Divine Comedy - National Express

[macalauresmuse]

The entire song makes me grin widely but 1.35 makes me laugh til I hurt :D

[keithmcneill55]

One sunny but chilly Autumn afternoon about five or six years ago, I had the pleasure of travelling from Manchester to London on board the National Express. The bus driver had the radio on, and as luck would have it, this song came on. It was comical, the whole bus was singing as we drove through hundreds of miles of English countryside. A Happy Memory :)

[DACON23]

Great song but terrible quality clip.

[clearviewmind]

Mastermind anyone??...

[funkymcmunky]

parlophone used a potatoe to record this

[EmbracingAwkward]

He actually looks like a mental person. Love this song

[imooreory]

everytime i see a national express bus im singing this for hours.

[duke000222]

Always makes me smile.

[MrPokefan2011]

I was told yesterday that I sing like him :P

[147mcrfan147]

Saw this guy last night in Beflast. Such criac

[dunpendertech]

How can this not make you smile?

15 people are tits!

[daniellewilce]

My dad sometimes uses the national express, so I thought as a bit of a laugh, I'd hack his blackberry and set this song as his ringtone. However, what I didn't expect is that next time his phone rang, he'd be ON the National Express, right next to the driver! Oops xD

[19echo07]

@daniellewilce never happened

[daniellewilce]

@19echo07 what?

[teezer123]

met neil today and he presented me an award in school , he used to go to our school and is from the town and he was guest speaker today at prize giving and gave a hilarious speach

[Onelessproject]

@teezer123

Portora, mmm. He would make a change from all the boring farts that used to speak every speech day.

[ConTonkTen]

Amazing song, just the right tune to make one happy and content :D, played it on my stereo for full blast while i did the dishes :(...but that song made me jump around and sing along...almost dropping some plates hehe

[canorus218]

I may just have misbehaved a bit when an inpatient on a psychiatric ward in West Yorkshire in the mid '80s. Something about the setting brought out the mischief in me and this video nails it 110 percent!

[mrskaffd]

Worked at the hospital where the hosp sequences were filmed... happy days and RIP Joyce Green Hospital!

[duncangray2011]

i think a salve to time raoul moat and not the norweign, give me answeres.

[duncangray2011]

oh mother.

[tattoodfreeek]

love love love love love love this song!!! puts me in a good mood!!!

[KaoticGore]

The prior comment would make sense.

Would also lead me to believe some things:

Mini skirts in style: barely covering themselves. (government/ health service)

Arse the size of a small country: the country has turned to arse.

Meh.

[redjimmer9]

all the comments made are spot on but my 41 year old brain seems to remember listening to an interview with mr hanlon in which he suggested the national express in this instance was the National health service xxxxx

[samedifference123]

I'll take a stab at saying that the song itself is about escape... via the very reasonably priced National express! The video, as the intro points out, is about someone being committed to a mental health institute by his his wife, due to his excessive stress levels. So by linking the two premises we can evaluate that he, Neil Hannon, is saying that a trip on the National Express is a good way to relieve the tensions in your life. Everybody say YEAH... AWH HUWN... AAAALLLLLRRRRIIIIGGGHHHHTTT

[MrsJoJoMSM]

Does anyone remember another video featuring an actual bus ride?

[bertyUK]

Get onboard the NExpress now and share your breathing space with the UK's scumbags.

Never again. That was 3 years ago.

[simonizer68]

Fuck the ethos. A fantastic tune, great lyrics, and I must admit I don't mind embarrassing my small country sized arse off on the kareoke.......... Something for the weekend sir?????

[gymnosophy]

He's a bit of a Vicars son. What is the song accually about?

[tybites4]

gotta love that tune! the vid is so true to those who work whithin mental health! Really good to see that electro shock is being phased out now though!

[1benclifton1]

WTF why is he in a wheel chair if there's nothin wronge with him ?

[TheBlindPig1]

i dont think you understand, theres not going to be a next week. christ is the mother of creation, once you see that, all the hell could swear an oath to the seas.

[TheBlindPig1]

woman is but tabula rosa.

[TriggerOvPeth]

Top video!! 5 stars

[CLOACAband]

Tune:D hes on a bus,national express..you tit beaks!!

[davedagreat69]

Well Parlophone the picture quality is an embarassment to you. Any chance you could upload a decent version of this brilliant video?

[thestormoverkrynn]

@davedagreat69 This is the music industry you are talking about, they still think home taping is a threat never mind knowing what high definition is.

[neptunik25]

I would recommend a very useful and a valuable website about traveling by coach from the UK to the rest of the EU countries: EuropeBus.co.uk

[TheBlindPig1]

Just to say + i know my mothers grave.

[Berk101]

Love the song but disappoint at Parlophone for such a lame upload quality! :|

[TravelJay1982]

Makes me feel sooo old!! Classic!

[davidraelmusic]

BA BA BADA DA DA DA DUM!

Does anyone know (presumably) if the song came before the idea for the video? Or the other way round?

[TheBlindPig1]

The only way christ the king could look you fuckers in the face is from the cross. everyday my people hungry, my people dying, my people.

[TheBlindPig1]

i am a vesile, i aboduct light. Evolution, man is a hunter and gatherer, they gather to hunt. and when the huntings over they gather to celebrate. The people the earth then they build citys? Citys of gold? Egypt. I think an evil eye is watching me.

[Thereisonlythemoment]

"But it's hard to get by when your Arse is the size of a small country" god that man has a way with words. Just love this and Neil too. Great Post.

[TheBlindPig1]

are the body of christ like a womans? Does man enjoy his pain... dear pope was the inquistion about the authenticty of christ pain...your mother girieves/

[littlesmew]

Two 'great' British institutions lampooned in one fellswoop, that's the genius of The Divine Comedy. Fan-blinking-tastic.Also both accurately portrayed- shite.

[PeterConwayMgmt]

See the Divine Comedy @ Greenwich Summer Sessions on 26th July in the beautiful grounds of the Old Royal Naval College tickets selling fast greenwichsummersessions.co.uk.­..

[kissmymuffins98]

thumbs up if you sing ba ba bada da da da dum

[Eoinposse]

One of my favourite songs.

[Neutrinoghost]

The divine comedy, one of the most under-rated band EVER.

[gazz12345a]

I think its about the NHS and the fact that most of the staff don't give a fuck about the patients, especially patients with mental health problems. The disconnect between the jolly, upbeat tone of the song and the morbid video represents the disconnect between the media image of the NHS and the reality.

[AdmiralSpazzo]

Oh, the memories! I remember this from when I was a kid, haha.

[Ramsx99]

This Is such a Poor Video, nothing to do with the subject of the song. What the hell was the director thinking when he made it????

[TalesOfWar]

@Ramsx99 I think the people who made it understand the song better than you do somehow. This is about the NHS, not the coach company.

[geobruf123]

@TalesOfWar hmmm no i reckon its more about the coach company and the NHS parable was an afterthought

[nottherealiainlee]

@Ramsx99 Its ment to be showing the NHS in an ironic light. patients are in pain, staff don't care etc

[JordoF6]

@Ramsx99 its suppost to be like this is hes a mentally unstable man imagining hes on a train.

[whitelion2010]

@sidneywatts42 "That's what I thought" I didn't know it was to do with the NHS

[maaskeimorgen]

I love how he looks, moves, his faceexpressions, his dancing and his ''yeah, aha, allright...'' (: & the irony, which is a kind of sad, really... Woah, is that Beirut in the recommendations? and radiohead? O.o Wonder if Yann Tiersen is there too ...

[meerkatopolis]

The video seems to be somewhat of a representation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, for all those who've read the book...

[kezadrone]

@meerkatopolis  moer likely Carry on Doctor knowing him. 60's and all.

[BuzzardlyThings]

I keep coming back to this. Somehow I missed this group during my working years. But I love the sound, and I love his voice. And I can relate!

[RawrDanceSchool]

@sidneywatts42 It's about the NHS

[bigjack0607]

"People all over the world, join hands, start a love train, love train"

Oh Shit, wrong train.

[art101tv]

... this video makes perfect sense to everyone who's dying of cancer in a money-grubbing broken world gone mad. Five stars. Let's just dance (while we can).

[sismian]

Work it...

[longtallemm]

i must say, one of the weirdest experiences is to hear that voice coming from him :P love it :)

[outlinedsilver]

Hahahahaha, dammit, he's so adorable!

[su79nioj]

0:34 Vote up my comment so people can skip the paperwork and board the Coach.

[richiemac76]

If I'm feeling a bit shit, I know all I need to do is slip this tune on and it blasts away all my blues, thanks Neil :)

[TheMarlinspike]

@MrTreebeardable Why do you bother posting such crap on youtube?  Are you a halfwit?

[MrTreebeardable]

@TheMarlinspike Why do you bother burdening us all with your droning presence? Or maybe you like to go round moaning about how some anonymous name on a website is a "halfwit". And as for my comment- i thought the exaggeration was enough to show that it wasn't serious but a bit of intelligence is required for that i guess- i feel so embarassed that such a paragon of valuable comments as the "Marlinspike" has slated me (i made the sarcasm nice and simple for you that time)

[wereismyballoon]

that song takes me back

[Stemax1960]

You can't fail to laugh when you listen to this!

[MrAaRdVaRkEr]

Everbeentovisitsomeonewho'sbee­ncommited,whenyouknowtheyaresa­neandthishasturneduponyou'reMp­3playerwhenyouwalkedintheplace­?...weird,justasweirdasthefact­thatmyspacekeyWON'TFUCKINWORK,­truestoriesboth

[pooka543]

I know his parents!!

[burnt62]

Great voice and funny but interesting song ... LOVE IT

[Sorcereresc]

Never heard of this group until this week, but I love it!

[BigSimsFan]

gotta make my own version of this for drama, and sing it in front of the class!!!!

[redmilkcrate]

I'm a bit concerned with the nurse led ECT service at this hospital.

[BiPopular]

@redmilkcrate

lmfao

[SunTeleLeo]

I got Beatles and Divine Comedy

I sure go to the SKIES - noone stops this!

[HiddenAnnon]

Needs better lipsync - seriously!

[FUKENGRUVN]

@HiddenAnnon Doesn't matter... The vid is Ace!

[daniellewilce]

Anyone who thought my prank on my dad's blackberry was funny, I moved onto the next level;

I somehow managed to change his alarm to 'Trololol' and hid it so he couldn't turn it off.

:D

[DanceNetworkTV]

haha good times this i remember all of my old class back in 1999 singing this after coming home from a school trip damn the 90's was the best ever decade and will never be forgotten !!

[bonniekilty]

Genius black humour! 

[SunTeleLeo]

was browsing the list of britpop bands....

and just hit this gem accidentally....

I guess it's my favorite band on a par with the fab four))

and it's only one man doing the job)

[FUKENGRUVN]

Looks like I have 8 peoples arses that are in dire need of kicking.. Dc is fuken awesome...

[hoktak]

@FUKENGRUVN Agreed! Give those 8 boring gits a boot in the arse for us DC fans!

[hoktak]

Agreed! DC rocks! What are those 8 boring gits listening to? Maybe Justin Bieber?

[hoktak]

Agreed! DC rocks! What are those 8 listening to? Maybe Katy Perry or Justin Bieber?

[ZeroSuitSamus2008]

8 people did not go on the nation express D:

[wine4survival]

great song and delivery - but it is actually the video that adds that sharp edge...

[hunterjones696]

didnt think it was that funny. i know exactly what the national express coaches are like, but this didn't really capture exactly what it's like!

[MrOnlywayne]

my four year old daughters favourite song.

[WidnesWonderwall]

How can eight people NOT like this song???????????

[plumdom]

pure british pathos , so funny it hurts and i bet the yanks ( no disrespect ) have no idea of the irony of this song

[REMnut12]

@plumdom Neil is Irish.

[dinnadoit]

Again, yet another 90's musical genius.

[cyanspeaker]

Hilarious!

[JCB4CXLWT]

Tight gits, re-up it in higher res!

[MrBramley79]

MY BROTHER DRIVES FOR APPLEBYS TRAVEL ROCK ON NOEL

[shrinkydink789]

oh my god.. this video is so funny

[squireproductions]

This should have a couple of million hits, dont get it, he is amazing love his music. 

[ABeautifulDeath13]

I was looking up the Divine Comedy by Dante Allgheri and I got this shit.

[Wankshaftsbury]

@ABeautifulDeath13

If you think there's any difference, then the joke's on you.

[ABeautifulDeath13]

@Wankshaftsbury This is a shitty music video.

That shows the nine circles of hell. I;m almost positive there is a diffeence.

[Wankshaftsbury]

@ABeautifulDeath13

You're right, Dante's delusions were grander and more insane.

But reality always shatters delusion, no matter how high you build your fantasy. And there is nothing like the dreary dissapointment of a ride on the National Express to bring you crashing down to earth!!!

[kingofschnitzels]

Is there a reason why all the workers are black?

[Wankshaftsbury]

Last time I was on National Express it stank of putrid piss.

But bless the man who sees poetry in the mundane.

[DaveSpectacular]

Just saw the singer at Belladrum. He played this. AMAZING.

[james6033]

They should use it in a ad now, it has been ten years. Every one on a coach should play it loud and clear.

[rocksoliddude1]

what happened in 1963?

[TheFriedLiverAttack]

@rocksoliddude1 1963 only children allowed in the garden like breast feeding in public im just carnal energy pure and untainted.

[tootyrwoo]

this makes laugh so much

[MrMojojojo1995]

haha, i love this one, 'its hard to get by when your ass is the size of a small country' 2:28 XD

[TheFriedLiverAttack]

A MARTYR IS A MAID if you make me do something i will give me shot gut and i will execute every pig who could not become KING.

[keithc1977]

My favourite National Express journey is London to Bournemouth. Lovely on a cold sunny winters morning driving through the new forest.

[TUITTUITBOLDNUT]

@keithc1977 you are right it,s a good journey great scenery morning mist and young pony,s deer and such like! from an epat who know your travel expereance!

[TheFriedLiverAttack]

ecco virgo concettio...virture ecco conception...go fuck yourself.

[faybelline01]

Divine Comedy are genius!!

[davegunning4700]

@faybelline01 Neil, is a lyrical genius, must be his irish wit, ha, love them

[pakarpis]

Does anyone think he sounds like Jim Morrison? I think he is wonderful especially the lyrics.

[IWF2000]

@pakarpis It hadn't occurred to me but on close inspection, I think so too!

[TheFriedLiverAttack]

in like school but i called for the death of institutions...teach woman about loyalty and man about honour and woman about disgrace and man about compensation.

[lkqazwsx]

Why hasn't this been made into a commercial yet.

[TheFriedLiverAttack]

back in 93 hey nigger thats not your voice you a little man...please dont try that again...

[gbay99]

I bet he had so much fun making this video. 

[kingmidas1962]

I suspect the Divine Comedy are WAYYYY too clever for a lot of folks ...

[neil73]

National Express, Leeds to London in the 1990's used to take 3 3/4 hours. Now it takes nearly 5 and you CANNOT get off for a smoke anymore. Over priced, uncomfortable, no more buffet service, unairconditioned, but its better than walking. Just.

[sandmansam1965]

National Express was more fun in those days

[rem2267]

Quite silly, but somehow poignant, like much of his work.

Neil Hannon is God!!!

[randomboringusername]

This guy is going out with Cathy Davy, a really good Irish singer songwriter ...check her out!

[lilmissnorty5]

I FUCKING LOVE DIVINE COMEDY :D v funnny :D

[lyle666blue]

The lyrics to this song are amazing

[sharona1981]

"But it's hard to get by, when your arse is the size of a small country.." One of the best lyrics I've ever heard. :)

[littleboylost78]

@sharona1981 masively underrated lyricist. my fave line of theirs is 'i'm jeff goldblum in the fly' from 'gin soaked boy'. if anyone told me you could've got that into a song without it sounding shit i wouldn't have believed them! genius! =)

[PubicMen]

Well this song is actually about a man going a bit do-lally and thinking he's a bus driver but the NHS don't put much research into it

[xsheselectric20x]

i like his new song coming out 'at the indie disco'

[mitchamboy]

My arse actually is the size of a small country. (not a "small tonne train") lol

[gracemaddy]

When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep...just like my dad....not screaming and shouting in panic like the passengers on his bus.

[randomboringusername]

@gracemaddy hahaha! So dad fell asleep then?

[ITFCONLINE]

Any song with the lyrics 'when your arse is the size of a small tonne train' in it defiantly gets the thumbs up from me

[pontdain]

@ITFCONLINE

it's "... size of a small country".

[r8ltl]

@ITFCONLINE u serious its a small country

[tayrules2009]

@ITFCONLINE The lyrics are 'when your arse is the size of a small country'...you need a hearing test sweetheart!!! ;) x

[smokecrayons]

Classic Song :D

[jethropike1964]

whats happened to real music it's getting harder and harder to find, all you get now is sampling and chipmunk shite,

[noelsplectrum9]

this song is a titan!!!! lyrics that paint a perfect picture!!!!!

[cloveypie]

Neil Hannon's got such a cute lil dimpled smile on him :)

[Wildirishgerry]

Okay Neil Hannon is from Northern Ireland and this song was written in 1998 when the rail link from Dublin to Belfast was called the National Express, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[ribbintroff]

its hard to get by when your arse is the size of a small country

[CelticPowerRanger]

Great song! And you will never guess where I am now...oh of course you will. Just boarded the 1005 to Leeds from Manchester. If only my fellow passengers or even the driver knew what I was listening to right now. Five stars for the appropriateness of the song to right now :-D

[carolannkelly13]

@CelticPowerRanger

Guess where I am on the Bidllington to london Victoria!!!!! eight sodding hours with i stop xx Carolann

[Emmamoo]

I want to find the chords to this so I can play it at jam night as a bit of a surprise laugh. This song makes me so happy. They should make an album with songs to put you instantly on a high and this should be on it.

[malcolmbryant]

@Emmamoo Bloody great idea! Why don't you collect some from YouTube and ask a music publisher to do it? I would buy it!

[Emmamoo]

@malcolmbryant: What would you have on it? You'd need songs like 'Margate' by Chas n Dave.... and 'Take Me Out' by Franz Ferdinand.

[WidnesWonderwall]

Parklife, Love Shack, Magical Mystery Tour, Rock The Casbah, Come On Eileen, Walk of Life, Mr Bue Sky, Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting, Step On............................ any one else want to name a few???

[Emmamoo]

Keep on Moving (by Five), ABC (Jackson 5), Tequila (Terrorvision)...

[JIMHULL63]

that dosnt look like neil hannon

[catherinek94]

listen to this non stop on the national express

[Suedeheadlover]

I just want to make a suggestion. If anyone has ever seen "The Impressions Show", this is used as the intro to the spoof of the Rooneys.

[GaryyMurrayy]

hes not a bus driver haha

[happentodie]

nhs -national express..

[RoxyXStrawberry]

@happentodie

clever ;)

[cphaza]

I watch alot of music videos, and for pure class and humour, this has to be the best ive ever seen. Fantastic tune too!

[gramomad]

The actual phrase should say ' warms the cockles of your heart' meaning anything that makes you feel good. This song certainly does that for me, makes me laugh every time - brilliant