Details
- Status: Single
- Length: 4:04
- Significant releases: Babies (single) (2 October 1992); Intro: The Gift Recordings (compilation album) (11 October 1993); His 'n' Hers (album) (11 April 1994); The Sisters EP (23 May 1994) (all releases)
- First played live: Summer 1991
-
Recorded: July 1992 (Island Records Fallout Shelter, London)
- The version that appears on His 'n' Hers and the Sisters EP was slightly remixed at West Side Studios, London (8 to 11 February 1994): the guitars are louder and the synthesises quieter throughout.
Credits
- Written by: Jarvis Cocker, Nick Banks, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey and Russell Senior
- Produced by: Ed Buller
- Engineer: Santiago
- Mixed by: Ed Buller
Lyrics
Well it happened years ago
when you lived on Stanhope Road
We listened to your sister
when you came from school
'Cos she was two years older
and she had boys in her room
I listened outside, I heard her
Alright
Well that was all right for a while
but soon I wanted more
I wanted to see as well as hear and so I
I hid inside her wardrobe
And she came home round four
and she was with some kid called David
From the garage up the road
I listened outside, I heard her
Alright
Oh, I wanna take you home
I wanna give you children
You might be my girlfriend
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
When I saw you next day
I really couldn't tell
'Cos you might go and tell your mother
And so you went with Neve
Oh yeah, and Neve was coming on
And I thought I heard you laughing
when his mum and dad were gone
I listened outside, I heard you
Alright
Oh, I wanna take you home
I wanna give you children
You might be my girlfriend
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh yeah
Oh well, I guess
it couldn't last too long
I came home one day
and all her things were gone
I fell asleep inside
I never heard her come
Oh, and I opened up the wardrobe
and I had to get it on
Yeah
Oh listen
We were on the bed when you came home
I heard you stop outside the door
I know you won't believe it's true
I only went with her 'cos she looks like you
My god!
Oh, I wanna take you home
I wanna give you children
You might be my girlfriend
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh yeah
Sleeve notes
Yes it happened years ago on some damp, acrylic afternoon. I know you got your own back years later (that's another story) but it wasn't such a big deal anyway - in those days you packed people rather than divorced them. I liked it that way and still do, but then again I'm imma.
Location
The Stanhope Road mentioned in the lyrics almost certainly refers to the road of that name in the Intake district of Sheffield where Jarvis grew up.
2012
© Google 2009
2012
Alternative versions
Babies (Evening Session version)
- Length: 4:15 (approx.)
- Recorded: At BBC Maida Vale for Mark Goodier's Evening Session (30 May 1992)
- Releases: Evening Session: Priority Tunes (various artists compilation) (1996)
Babies (live at Anson Rooms, Bristol: April 1995)
- Length: 4:10
- Releases: The Complete Peel Sessions (compilation) (23 October 2006)
- Producer: Chris Lycett
- Engineer: Miti Adhikari
Babies (live at The Scala, London: 18 April 2002)
- Length: 4:49
- Releases: 4 Scott (various artists compilation) (August 2002)