and the previous "Summer's Cauldron" seem to beg me to put them into a playlist including "California Dreaming" by The Mamas and the Papas and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James and the Shondells.  I'm sure if I thought harder about it, "Good Vibrations" would fit in there someplace, too, as would "Heavy Disguise" by Strawbs.

I'm attributing this to the impending onslaught of snow, after several days of false-spring. (Well, that and the brandy.) {#Redface}
XTC is a musician's band.
 Grammarcop wrote:
Sigh. Makes me pine for summer.
 
I reckon XTC did their job as artists then.

Grammarcop wrote:
Sigh. Makes me pine for summer.
You can always visit, most welcome to our grass.


 Dave_Mack wrote:

And mowing.  Don't forget mowing.
 
And fertilizing!  I love fertilizing freshly mowed grass.
Can't see the grass today ... snowed yesterday {#Cry} I can dream, though ... {#Sunny}
Sigh. Makes me pine for summer.
Happy....Thank You!{#Daisy}
 rachlan wrote:
love this. 
 
Much better.  {#Group-hug}
love this. 
I like this...it does sound a bit like Chris Difford lead Squeeze stuff...doesn't it? 
 peter_james_bond wrote:
He must be talking about soccer, baseball, football...you know....sports...right? {#Eh}
 
And mowing.  Don't forget mowing.

 Rick_V wrote:
I concur. These guys were AMAZING! I'd put them up there with just about anyone.
 
Nothwithstanding that a respected (female) friend of mine once described them as "geeky boy music," I believe XTC's about as brilliant—and original—as it gets.

The album where two of my favorites got together, XTC and Todd Rundgren.

Would love to hear some Todd! 
Really surprised by the low rating.  This album is a masterpiece.  XTC have got to be some of the best song writers ever - nearly on par with The Beatles.
Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper & Skylarking

Love to play them in order.
 VicEdee wrote:
MORE XTC, please!
the most underrated pop band / songwriters, perhaps ever......!
 

I concur. These guys were AMAZING! I'd put them up there with just about anyone.
beach boys - california girls? anyone? anyone? bueller?
perfect summertime lazy afternoon accompanyment.  where did i leave my hueraches?