Lazy Sunday (Small Faces song)


"Lazy Sunday" is a song by the English band Small Faces, which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1968. It was written by the Small Faces songwriting duo Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, and appeared on the band's 1968 concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake. Against the band's wishes, it preceded the album as a single release.

Song information

"Lazy Sunday" has a traditional cockney East End of London music-hall sound. The song was inspired by Marriott's feuds with his neighbours and is also noticeable for its distinct vocal changes. Marriott sings large parts of the song in a greatly exaggerated cockney accent; he did this partly due to an argument he had with the Hollies, who said that Marriott had never sung in his own accent. In the final bridge and the last two choruses, he reverts to his usual transatlantic accent. John Lydon cited the Small Faces as one of his few influences as vocalist for the Sex Pistols, and evidence of Marriott's influence can be found in this song.
According to Small Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, Lane's "rooty dooty di" vocal lines were in imitation of a member of the Who's road crew; the two bands had recently toured Australia together.
The vocal backing quotes "Colonel Bogey March" by F. J. Ricketts at 51 seconds and " Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones at 1 minute 45 seconds. At the end of the song the tune dissolves into birdsong and church bells, which have been later sampled by Pink Floyd in "High Hopes".
"Lazy Sunday" appears as track six on the album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, and is the last track on Side A of the vinyl release.
The song was used in the 2009 British comedy film The Boat That Rocked.

Music video

The low-budget promotional video for "Lazy Sunday" was filmed at Kenney Jones's parents' home on Havering Street in Stepney, east London.

Covers and inspiration