Official video for 'The Boomtown Rats - The Elephant's Graveyard'. Bob Geldof's new album 'How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell' is available here: zaphod.uk.vvhp....
After 43 years I have finally seen this wacky video from Sir Bob of Geldof and all the Rat boys. Never knew they had a funny surreal side but this is alright by me and oh Sir Bob and the late Garry Roberts rocked those blonde wigs at the end.
Rumour has it that the BBC spotted the 'action' at 1.52 and pulled the video from a planned Top of the Pops showing when the record had sprinted up the charts from 40 to 26. Next week, it had fallen to 27. Who knows what might have happened but for an eagle eyed 'censor'? The longer version on the album Mondo Bongo is better.
Did you slip the noose when the beast broke loose The elephants graveyard ain't the place to be And white turns black, dies of heart attack The elephants graveyard needs the change of scene You got the money, but who needs the tension And fear's no cheaper on the old age pension There's just one thing that I forgot to mention What've you got to lose when you know That you're guilty 'till proven guilty Isn't that the law Guilty 'till proven guilty That's what we all saw You do the blue rinse shuffle with the beach boy muscle The elephant's graveyard ain't the place to be Waiting all your life for this golf cart life The elephant's graveyard needs a change of scene You see the judge and then you check the jury She does her hair and calls the lawyer cutie It's Disneyland under martial law Twitch on the TV and tell me what you saw They were guilty 'till proven guilty (isn't that the law) Guilty 'till proven guilty (as though we all saw) Justice isn't blind It just looks the other way Not from want of trying I have nothing left to say Guilty 'till proven guilty etc. Shame shame shimmy shame. Shame shame shimmy shame.
Probably. The BBC did the same with the Rats single 'Never In A Million Years' later in 1981 to avoid the cut glass and blood scene involving Fingers (pianist). It was shown on the kids show Swap Shop in December 1981. These days the whole video would be banned for animal cruelty (dancing poodles) sexism (female secretary taking notes) gun violence (shot fired at milk bottle in fridge) and hate crimes (making fun of clowns when Rats appeared with heavy make up. Ah 1981, different times! @@davidb8731
The Boomtown Rats spoke to the late 20th century high IQ folk and we got it. Haha. Excellent education and always remember to look after number one or always act in your own best interests. Haha. Very important in the late 21st century.
Shout out to the drum track. Simon nailing it as ever.
I have seen the boomtown rats in on march 1982 in athens ❤❤
"it's Disneyland under martial law" and "Justice isn't blind....it just looks the other way""....still great lyrics for today!! x
RIP Garry Roberts.
After 30+ years I finally see this video (one I didn't knew existed) - and it's GOLD in all it's weirdness!
After 43 years I have finally seen this wacky video from Sir Bob of Geldof and all the Rat boys. Never knew they had a funny surreal side but this is alright by me and oh Sir Bob and the late Garry Roberts rocked those blonde wigs at the end.
Very catchy tune !!
I knew this song existed ,i always remembered the chorus but not the verses. Cracking track .
Mondo Bongo is a phantastic album..
Geldof cops a feel at 0:56 and it's left in! Authentic B movie stuff! 😊
Different times. Also, action left in at 1:52 but the Beeb spotted it, putting scantily clad dance group on the Pops instead. You couldn’t make it up.
I can't even describe... this is so daft. I love em though.
Wow.. So many years ago,
so long not heard. One of those special songs of my early years.
I had the single on loan back then and never got it again. 😎
swietny videoclip oraz super piosenka oraz wspanialy zespol the boomtown rats
Słyszałem tą piosenkę w 1981 roku w Pr. 3. Utkwiła mi w pamięci. Dziś przypomniał mi się tytuł. Znalazłem.
to true not silly. Very vibrant Refreshing and love the skimpy clad ladies. Cool
Rumour has it that the BBC spotted the 'action' at 1.52 and pulled the video from a planned Top of the Pops showing when the record had sprinted up the charts from 40 to 26. Next week, it had fallen to 27. Who knows what might have happened but for an eagle eyed 'censor'? The longer version on the album Mondo Bongo is better.
Yeah ! I remember it falling ! At that time I was a huge Rats fan !
The music video funny
@@MadderMeltravesty! Should have been top 5
The rhythm is so similar to Siouxsie And The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
Only so many notes in music!
Looks like they used some cast off's from Doctor Who.
Shagging at 1 minute 53 ?
Rats became some commercial pop entity. I don't blame them. It pays the bills. On the other side, it wasn't that cheesy but definitely GUILTY
Did you slip the noose when the beast broke loose
The elephants graveyard ain't the place to be
And white turns black, dies of heart attack
The elephants graveyard needs the change of scene
You got the money, but who needs the tension
And fear's no cheaper on the old age pension
There's just one thing that I forgot to mention
What've you got to lose when you know
That you're guilty 'till proven guilty
Isn't that the law
Guilty 'till proven guilty
That's what we all saw
You do the blue rinse shuffle with the beach boy muscle
The elephant's graveyard ain't the place to be
Waiting all your life for this golf cart life
The elephant's graveyard needs a change of scene
You see the judge and then you check the jury
She does her hair and calls the lawyer cutie
It's Disneyland under martial law
Twitch on the TV and tell me what you saw
They were guilty 'till proven guilty (isn't that the law)
Guilty 'till proven guilty (as though we all saw)
Justice isn't blind
It just looks the other way
Not from want of trying
I have nothing left to say
Guilty 'till proven guilty etc.
Shame shame shimmy shame.
Shame shame shimmy shame.
This could so easily be an Elvis Costello song
But it isn't, it's was better than that!
Was there another promo for this single? Strangely I only recall the "saw" visual pun
Not that I recall. This cost enough to make (£15,000) at the time, December 1980 in Wandsworth, London.
@@Jakintheboks So I'm guessing I saw some kind of intercut version that was screened by the Beeb, rather than this in its entirety?
Probably. The BBC did the same with the Rats single 'Never In A Million Years' later in 1981 to avoid the cut glass and blood scene involving Fingers (pianist). It was shown on the kids show Swap Shop in December 1981. These days the whole video would be banned for animal cruelty (dancing poodles) sexism (female secretary taking notes) gun violence (shot fired at milk bottle in fridge) and hate crimes (making fun of clowns when Rats appeared with heavy make up. Ah 1981, different times! @@davidb8731
The Boomtown Rats spoke to the late 20th century high IQ folk and we got it. Haha. Excellent education and always remember to look after number one or always act in your own best interests. Haha. Very important in the late 21st century.
It's Elvis Costello, right.....???
Wrong
Its bob geldof the lead singer of the boomtown rats
Yes it's Sir Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats.
Every bands allowed to do a silly video and why not
the song I love that really pisses my wife off when I play it
They should have released the album version of this track(which is longer than the single version) and I still do not like this video.
This reminds me of Rammsteins music video. xD
Isn't this Donald Trump's theme tune?
bad
It was good at the time
@southerner4566 1981 different times