DIY Songs #1: Handyman Blues

I'm not a fan of DIY. When you're a home-owner though - unless you're super-wealthy - it's a necessity. When we got together, Louise thought I'd be a natural handyman. I come from a family of builders, plumbers, joiners and fitters. My dad's first job was building coffins for the local undertakers. He was a joiner for many years before becoming a car auctioneer (not to mention being a farmer on the side), then when he retired from the auctions, he went back into joinering part-time. My parents house has always had a lot of fine woodwork and my dad could turn his hand to most jobs around the house.

But Louise was wrong to put her faith in me having picked up any genetic skills for DIY. I've learned a few basics over the 7 years we've lived together, and my dad's taught me a few things, but I'll never be a natural. (Oh, and if she also thought "at least he'll have someone in the family who can do it", she's been doubly disappointed... getting family to help is even harder than getting me to do it!)

The point of all this... I was doing some DIY over the weekend, and I realised that the only thing that makes it bearable for me is that I get to listen to lots of music while I'm doing it. So I decided to create a (hopefully very) occasional series dedicated to the music I listen to while I'm DIY-ing. Every time I do a job, I'll write a post after to tell you what I did and what it bearable.

We'll get to the job I did this weekend - and what I listened to while doing it - in post #2. First though, I had to give this one a spin. Number #1 in My Top Ten DIY Songs from way back in June 2013. Once again, Billy hits the nail on the head. Metaphorically, if not literally...

I'm never gonna be the handyman around the house my father was

So don't be asking me to hang a curtain rail for you, because

Screwdriver business just gets me confused

It takes me half an hour to change a fuse

And when I flicked the switch the lights all blew

I'm not your handyman

Don't be expecting me to put up shelves or build a garden shed

But I can write a song that tells the world how much I love you instead

I'm not any good at pottery so let's lose the 't' and just shift back the 'e'

And I'll find a way to make my poetry build a roof over our heads

I know it looks like I'm just reading the paper

But these ideas I'll turn to gold dust later

Cause I'm a writer not a decorator

I'm not your handyman