| "Doubleback Alley" | |
|---|---|
  US Picture Sleeve and The Music Video | |
|
A-side |
"Montana Café" (double a-side) |
|
Released |
13 February 1967 |
|
Recorded |
29 December 1966 – 17 January 1967 |
|
Genre |
Baroque Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Sunshine Pop |
|
Label |
Parlourphone (UK) |
|
Songwriter(s) |
Nasty-McQuickly |
|
Producer(s) |
|
|
Last single |
Ging Gang Goolie (1966) |
|
Next single |
Love Life (1967) |
Doubleback Alley was a 1967 song by the Rutles written by Dirk McQuickly, performed by Ron Nasty and credited to Nasty-McQuickly.
The song became somewhat relevant for being a passionate remembrance of Dirk and Nasty's childhoods and their friendships with odd local characters such as Father O'Malley, Saccharine Sally, and the funny man on the ice cream van.
The song was briefly titled Denny Lane, named after the guitarist Denny Laine, but was changed after they realised they spelt his name wrong. The American release of Tragical History Tour incorrectly listed this title on the cover.
Lyrics[]
People were proud in Doubleback Alley
Neighbors were loud, but ever so pally
People would shout, joking about
The smoke and the soot, Mother would put
The milk bottles out
We had a good time in Doubleback Alley
With fences to climb, and Father O'Malley
To clip your ear, and steer you clear
Of the funny man in the ice cream van
Who talked so queer
Doubleback Alley takes me back and in my mind I see
Happy, smiling faces if I flog my memory
Plenty to do in Doubleback Alley
Play peek-a-boo with Saccharine Sally
Bouncing a ball against a wall
Showing her drawers, "You come indoors!"
Her dad would call
(Aaaaaah)
(La la la laaaaaa)
(Laaaaaa)
(La la la laaaaaa)
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Doubleback Alley takes me back
And in my mind I see
Happy, smiling faces if I flog my memory
Stinking of gin in Doubleback Alley
Grinning a grin in Doubleback Alley
Kick a dustbin, bingo to win
Windows to break, Mother would take
The milk bottles in
Doubleback Alley takes me back
And in my mind I see
Happy, smiling faces if I flog my memory
Doubleback Alley takes me back
And in my mind I see
Happy, smiling faces if I flog my memory
Doubleback Alley
Releases and covers[]
- Initially released as a single, along with "Montana Café"
- First released on an album on Tragical History Tour.
- Re-released on The Rutles.
- Played over the closing credits for 1978 documentary All You Need Is Cash.
- King Missile recorded a cover version for the tribute album Rutles Highway Revisited, released in 1993.