Madness - Baggy Trousers (Official 4K Video)

‘Baggy Trousers’ video now in 4K HD.

One of Madness's true anthems, 'Baggy Trousers' captured the imagination of kids and parents all over the UK when it was released in 1980. The video, which begins with that unmistakable "thing-a-ling-a-ling", finds Madness back at school remembering the fun they had. According to the song all Madness learned at school was "how to bend, not break the rules" and they've been doing it ever since.

Lyrics:
Naughty boys in nasty schools
Headmasters breaking all the rules
Having fun and playing fools
Smashing up the woodwork tools
All the teachers in the pub
Passing 'round the ready-rub
Trying not to think of when
The lunch-time bell will ring again.
Oh what fun we had
But, did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend not break the rules
Oh what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days.
Headmaster's had enough to-day
All the kids have gone away
Gone to fight with next-door's school
Every term, that is the rule
Sits alone and bends his cane
Same old backsides again
All the small ones tell tall tales
Walking home and squashing snails.
Oh what fun we had
But, did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend not break the rules
Oh what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days.
Lots of girls and lots of boys
Lots of smells and lots of noise
Playing football in the park
Kicking push bikes after dark
Baggy trousers, dirty shirt
Pulling hair and eating dirt
Teacher comes to break it up
Back of the 'ead with a plastic cup.
Oh what fun we had
But, did it really turn out bad
All I learnt at school
Was how to bend not break the rules
Oh what fun we had
But at the time it seemed so bad
Trying different ways
To make a difference to the days.
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers
Baggy trousers, baggy trousers, baggy trousers

#Madness #BaggyTrousers #OurHouse2021

[ghostykfc]

Everyone gangsta till the saxophonist goes in creative mode

[spoobnooble]

I like how the sax player starts flying off in the middle of the song and the singer sees him and smiles as if he's thinking "wow, I didn't know he could do that!"

[Fratananical]

"Oh what fun we 'ad but at the time it seemed so bad" hits so hard.

[Aaaaaaaaaaa]

The saxophonist's trousers were so baggy that he defied physics

[drewbeees]

“All we learnt at school was how to bend and break the rules” - the most valuable lesson in life IMO. What a time to be teen, so much good music

[Ginger_FoxxVT]

Legends say that he's still flying over England to this day

[guywithascheme]

"Today, we're making school lunches..."

[alfiesteele]

Fun fact: during the filming of the music video, the saxophonist had to be reminded several times about the laws of physics but he kept forgetting. So the producers had to leave it in because each shoot was so expensive

[prappsy]

I love that they filmed this with proper council estate kids. Not a bunch of child actors or 'well behaved' kids from a stage school like bands would cast these days.

[danielmoynan]

Apparently, this is a sort of an “Another brick in the wall part 2” type song from someone with a different experience. The kids are of a later generation and generally lower social classes, they go to a less posh day school, they have more fun and the teachers aren’t evil by default.

[redjohn]

Massively underrated musicians. Deserve more recognition for their music.

[mrlardster]

If ever there was a song that perfectly encapsulated growing up in 1980s Britain then this is it! 🙂

[danielm]

Producer: how much gravity do you want


Saxophonist: no

[wilfreddv]

Who actually has come here because they appreciate this awesome music?

[Finn-hw]

I spent 30 years in London and I love 😅being from north West London

[gabesolomon]

1:14
"Just pretend like you're playing your kit when you recorded it."
"But this is only half me kit"
"Did I fakkin stutter sunshine"

[maximus]

This is relatable to every single person who has ever been inside a public school

[alm]

I was 11 when this came out, 3 days before I started high school in 1980. Perfect era to grow up as a kid and was listening to this along with the likes of Dexys, Specials, Piranhas, The Jam, The Beat, The Selecter, The Police. I don't think I've ever been happier than I was in 79 to 82. Thinking back makes me want to cry.

[richardmcmurry]

This is absolutely brilliant. Never in my life have I heard anything like this.

[jonothanthrace]

Madness is what happens when a Ska band breaks out in the middle of a Monty Python sketch.