XTC Wiki

"Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" is a song by Andy Partridge. It appeared on the 1978 album Go 2. "Brian" refers to Brian Eno, who briefly considered joining the group two years later.

XTC released a dub reworking of "Battery Brides" on the Go + EP under the title "A Dictionary of Modern Marriage."

Two live versions have been released; one was recorded at the Rainbow Theater on September 17, 1978 and was released on October 8, 1980 as the A-side of the bonus single that was included with the "Towers Of London" single. The other was released on BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, then later on the 1998 Transistor Blast box set.

Quotes[]

Andy: “Attempting to summon up Philip Glass through the gentle robotic hypnotism of ‘Battery Brides’ always relaxed me. It sounds oddly psychedelic now. Contains Colin's onomatopoeic bass line ‘Bjorn Borg’.”

Lyrics[]

Battery brides, ha ha have you ever tried

To break out of your waiting room

And find yourself a waiting groom

Ba ba ba ba battery brides

Ba ba ba ba battery brides


She left school with a million others

And worked in a store part time

She dreams of a husband and a lover

Doesn't realise she's on the production line of


Battery brides


Battery brides, ha ha have you ever tried

To break out of your waiting room

And find yourself a waiting groom

Ba ba ba ba battery brides

Ba ba ba ba battery brides


She left school with a million others

And worked in a store part time

She dreams of a husband and a lover

Doesn't realise she's on the production line of


Battery brides


(Here comes the bride)


Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba

Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba

Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba

Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba