This is comedy gold… he’s not a bus driver lol

Takes a certain genius to come up with this video for this song

Its a crime this has only 1.2 million views.......im responsible for 1000 plus myself

@OGillo2001

Ай бұрын

Yes Brother! x

The line "When your arse is the size of a small country" never fails to crack me up!

@exsappermadman25055

4 жыл бұрын

I actually heard this song on a National Express bus going "darn sarth" back in the day and the radio station and/or National Express bleeped it out!......Sense of humour failure.....

@paulosborne3954

4 жыл бұрын

Spot on , despite the countless times I have enjoyed this , like you that one line makes my day !

@artvandelayRFC

4 жыл бұрын

I've "met" a few girls like that...

@EnidAgnusDei

4 жыл бұрын

@@artvandelayRFC Likewise! built for comfort! ;-)

@roddyteague6246

4 жыл бұрын

@@EnidAgnusDei Wearing shell suits as well. Dressed for the track but built for the bar.....

If you dont smile when you hear this song you must be on another planet........Proper feel good music. And we need that so much right now.

@carolinebedford9836

3 жыл бұрын

Grant Tully, 100% agree with that, this song brings back so many happy memories for me. 🙂

@rickywest2022

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I really couldn't agree more with you

@hoogabooga9736

2 жыл бұрын

amen to that. watch "wee day out" youtube video of Danny MacAskill if you're not familiar with it--that's how i came across the song. It's amazing and matches the music perfectly.

@1garryrippon

2 жыл бұрын

Wasn't there an alternative video where the hostess walked between the aisle of a bus?

@richarddiddler3380

2 жыл бұрын

If it doesn't make you angry you're a moron. This is is the NHS that you twats have been clapping for. This amazing song writer/performer hits nails squarely on the head.

Going on my first National Express trip today. Safe to say I will blast this song

@imahappycamper2022

4 ай бұрын

I'm doing it now, the whole coach just start cheering as soon as it kicked it . Going from Luton Airport to London Victoria, and then Stamford Bridge for the Chelsea vs Wolves game. Ever since this song came out all them years ago, I've always wanted to travel with them, although there's no trolly lady

@jonmurray2350

Ай бұрын

@@imahappycamper2022 Just trolleyed ladies.

As a former NX driver I used to sing this to myself several times a day...

@roberthorwat6747

4 жыл бұрын

Alwsys sing along to it when driving if it comes on the radio - even now I can't get through the whole song without bursting out laughing at some point, the lyrics are bloody hilarious🤣🤣🤣

@helenkahajossyova298

3 жыл бұрын

Cool 😊

@joebloggs6099

2 жыл бұрын

Now when I hear it driving home it bloody annoys me. This songs make it sound happy when in general people who get on destroy the coach.

My lovely horse running through the fields.......

Neil Hannon for prime minister. He makes great music, he writes great words and he knows how to treat a nurse!!! Long my he run!!

I am going to meet Neil Hannon and say what an absolute legend he is. I have been inside St. Bernard’s Hospital, in Middlesex, myself, in 1981, and this song could have been written for me🎉!!! I love you-Neil Hannon ❤. Up the Irish 🌈🤮👗☘️🍕👍

@suzukiwagonrgeorge907

3 ай бұрын

This was filmed in Joyce Green hospital in Dartford

I love the change in tone when he sings "We're going where the air is free, tomorrow belongs to me" such a beautiful melodic line, it gets me everytime. A great band, just love their sardonic and iconic lyrics, with their catchy melodies, we could with more bands like this.

@stephenbarrett7122

2 жыл бұрын

Someone else that shares my love for that change in tone 🤩

I cant look at a national express coach without thinking of this song and smiling 😂

@MarkARhodie

7 ай бұрын

I saw a meme on Fb with a bus with National Express, so I came looking for this song. lol

There's part of me that wonders why this band wasn't so bigger than it was. I so loved hearing them on TFI Friday and thinking 'This is the fkn life!'

@Dermacrosis

8 ай бұрын

Because genius is very rarely recognised in it's generation. Barring Wuthering Heights even the great Kate wasn't really big back in the 80s let alone the 90s.

My brother Anthony was a big fan of travelling on the National Express from Pembroke to London to visit family. Sadly he passed away 2 years ago next month and everything I hear this track I think about him. 🙏

@gillchatfield3231

Жыл бұрын

I checked, as so many services haven't resumed. Now the service is via Swansea, where there's a connection to the Swansea via Cardiff only, to London. Doubt he would have been such a fan of this route!

@chrisd0801

Жыл бұрын

@@gillchatfield3231 hi Gill, thank you for your reply. My late brother left Pembroke then Swansea then onto London to meet up with another brother before heading on to Kettering on the national express regularly up till 2 months before he passed away. Not debating the route it's just he loved traveling on The National Express 😁 hence this track brings back memories.

Every morning I walk to the bus station to catch my bus to work. There’s a National Express coach loading at that hour and I ALWAYS hear this song in my head. It’s quite nice actually.

@jaquelineoreilly294

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@garyknight750

Жыл бұрын

Everytime I hear National Express mentioned this song Starts in my head. Brilliant stuff.

Easily one of the top 20 best songs ever written

@garethirwin4714

3 жыл бұрын

Did you see the documentary he made for bbc hes some guy

@deanrichards5223

3 жыл бұрын

Are you serious 😂😂 I’m not a fan personally but even if it was something I really liked, there’s no way it could go into a top 20. Come on now pal

@garethirwin4714

3 жыл бұрын

I predict his best is yet to come

@skollybob

3 жыл бұрын

Don't be so ridiculous

@hartleyjr

3 жыл бұрын

Dear God - I dread to imagine your music collection!

I don’t smile when I watch this. I laugh so much my ribs hurt. An absolute scream. The funniest record I have ever seen and heard. Just a happy , wonderful song. I always feel good after hearing it.

If anyone has been on a national express, you know how sarcastic this song is 😂

@smugsheep3307

21 күн бұрын

It's not that bad if you take a trip to Scotland!

As a Canadian, when I first arrived in the UK I '85...I couldn't believe there stewardesses on a bus for my 1st trip from London to Wakefield!....this song always takes me right back there!!!

@stevewhite7084

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly the same for me and when I heard this song for the first time and every other time I guess a smile was brought to my face.

@jumpstar9000

2 жыл бұрын

Lucky Lucky

@adrianclint1449

Жыл бұрын

Stewardesses on a bus to Wakey WOW. You need to watch the Yorkshire Airlines sketch

The thing I remember about travelling with National Express is that as soon as the doors first open, all the old people rush to get on like they're at the Somme going over the top. They'll trample anyone who stands in their way.

@Dana-dana1

Жыл бұрын

Then halfway through the journey, they'd get their egg sarnies out and complained if you opened the windows..Ahh the memories..

@andiemorgan961

Жыл бұрын

First ones on usually had reserved seats!😉

Neil is part of the wonderful tradition of wordsmiths and music makers that I have grown old with. From Flanders and Swann and Tom Lehrer and including oh so many wonderful talents that unite words, music, wit, sardonic humour and just pure talent.

@briane5706

Жыл бұрын

Billy Joel is a brilliant pianist, composer and wordsmith.

@paulmchugh8695

Жыл бұрын

Don’t forget Gilbert o Sullivan ! His first album himself ! Apple 🍏 it

@andreagaul4960

Жыл бұрын

I would love to hear him cover some of Lehrer 's wotk.

Wow! I can't believe this came out in 1997!

What a cleverly written song , just brilliant . I never get tired of listening to this

@anthonydevitt3206

Жыл бұрын

Sgo 🍿 al 🐝🥊

Can’t help but sing along. Neil is truly a poet for the ages

This song makes me get in such a good mood every time I hear it. So many brilliant lyrics. Never gets old ❤❤❤

I think Neil's a very underrated singer , he could have definitely have held his own in the sixties with Scott Walker , Gene Pitney etc 🤔

@MarkARhodie

7 ай бұрын

For a skinny guy, he's go a good voice.

@lcozzarelli

4 ай бұрын

…and even with this little-known guy called Jim Morrison. Has no one heard of him in these comments? He’s a sound-alike!

The line " when she danced down the aisle back in 63" conjures a wonderful image in the imagination 😄

This is my go-to for a dose of happy. Love it!

Probably the greatest song ever written, lyric wise. Absolute genius.

I never fail to hear this song in my head when I see a National Express bus, and it never fails to make me smile 😊

A genius song. A perfect combo of catchy, dark, and very poignant. Even after the ECT he still thinks he's driving the National Express!!

Every time I see a national express, I sing it! Love it

This song would have been an absolute Eurovision winner.

I never thought of this song in this way. Never thought of it in any other way but literal !

I absolutely adore this song ! Proper feel good, make you smile music, that is always played at FULL volume. "To the family man, manhandling the pram, with paternal pride......" What a line !!!!!

GENUIS MIX OF LYRICS AND 60'S STYLE BACKING..BOTH MUSICALLY TRIM AND PUTS YOU IN A MOOD FOR BETTER DAYS... THIS IS WHAT MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT.... OH ! DECENT VIDEO TOO..............

Wow, I've only ever heard the song. This video is magic.

Absolutely sublime

I got lost coming here searching for The Silent Comedy. I'd never heard of this band before. This song is an absolute banger! I freaking love this!

This is therapy for me, put my headphones on & for a few beautiful minutes i am lost

Saw them live yesterday best night of my life

I miss you guys! We need more crazy weird and happy music like this in our lives xxx

@amyp66

4 жыл бұрын

You don't have to miss them, they're still around producing some wonderful music!

“But it’s hard to get by when your arse is the size of a small country” kills me every time 🤣🤣🤣

@bettyswunghole3310

Жыл бұрын

As someone whose arse *IS* the size of a small country (roughly "Lichtenstein"), I can confirm that it is hard to get by...

@madeleinealdridge1788

Жыл бұрын

@@livingiseasywitheyesclosed4553 Well it makes me laugh, and after being in a bad place since losing my dad last September I’ll take any laughs I can get

@karenortiz9238

Жыл бұрын

explain, I dont get it

@cathalsweeney6

Жыл бұрын

When it got played on the raido they dropped the word arse from the song

@cathalsweeney6

Жыл бұрын

@@paulmcgrath6118 to prudish they don't want to offend the snowflakes. It's a crazy world. 😀

Ive always gotten a kick out of seeing/hearing that booming baritone coming out of that little tow headed fella. Love him.

@boofuls

4 жыл бұрын

Joel Rizzo I endorse this comment 🥂😂

@joelrizzo2786

4 жыл бұрын

@@boofuls Thanks for chiming in. Always nice to touch base with Divine Comedy fans. A rare bird in U.S., I've found.

@marktorrance217

3 жыл бұрын

Incredible isn't it? Seen him live a few times and it's even more astounding!

@george474747

3 жыл бұрын

Comic lyrics distract people from the fact that he can really sing.

@joelrizzo2786

3 жыл бұрын

@@george474747 Maybe so. Not in my case, however. Hes almost as good a singer as Scott himself. Almost. :)

I am just now discovering this band and I'm highly furious that it's taking this bloody long. Absolutely brilliant!

@jaquelineoreilly294

Жыл бұрын

me to , and them is irish ffs like me ,, so thort with that accent them was from York lol

A profoundly philosophical song about public discourse, sophistry, politics and press conferences- amongst other things.

This should be on all the national express adverts and I had many great experiences with national express services. So today I will be going on another coach journey at 11pm. Anything will be better then that 12 hour coach journey from Elubo to Togo/Ghana border overnight journey on an ex-eurolines coach

Take the National Express when your life's in a mess It'll make you smile All human life is here From the feeble old dear to the screaming child From the student who knows that to have one of those Would be suicide To the family man Manhandling the pram with paternal pride And everybody sings, "Ba-ba-ba-da" We're going where the air is free On the National Express there's a jolly hostess Selling crisps and tea She'll provide you with drinks and theatrical winks For a sky-high fee Mini-skirts were in style when she danced down the aisle Back in '63 (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) But it's hard to get by when your arse is the size Of a small country And everybody sings, "Ba-ba-ba-da" We're going where the air is free Tomorrow belongs to me When you're sad and feeling blue With nothing better to do Don't just sit there feeling stressed Take a trip on the National Express On the National Express, let's go

@thomasbeach4039

Жыл бұрын

Funny timeless tune!

I love it, love it, love it !! I listen to this song each time I book a N. E. ticket 😂

absolutely genius song, so catchy and great lyrics. And then he blows your mind all over again with the video. Layer upon layer of perfection, this is the one, the best music vid ever

Heard this recently on radio 2 and love it!! ❤

when I was a kid I didn't understand the appeal of this song and it wasn't until I was about 20 , 10 years after it came out I relised how amazing it was.

The eclectic brilliance of 1990s Britpop stems from the intellectual freedom of its songwriters, whose imaginations were fertile enough that they could take inspiration from anything and everything. I'll bet my eyebrows that we never hear some X Factory wannabe singing about National Express coaches, hiding inside a female friend's big sister's wardrobe or being caught by the fuzz while still on a buzz.

@scottde-walden2760

3 жыл бұрын

No,sadly they are all karaoke wankers these days ,not allowed to have your own thought processes these days thanks to the modern education system 🤮

@dannydorko7075

3 жыл бұрын

@@scottde-walden2760 not sure why you're bringing x factor into it. Whilst the britpop thing was happening so was boyzone, robson and jerome etc shit pop has always been around. trouble is there doesn't seem to be any good guitar bands in the charts anymore. I know people will say 'who cares about the mainstream' but i feel like what is in the charts has an effect on people because you'll hear it everywhere- on tv, on the radio, in the shops etc

@jenniferkonstant5920

3 жыл бұрын

To be fair, though, he only went with her cause she looked like you

@sexobscura

3 жыл бұрын

intelligence has and always will exist regardless of 'a decade'

@misternewoutlook5437

2 жыл бұрын

You cut a good slice of the driving force of Britpop in this comment. A successful genre - obviously - and lasting well into the early 2000s.

In real life he is a gentleman and is incredible to see and hear live.

The crazy guy in the wheelchair looks like my GCSE ICT teacher 😅

This song is destined to be in an Ad for some airways that I will probably be afraid of flying with.

Love this song but never knew it was about someone who'd lost the plot.. Genius!

I loved this song as a kid and was very excited to take my very first National Express as a teenager lol. The sheen wore off somewhat in my mid-20s when they put me on the direct coach to Glasgow instead of the one that stopped at Preston. I woke up somewhere near Carlisle and despite pleading, the driver would not let me off, so that was my first visit to Scotland lol

@eon14873

10 ай бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

@ambidextra_ambidextra

5 ай бұрын

And there you have it😆😜

I was a national express driver late 80’s early 90’s. the image this creates is spot on! I never could figure out those bloody push chairs!

Fabulous !

Always loved how he sings "crisps and tea" ❤️

Neil Hannon, top Northern Irishman. Love to hear some recent stuff.

He’s like Doctor Who going through a regeneration. I think he’d make a brilliant 14th doctor.

@thegrimmretails3777

Жыл бұрын

You know the UK had other shows that aren't Doctor Who, right?

I can’t stop playing this song everyday, when having a bad day this song is bring a smile a warmth in heart The video is just fantastic!

I love the "...he's not a bus driver" line at the end, and that whole conversation at the start. Basically saying to the listeners and video viewers "No! It's not about that damn bus/coach company, OK?!!" Haha!

@TrainsInTheSouthWest

6 жыл бұрын

Telegothika Telgothika though he did think of it whilst on a national express coach 😂 and got the idea for the lyrics

@gavinduggan199

4 жыл бұрын

What is it about?

@ahshatmasell6751

4 жыл бұрын

Drugs from the National Health Service

@pklongutoobe

4 жыл бұрын

That's right, he's a coach driver :P

@FeedbackPete1

2 жыл бұрын

I have a National Express ticket booked to a gig in Manchester in December. And when I'm on the bus I won't be able to not think about this song lol.

aaaaalright, this is the firts song from this band that i listen, and im already have fallen in love

Singing Detective (original British version) + "Carry-on" films = This wonderful mish-mash of lunacy. Love this, always will.

Love Neil Hannon's voice - not unlike Matt Monroe - would love to hear him sing some classics x Great track

@andrewellis3326

Жыл бұрын

love matt monroe..sinatra even said his voice is sublime.

Curiosity brought me here, she sure did ! ! ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

That's Mark Lamarr as the "screaming child"!

@cliffthegardener

3 күн бұрын

Had to have a double take when I saw him

Love this

Love, adore this!! 😳😍😉👍

This song is glorious.

"And how long has he been a bus driver?" "...He's not a bus driver..."

The best ever comedy record.

@andrewellis3326

Жыл бұрын

toast was another good one...gordon is a moron as well.

Went to see them live a couple of years ago, still absolutely fantastic, what a voice and so creative, they did a cover of where do you go to my lovely by Peter Starsted that sent chills down my spine and followed up with blue Monday by new order as well as all of their hits. Absolutely fantastic live band.

@tobietera

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah he does a very classic and great voice.

@brianallsopp69

Жыл бұрын

If Neil was knocking about in the 60s he would have been huge ( Windmills of my mind etc ) ....

A shout for the brilliant arrangements by Joby Talbot. This I think is his best.

@ambidextra_ambidextra

5 ай бұрын

Oooh I didnt realise that! Yes bloody awesome👌 💫🌟🙏

This video should get million views but why isint it's famouse

@philtaylor3098

3 жыл бұрын

I'm puzzled too.

The smoothness of the orderly accepting his money and subtly putting it back into his wallet before putting the wallet away is just beautiful.

Genius .

I'm literally sitting on the National Express whilst playing this, the whole coach just cheered.

I love the part where his wife exclaims 'He's not a bus driver'. In my head it's in horror and disgust. Coach driver!, she's thinking!

This was, remains, and always will be the best video to a song! Nothing to touch it!

The one and only Neil Hannon 😜

This song keeps me alive x

Don't you just like a song that is clever, witty and not afraid to poke a bit of fun

Listening to this on NX from brum to Heathrow....grinning like an idiot

always listen to this before i get the national express. always nice to chill rather than drive sometimes

I've been in hospital for the past 10 days and they've played a weird selection of music on hospital radio - including this. I couldn't wait to get out and find out more about it. The video is even better. I've travelled on a lot of NX buses (cheaper than the train) and I've seen these people at first hand. I was on a bus many years ago when a young couple got on in Birmingham at almost midnight. The driver wasn't going to let them on because they looked to be out of their skulls and kicked up a stink when he objected to them but they had valid tickets so he had to. Later, I saw them heading towards the toilets at the back with small bags of powder.

A fantastic song well written, great vocals, and a video that make you smile everytime..

Fab tune 23 yrs later ❤️

Brilliant, reminds me of a UK TV drama called the singing detective, what a hoot that was 😂

I went on a Greyhound to NYC 22 years ago and there was no hostess! It reminded me of 'Midnight Cowboy film.Everyone should see that film.If you don't cry at the end of the film you have no soul!

The subject matter might be dark but the song never fails to make me feel good and raise a smile...

@Waiting664

2 жыл бұрын

Mental illness is dillusion which look like perception and to another people why reason why he doesn't understand even life movie season days

The first time I saw The Divine Comedy and this National Express video in particular on the program Planet Rock Profiles (back in 2001)... I was like, wow! It was something I never heard before. Pretty much changed my life and opened me to the world of The Divine Comedy... been a fan ever since. :)

When I first heard this in America I thought it was the Doors!!!! yeah....I knowwww!

Yet again The Diving Comedy has saved my day 😅😊

Neil played at my Uni in 99...been a fan since.

Listening to this on a National Express coach. Xx

Neil is a brilliant lyricist.☺️