Shit, That Song’s Good: It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry
‘Shit, That Song’s Good’ is an occasional series of articles based around some of my favourite tracks; how they came about, why they’re special and what they mean to me.
Glasvegas — It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry
There are some bands that you know will become massive from the very first time you hear them. When Zane Lowe gave the Arctic Monkeys their first ever play on Radio One with Fake Tales of San Francisco I was instantly hooked and spent the rest of the night trying, and failing, to find some more of their songs on Limewire. Glasvegas fell into the same category.
They were discovered in legendary Glasgow venue King Tuts Wah Wah Hut by Alan McGee, who had made huge stars of Oasis, The Libertines and Primal Scream amongst others. It was surely their time? They looked like rock stars; dressed head to toe in black and leather, and their debut album, with it’s heavy production, story-telling lyrics and James Allan’s unique and emotive, regional howl, was destined to make them one of the biggest bands in the world.
Except it didn’t.
The reasons are murky, but regardless of whether it was drugs, bad behaviour, label mismanagement, or something else, the band never quite reached the heights that we expected and by the time they eventually came back to the scene it had moved on.
Next year Glasvegas, their self-titled debut will be ten years old, and it’ll hopefully begin to get the appreciation that it deserves. The album featured a number of singles, with Geraldine and Daddy’s Gone making the top 20 of the UK chart, but It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry which is the standout track.
The lyrics detail the guilt and regret of infidelity and explore the reasons around cheating. What makes this song so different is that it’s written from the point of view of the partner who is doing the cheating.
“Oh I’m so clever
Until my paranoia kicks in then I’ll accuse her
Of doing all the worst things i do best
Its funny how me, fucking her about,
Has got me in this fucking mess”
This novel angle adds a unique emphasis onto the lyrics and offers something different from the standard pop-fayre.
“I tally up tonight’s strangers
And stragglers that I’ve kissed
Training ground notches, perfectly executed notches
And near misses
Its all about going out and getting pissed with eagle eyes
And sincerity bottom on my list”
The songwriting gives us the opportunity to understand the reasons why and to see the insecurities that have led to the problems. This is in addition to the cold reality of the deed itself, clearly done frequently.
Allan’s songwriting also features other hallmarks that make It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry such a memorable song. The track doesn’t feature a traditional hook although the repetition works as a motiff to symbolise the frequency of the infidelity.
“Oh I’m so clever, I’m so clever, I’m so clever.”
Other references to nursery rhymes and Oasis albums only serve to give the track a sense that the ‘main character’ is informed by the world that he sees and hears around him.
The song, with its repetition and rhyme heavy structure, is so catchy that it manages to avoid needing a hook whilst still being perfect to sing along with after a few drinks.
Allan’s Scottish twang is matched perfectly by Caroline McKay’s performance on the drums which builds at the perfect moments finally resulting in “the crescendo of demise” that Allan sings about at the climax of the song.
Lead vocalist and songwriter James Allan also took on production duties for this track with his ‘Wall of Sound’ and it’s multiple overlays only building the assault on our senses. Although it has to be said that Allan’s ‘Wall of Sound’ is more like that of fellow Scots The Jesus and Mary Chain that that of it’s pioneer Phil Spector. The production and in particular the use of heavy delay and reverb, drives the song forward and gives it an almost hymn-like quality.
In another timeline It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry is a well-loved classic and part of the modern British musical canon. Sadly, we’ve to make do with it being a cult classic and an underrated gem.
What do you think? Are Glasvegas the great forgotten British band? Let me know on Twitter and if you’re interested in seeing the other songs I’ve written about for Shit, That Song’s Good then click this link.
