Commentary

‘And Therein’ (from Extricate, 1990), offers a fairly buoyant life raft of coherence to the drowning lyric fan, at least to begin with. Homelessness and guilt feelings are the themes:

“When you see that man outside in the bucketing rain / And you picture it in your cosy home / You think you’ve blown a fuse / Don’t know how to react”

“Martin Bramah wrote a good tune and it conjured up the Salvation Army to me,” he says. “It was quasi-religious and country and western, which I’d always wanted to do. (Sings) ‘Roo-ooby, don’t take your love to town.’ I love the way they give a message over, those stories. Get to the beat of it, that’s what I wanted to do; great guitars and a bit of sixth form poetry cobbled together.”

“Lyricists: Mark E. Smith”, interview with MES by Phil Sutcliffe in Q, #68, May 1992, pp.65-66.

“And Therein…” first appeared on the 1990 album Extricate, credited to Mark E. Smith and M. Beddington (i.e. Martin Bramah).

According to The Track Record, the first known live performance of “And Therein…” was at the Futurama 6 festival, Bradford, on 1 October 1989. It lasted in the set until 1992 (last played that year in Berlin on 8 June), but was unexpectedly resurrected at the Witchwood, Ashton-under-Lyne, on 1 March 1999. The song seems to have been a favourite of the Adam Helal/Tom Head/Julia Nagle/Neville Wilding line-up, and was played throughout their tenure. But when that group went their separate ways, it was retained in setlists for subsequent line-ups until the end of the 2003 American tour – its last known sighting was at the Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas, on 17 July 2003.

Although largely unnoticed by reviewers at the time of Extricate‘s release (James Brown in New Musical Express, Jon Wilde in Melody Maker, Iestyn George in Record Mirror, and Robin Denselow in The Guardian didn’t mention the song in their – positive – reviews), I think “And Therein…” is generally well-regarded by fans.

Steve Pringle’s You Must Get Them All (2022, p.223) notes that “Bramah’s riff provides a sprightly, skiffle-ish rhythm that contrasts neatly with Smith’s dolorous vocals.” Pringle also observes that one reason for the song’s longevity (albeit with a break) in the group’s setlists may be because it is easy to learn.

In 40 Odd Years of The Fall Tommy Mackay (2018, p.108) enthusiastically comments that the song has a “helluva catchy intro” and that it’s a “masterclass in straight ahead rockabilly with pop sensibilities.” “It’s not often”, avers Mackay, “you’ll hear The Fall described as toe-tapping, but on this little slice of bop my feet can’t help but bounce.” Gosh.

For another parodic/satirical Christian-themed song, see “That Man“.

Versions

Only the one studio recording of the track is available, but a number of live versions can be found on licensed releases.

• Dom Sportova, Zagreb, Croatia, 15th April 1990. Performed by: Martin Bramah, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon, Marcia Schofield, Mark E. Smith, Simon Wolstencroft. Available on Live in Zagreb (Cog Sinister: COGVP109CD, 2001). Due diligence: The Fall Online Gigography entry for this gig [link] notes that a fan called Juraj Siftar said that the CD has been misdated (presumably they attended the gig). However, no other information is provided and no independent bootlegs of the gig have come to light, so it’s not possible to assess further. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]
• New Ritz, New York, U.S., 18th May 1990. Performed by: Martin Bramah, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon, Marcia Schofield, Mark E. Smith, Simon Wolstencroft. Available on The Fall Take America: Live At The Crocodile Club, Seattle, WA, 20th November 2001 (Cog Sinister/Gonzo Multimedia CD: COGGZ143CD, 2022). 11 x CD box set (GONZOBOX37). Disc 2. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Note that the CD was released separately as well as part of the box set.
• Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham, 15th March 1992. Performed by: Dave Bush, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon, Mark E. Smith, Simon Wolstencroft. Available on Nottingham ’92 (Cog Sinister: COGVP110CD, 1998). [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]
• Nelson Mandela Building, Sheffield Polytechnic, Sheffield, 26th March 1992. Performed by: Dave Bush, Steve Hanley, Craig Scanlon, Mark E. Smith, Simon Wolstencroft. Available on The Fall: Sheffield Polytechnic, 26 March 1992 (Sheffield Tape Archive, digital download, 2024). [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]
• Doornroosje, Nijmegan, 14th September 1999. Performed by: Adam Halal, Tom Head, Julia Nagle, Mark E. Smith, Neville Wilding. Available on Live 1999 14th September Doornroosje Nijmegen The Netherlands (Cog Sinister/Gonzo Multimedia CD: COGGZ101CD, 2018 – also issued on LP: Let Them Eat Vinyl: LETV567LP, 2019). [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]
• Concorde 2, Brighton, 17th April 2001. Performed by: Spencer Birtwistle, Julia Nagle, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Available on Touch Sensitive… Bootleg Box Set (Castle Music: CMYBX752, 2003). 5 x CD box set. Disc 5. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]
• Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 10th October 2001. Performed by Spencer Birtwistle, Brian Fanning, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Available on Live @ Edinburgh Liquid Rooms 10th October 2001 (Cog Sinister/Gonzo Multimedia CD: COGGZ133CD, 2019 – also issued on 2 x LP: Let Them Eat Vinyl: LETV617LP, 2019). [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Also available on Another Set of Ten (Cog Sinister/Gonzo Multimedia: GONZOBOX19, 2019). 11 x CD box set. Disc 5. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Also available on The Unutterable (Cherry Red: CRCD4BOX194, 2025). 4 x CD expanded edition box set. Disc 4. [Discogs]
• The Knitting Factory, Los Angles, U.S., 14th November 2001. Performed by Spencer Birtwistle, Ed Blaney, Cuz’n Roy Gittens, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Originally released on Access All Areas – Volume Two (Hip Priest: HIPP003DVD, 2004). 2 x DVD. Disc 1. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: DVDs]. Also available on Live At The Knitting Factory – L.A. – 14 November 2001 (Hip Priest via Voiceprint: HIPP017CD, 2007 – reissued on LP by Let Them Eat Vinyl: LETV579LP, 2021) [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Also available on Are You Are Missing Winner (The Fall Sound Archive edition) (Cherry Red: CDEXRED834, 2021). 4 x CD. Disc 2. [Discogs]
• Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, U.S., 19th November 2001. Performed by Spencer Birtwistle, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Available on Live in San Francisco (Dandelion/Ozit-Morpheus Records: OZITDAN CD 9014, 2013). [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]
• Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, U.S., 20th November 2001. Performed by: Spencer Birtwistle, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Available on Touch Sensitive… Bootleg Box Set (Castle Music: CMYBX752, 2003). 5 x CD box set. Disc 2. [Discogs] [The Fall Onine: Discography: Live Albums]. Also available on The Fall Take America: Live At The Crocodile Club, Seattle, WA, 20th November 2001 (Cog Sinister/Gonzo Multimedia CD: COGGZ152CD, 2022). 11 x CD box set (GONZOBOX37). Disc 10. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Note that the CD was released separately as well as part of the box set.
• The Knitting Factory, New York, U.S., 23rd November 2001. Performed by: Spencer Birtwistle, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Available on Touch Sensitive… Bootleg Box Set (Castle Music: CMYBX752, 2003). 5 x CD box set. Disc 1. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums].
• The Garage, London, 20th April 2002. Performed by Ed Blaney, Dave Milner, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Originally released on Access All Areas – Volume One (Hip Priest: HIPP002DVD, 2004). 2 x DVD. Disc 1. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: DVDs]. Also available on Live at the Garage – London – 20 April 2002 (Hip Priest via Voiceprint: HIPP016CD, 2007). [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Also available on Are You Are Missing Winner (The Fall Sound Archive edition) (Cherry Red: CDEXRED834, 2021). 4 x CD. Disc 3. [Discogs]
• All Tomorrow’s Parties, Camber Sands, 28th April 2002. Originally released on Access All Areas – Volume Two (Hip Priest: HIPP003DVD, 2004). 2 x DVD. Disc 2. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: DVDs]. Also available on Live At The ATP Festival – 28 April 2002 (Hip Priest via Voiceprint CD: HIPP018CD, 2007 – reissued as 2 x LP by Let Them Eat Vinyl: LETV580LP, 2021) [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums]. Also available on Are You Are Missing Winner (The Fall Sound Archive edition) (Cherry Red: CDEXRED834, 2021). 4 x CD. Disc 4. [Discogs]
• King George’s Hall, Blackburn, 22nd September 2002. Performed by: Ruth Daniel, Dave Milner, Eleni Poulou, Ben Pritchard, Mark E. Smith, Jim Watts. Originally released on the A Touch Sensitive (Live) (Secret Films: SECDVD101, 2003). DVD. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: DVDs]. Also available on Creative Distortion (Secret Records: SECDP088, 2014). 2 x CD + DVD. [Discogs] [The Fall Online: Discography: Live Albums].

Notable Cover Versions

• Estación Experimental. Originally released on a Brazilian music-fanzine-cum-record-label’s digital-only various artists compilation, Perverted by Homage: a tribute to The Fall (Midsummer Madness, 2018). [Midsummer Madness announcement] [Available from Bandcamp].

Footnotes

1. In secular terms: life can be a challenge.
   
   The obvious question is: who is “you” here? Is the song written in the first, second or third person?
   
   It’s unusual for one of Mark E. Smith’s lyrics to address the listener directly, but might he be doing so here? Or is “you” functioning as a synonym for the indefinite “me-and-you/us” pronoun “one” (as in, “One knows by now the Lord lays hard trails”). Or is he specifically talking about himself? If so, why not say “I”? Or is he (or the voice of the lyric) addressing someone else? ↩︎
2. Because the next line mentions cosy homes, perhaps we’re supposed to understand that the man outside in the rain is homeless – but it is ambiguous.
   
   See also my later note on the line, “It never rains, it just pours”. ↩︎
3. Elvis Presley’s “G.I. Blues“, originally from the soundtrack to his 1960 film G.I. Blues, contains the lines, “And if I don’t go stateside soon / I’m gonna blow my fuse”, but this is probably just a coincidence. ↩︎
4. Nancy Sinatra’s rendition of Lee Hazlewood’s “Your Groovy Self” (the only song without Elvis’ vocals to appear on any of his records), from the soundtrack of the 1968 Elvis Presley movie Speedway (in which she co-starred), features the lines “Don’t take up with no alley cats / They really don’t know where it’s at”. Probably just coincidence in the absence of any obvious link, but noted for completeness. ↩︎
5. It’s worth spending a moment reflecting on Mark E. Smith’s use of the curious word “therein”. It isn’t used in any of his other lyrics, but does appear in the title of the live album, A Part of America Therein. The word is not a simple synonym for “there”. According to the Shorter Oxford Dictionary, it can mean “in that place” (for example, “in that book”, as in “you’ll find the information you’re looking for therein”), or “into that place”; or “in that case”; or, in Scotland, simply “indoors” or “inside”. So perhaps “And therein lies the difference” should be understood as, “And that’s where the difference lies”.
   
   Irritatingly, Mark E. Smith omits to identify the precise nature of “the difference”, or the subjects/objects of comparison. ↩︎
6. Tragedy and death are among the various troubles proverbially said to come in batches. ↩︎
7. Meaning “all your troubles come at once”, “it never rains but it pours” – and variations thereof – is a proverbial phrase which can be traced back to the early eighteenth century. Of course we’ve just heard the line about the man outside in the rain.
   
   The earliest known occurrence of the phrase in print appears to be the (109 words long, marvellously) title of an essay attributed to either John Arbuthnot (and appearing in collections of his work) or Jonathan Swift (and appearing in collections of his work):
   
   “It Cannot Rain But It Pours, Or London Strowed With Rarities; Being An account of the arrival of a white bear at the house of Mr. Ratcliff in Bishopsgate Street: as also of Faustina, the celebrated Italian singing woman; and of the copper-farthing Dean from Ireland. And Lastly, Of the wonderful wild man that was nursed in the woods of Germany by a wild beast, hunted and taken in toils; how he behaveth himself like a dumb creature, and is a Christian like one of us, being called Peter; and how he was brought to Court all in green, to the great astonishment of the quality and gentry, 1726.”
   
   A first version of the essay was published – anonymously – as a pamphlet by J. Roberts of London in 1726: the title is quite different but still begins “It Cannot Rain But It Pours”. [Link to archive.org] [Link to Google Books (better quality version)].
   
   The essay was originally collected in the third volume (1732) of Miscellanies in Prose and Verse (4 vols, 1727-32), the John Arbuthnot/John Gay/Alexander Pope/Jonathan Swift collaboration, published by Motte. This book is available at archive.org [link].
   
   In 1742, Bathurst and Gilliver republished the collections as Miscellanies, by Dr. Arbuthnot, Mr. Pope, and Mr. Gay. There “It Cannot Rain But It Pours…” is attributed solely to Arbuthnot. Since this edition was supervised by Alexander Pope, the attribution therefore has some credibility.
   
   Although collected (pp.471-474) in The Life and Works of John Arbuthnot, M.D., fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (edited by George A. Aitken, London: Henry Frowde, 1892), Aitken’s “Life of Dr. Arbuthnot” says (p.107): “Another piece, It cannot rain but it pours, is probably Swift’s, though it is sometimes attributed to Arbuthnot. It refers to a wild boy named Peter, who was found in Hanover in 1725, brought to England, and committed for some time to Arbuthnot’s care. He died in 1785. Another pamphlet on the same subject, published in 1726 and reprinted in Arbuthnot’s Miscellaneous Works, may also be Swift’s.” This book is available at archive.org [link].
   
   John F. Ross holds that “it is extremely doubtful that Swift had any hand” in “It Cannot Rain But It Pours…” (Swift and Defoe: a study in relationship, University of California Publications in English, Vol. 11, December 16 1941. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1941. p.26). [Link to archive.org].
   
   For a review of the authorship evidence, see Lester M. Beattie’s John Arbuthnot: mathematician and satirist, Harvard Studies in English, Vol. XVI. New York: Russell & Russell, 1935, reissued 1967, see pp.305-307). Beattie comments, “The most likely solution is that Arbuthnot began a sketch and dropped it, that it was considerably touched up or practically rewritten for the press, and that Pope in 1742, had in mind Arbuthnot’s original connection with it.” (p.307). [link to archive.org].
   
   And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t note Billy “The Kid” Emerson’s “When It Rains, It Pours” (Sun Records, 1954), later covered by Elvis Presley as “When It Rains, It Really Pours” (1957, but not released until it was included on the Elvis For Everyone LP in 1965).
   
   That’s a deep dive for a mere footnote, but I’m not even a little bit sorry. ↩︎
8. Cursing the moon being a futile form of protest, of course. ↩︎
9. An Americanism, apparently deployed for the rhyme with “moon”. Derived from the French word “salon”, which in English came to mean a “large public room used for a specified purpose” (Shorter Oxford English Dictionary), e.g. billiards saloon. There are other meanings, but the predominant definition has been in the sense of an “Old West” saloon bar such as those often depicted in films or on TV. In the UK “saloon bar” might traditionally refer to a pub’s lounge bar (a better upholstered alternative to the tap room or vault). But the terminology is very regional and generational and room distinctions have mainly disappeared in practice anyway. ↩︎
10. The story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding at Cana, Galilee is found in the New Testament Gospel of John Chapter 2: Verses 1-11 [Bible Gateway, King James Version] ↩︎
11. This isn’t entirely right. The Old Testament, of course, forbids the eating of pork (see Leviticus 11:78-8 [KJV] and Deuteronomy 14:8 [KJV]), whereas the general message of the New Testament is that faith is more important than dietary or other arbitrary rules, but there is no explicit revocation of the pork prohibition. The passages usually cited by Christians in support of the view that Jesus permitted the eating of pork and other formerly forbidden foods are: Matthew 15:11 [KJV], “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”; and Mark 7:18-19 [KJV], “And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; / Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?” ↩︎

Sources / Links

• The Annotated Fall: “And Therein…” [Archived]
• Ford, Simon (2003). Hip Priest: the story of Mark E Smith and The Fall. London: Quartet Books.
• Hanley, Steve and Piekarski, Olivia (2014). The Big Midweek: Life Inside The Fall. Pontefract: Route.
• Mackay, Tommy (2018). 40 Odd Years of The Fall. Place of publication unknown: Greg Moodie.
• Pringle, Steve (2022). You Must Get Them All: The Fall on Record. [paperback edition]. Pontefract: Route Publishing Ltd. [Online store]
• The Track Record: “And Therein”