Omnibus

(Partridge)

Recordings Art Annotated Lyrics Chords and Tablature

Recordings

1. Album version, 3'20.
   Recorded at Chipping Norton Studios, Oxfordshire, in late 1991.
   Produced by Gus Dudgeon. Engineered by Barry Hammond.
   Mixed by Nick Davis.
   Released on Nonsvch.
   String arrangement by Andy Partridge.
   Dave Mattacks - Drums & drum samples
   Andy Partridge - Lead & backing vocals, keyboard programming, synthsizers & shaker
   Colin Moulding - Bass guitar & backing vocals
   Guy Barker - Trumpets
   Dave Gregory - Acoustic guitar & backing vocals

   Andy: “In praise of women. They're wondrous. This belongs in a 50's musical with Anthony Newley singing it, hanging off the back of some trolleybus.”

2. Demo version.
   Released in September 2004 on Fuzzy Warbles Volume Six in the U.K.
   Also released on the Blu-ray reissue of Nonsuch on 4 November 2013 in the U.K.

   Andy: “Although the music was around in October 1990 (see ‘Blimp Poet’ from Blegvad/Partridge's Orpheus, The Lowdown), it took another month to figure out this more earthbound lyric. A very complete demo that must have pissed off Dave and Colin, as in no room to squeeze in. From the 50's musicals Goys and Dills or Pal Joey Ramone.”

3. 2013 stereo mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the DVD and Blu-ray reissue of Nonsuch on 4 November 2013 in the U.K.
4. 2013 5.1 mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the DVD and Blu-ray reissue of Nonsuch on 4 November 2013 in the U.K.
5. 2013 instrumental mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the Blu-ray reissue of Nonsuch on 4 November 2013 in the U.K.

Art

“Omnibus” vignette from Nonsvch

Jeff Parker, 08/19/98

Nishimatu Nisei, 08/96

Lyrics

Notes

Toby Howard: “The word ‘clippie’ is an old slang word for bus conductor (or conductress in this case). There used to be an old early-seventies UK TV comedy show called On the buses (starring the wonderful Reg Varney) where all the girls were referred to as clippies.”

Climb up here beside me
We can ride and find a friend unfound
Put your foot upon the laughing gas
And drive your grin around
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take Omnibus
Ain't nothing in the world like a white skinned girl
Make your Union Jack and make your flag unfurl
You can't say you've ridden
'Till you've given up your heart and seat
Man that lady clippie rip your ticket
Make your trip complete
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take Omnibus
Ain't nothing in the world like a black skinned girl
Make your shakespeare hard and make your oyster pearl
Don't let horses pass you by
Take a run and leap on
Pull the blinkers from your eyes
Before big bus has gone
We'll be stopping off
In every shop until you find that mate
Don't waste time, go on and taste them all
Why don't you fill your plate?
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take Omnibus
There's nothing in the world like a gold skinned girl
To make your bonsai weep and make your bamboo curl
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take Omnibus
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take Omnibus
Ain't nothing in the world like a green skinned girl
But that don't mean to say you can't look

© 1992 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.

Chords and Tablature

Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:31:37 +0200
From: Florian Decros <flodecros (at) gmail dot com>
Subject: Bass tabs of "Nonsuch"
Message-ID: <CAPtZtiNCnBEY3t2uv4mX+_0AGZQiYBqXqP8Wj==KH8CA=YhwFw (at) mail dot gmail dot com>

Date: Sat, 22 May 2004 23:28:09 -0700
From: Jeff Truzzi.
Subject: XTC Transcriptions
Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20040522231753.00ac6788 (at) mail dot theharveys dot net>

XTC SONG TRANSCRIPTIONS
transcribed by "Jeff Truzzi" for the XTC Forum, 2004.
and freely given to the XTC "Chalkhills" site!

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