Flying Pickets - Porterhouse Blue (Original TV theme)

This is the full-length version of the original TV theme song to the channel 4 TV series Porterhouse blue, performed by the Flying Pickets. The Series was set in a Cambridge College and starred Ian Richardson, David Jason and John Sessions.


Lyrics and English translation (from Wiki answers)

Bene edamus! Bene bibamus!
Saecula semper concelebramus
Quod imperat Regina
Ne faveat Doctrina
Se choro sonoro
Dives in omnia
Sed choro sonoro
Dives in omnia
Collegium, Collegium acclamus

Porterhouse, Porterhouse
To live and die in Porterhouse!
Dives in omnia!


In English (it should be noted that this isn't real latin!)
We eat well! We drink well!
We celebrate throughout our whole lives!
As commanded by the queen,
Against the regilious doctrine,
We sing together,
"Wealth in everything."
We sing together,
"Wealth in everything."
We praise the college!

Porterhouse, Porterhouse
To live and die in Porterhouse!
"Wealth in everything."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Acapella
• David Jason
• Vocal
• Channel 4
• Soundtrack
• TV series
• Barbershop
• UK TV theme
• Ian Richardson
• OST
• Comedy drama
• Tom Sharpe
• Vox
• pop

[liamfoley]

Was the theme ever released on vinyl, tape, CD or MP3?

[markh5682]

@liamfoley

This was originally released on a 7" vinyl single, and has since featured on some TV theme compilation CDs.

It is more than likely to have been included on a Flying pickets album as well.

[bronith]

I too had thought I would never hear it again. So thrilled. Who remembers a UK television series in 1981 also with haunting theme music - there were horses galloping and it was a period drama. Would love to hear that again. anyone remember?

[markh5682]

The adventures of Black Beauty?

[johnknight100]

The Flying Pickets were not the only singers here.Boys from Jack Hunt school in Peterborough are on it too,singing soprano.I know that to be a fact;the school is 4 minutes walk from where I live

[raherecolston]

Thanks for posting this Markh. What a great series this was. The late great Ian Richardson and Charles Gray , AND David Jason too!

What a pleasant change to see some learned and erudite discussion ;not the usual YOUTUBE bickering and badmouthing.  Good vid ,thankyou

[FourPart]

@Fcutdlady

Not quite true. If you check out the Alan Parsons Project album, Freudiana, Tracks 6 (Funny You Should Say That) & 8 (Far Away From Home) are both Lead Vocals by Flying Pickets, with some impressive instrumental backing.

[Fcutdlady]

is this the first and only song the original flying pickets sang to a backing track of music .

[pirateofthecarabiner]

@markh5682 Black Adder, the original?

[CarryOnQuack]

Great theme for Porterhouse Blue. It went with the TV series perfectly. Loved the book by Tom Sharp, but my favorite was Wilt. I give this video a big Quack.

[alecbg919]

Gentleman is gentleman.

[tokeytowells]

porterhouse blue was actually made in 1987 and not 1981- get your facts straight for crying out loud.

[tokeytowells]

a haunting theme

[hyphz]

.. which would mean "they are able to have good manners, always" but that doesn't fit with the last line. The next two lines, though, I can't really make out, as the girl singer really mixes up the sounds. It sounds like "quienium hoc Chaucum" but "quienium" makes no sense - it could be "qui enium", since "qui" means "who", but "enium" is then a bizarre misfit that can't possibly mean anything in Latin..