Garden Party (Marillion song)


"Garden Party " is a song by the British neo-progressive rock band Marillion. It was the second single released from their debut album Script for a Jester's Tear. It reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart in 1983, the band's biggest singles chart success prior to 1985. The song is a parody of social elitism and snobbery. The B-side is a live version of "Margaret". The 12" single includes a live version of "Charting The Single".
A CD replica of the single was also part of a collectors box-set released in July 2000 which contained Marillion's first twelve singles and was re-issued as a 3-CD set in 2009.

Track listing

7" Versions

Side A

  1. "Garden Party" – 04:29

    Side B

  2. "Margaret" – 04:09

    12" Versions

Side A

  1. "Garden Party" – 07:11
  2. "Charting the Single" – 06:30

    Side B

  3. "Margaret" – 12:17

    Controversy

After the synth/guitar break in the middle of the song, a verse starts:
I'm punting
I'm beagling
I'm wining
Reclining
I'm rucking
I'm miming
It's a party!

The original lyrics read "I'm fucking", replaced by "I'm miming" in the shorter radio-friendly 7" single release. "Rucking" in the previous line is a rugby term; the sport is referred to earlier in the song. Fish appeared on shows such as Top of the Pops, the UK's long running chart show and, at the point where he ought to be singing the broadcastable "miming", he shut his mouth and merely pointed at his lips as the words came over the PA. The album version contained the original lyric.

Personnel