UKC

Anyone heard the new single by Sheffield band the Hours ?

Includes the following lyrics

"Like Ali in the Jungle, Like Nelson in Jail,
Like Simpson on the mountain, with odds like that they were bound fail"

Also mentions "Adams in the dock " - Tony or Gerry I wonder ?

In reply to Chris the Tall:
I was thinking Homer on the Murderhorn when I saw the title, not Joe on Suila Grande!

In reply to Ady Short:

I was thinking the episode where 'Mr Plow' Homer rescues 'Plow King' Barney....

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Joe Simpson is the most likely subject of this lyric, as the film version of Touching the Void came out in 2004.

"Simpson shattered his right leg in a fall. When Yates tried to belay him gently down the mountain 300 feet at a time at the end of a rope, Simpson rolled over the edge of an ice cliff into vacant air.

Yates could neither pull him back up nor go down to help him without sliding off the mountain himself. After both agonized for a long time, unable to communicate with each other, Yates cut the rope, and Simpson tumbled into a crevasse. Though justifiably left for dead, he mapped out a journey of determination and endurance under suffering that few men in history have matched."

This seems to fit the theme of the song powerfully.

In reply to Anonymous:

Wow! How come I never heard this incredible story before?

In reply to the OP:

BTW the song is call "Ali in the Jungle" I believe - don't like it much myself.

In reply to TRNovice:

Me neither, sounds like it would make a great book!

To OP: I assume the Adams is not Tony not Gerry as that would be very political

In reply to Removed User: With Gerry and Nelson you'd have to terrorists in one song LOL

In reply to Removed User:

Maybe we should co-author it - we'll need an exotic location of course.

In reply to TRNovice:

You can buy the book on Amazon. It is called Touching the Void. The events took place in 1985, in the Peruvian Andes. That Simpson did make it back on a broken leg is miraculous enough. But much of the psychological interest lies with Yates's state of mind as he made the decision to cut the rope. In spite of the fact that Simpson completely exonerated Yates subsequently, the climbing community virtually ostracised Yates.

The film, a drama-documentary, with the three real characters (the third remained at base camp) intercut with the actors, appeared as recently as 2004. Presumably, one of the Sheffield lads is a climber ... or maybe just saw the film.

Now I am stuck on the "Adams in the dock" lyric. I really don't think it is Gerry Adams: although he was interned, I am fairly certain he wasn't ever tried for anything more serious than obstruction. Suggestions?

In reply to Anonymous:

Really??

In reply to HC~F: so very strange i've just finished watching the film.

In reply to Anonymous:

Thats the most amazing story I've ever heard! Is there a book or a film version that I could watch to learn more about that amazing story?

In reply to HC~F:

Yup Mrs R - it's apparently true - must try and get a copy of this myself.

In reply to TRNovice:

Sounds like some far-fetched rip off of 'Vertical Limit' to me.

In reply to TRNovice:

I'm so dissapoint to learn it has already been writen, as I was looking to a "research" trip to Tahiti.

In reply to Matt Rees: Matt and others.....are you being sarcastic!!!!! ????? Surely not!!!!

Anyway, in case anonymous is seriosuly imparting this info give him/her a break. Not everyone knows the Simpson tale (believe it or not) and if someone is volunteering info, no matter how obvious to some, respect them for doing so.

Bet theres some on this website who don't know their Scott from their Hston, or Whillans from their Brown, but by the sharing of knowledge, they gain more.

In reply to david the bear:

The Hours have now told me that "Adams in the dock" does indeed refer to Tony Adams and his fight against alcoholism.

I am far too busy to worry myself whether a web-entry is or is not sarcastic. I have made my career explaining complex things simply. If someone seems to want some information, then I will give it, whether it is questions on nanotechnology, retrocausality, relativity, quantum mechanics or what. The great strength of the web is that people from utterly different backgrounds can get to meet each other and learn from each other.

Nobody I know has the faintest idea who Simpson is or what he achieved. So thanks to The Hours, I have learnt something. Personally, I have no interest in climbing (but a keen interest in human endurance), and was brought to your website by Google only in pursuit of that lyric. However I have been in the Peruvian Andes and respect anyone who climbs there. (The train up to Galera, at 15,000 ft the highest passenger station in the world, carries oxygen!)

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Tommy simpson on Mount Ventoux, would fit if they are on about Tony Adams, booze, drugs etc.

In reply to Chris the Tall: re Anonymous's reply. I was only trying to be nice...........carry on with the sarcasm lads, anonymouse doesn't mind. You can please some of the people etc........

In reply to John Rushby:

I started this thread after hearing someone on the radio suggest it was based on Tommy Simpson, but his story does not fit in with the theme of great comebacks. OK he did get back on his bike, but not for long....