72. ‘Magpie’

B-side of ‘Girls And Boys’, 7-inch and CD. Produced by Stephen Street.

A fascinating curio, ‘Magpie’ was recorded without a proper vocal in December 1992, as a possible candidate for ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’. Blur recall Dave Balfe being downcast when he heard it. “He said the rhythms stop and start,” Alex says. “And that was too confusing for Americans, apparently.” Reactivated for the ‘Parklife’ sessions, ‘Magpie’ still foxed Damon in the lyric-writing department, so he simply sang a William Blake poem – written in 1794 – called ‘The Poison Tree’ (“I was angry with my friend/I told my wrath/My wrath did end) from Songs Of Innocence And Experience. Graham, who is superbly inventive on guitar throughout, felt the verses of ‘Magpie’ harked back to the days of baggy.

The verses are not too relevant. It is ‘Magpie’s joyous chorus that sets it apart. Simple enough as a lyric (“and sometimes I see magpie”), it boasts a spreading fan of harmonies on the “I” that is quite delicious.