Pulling Mussels ( from the Shell ) - wikipedia Pulling Mussels ( from the Shell ) `` Pulling Mussels ( From the Shell ) '' Single by Squeeze from the album Argybargy B - side `` What The Butler Saw '' Released 9 May 1980 Format 7 '' vinyl Recorded 1979 Genre Rock, new wave Length 3 : 58 Label A&M Songwriter ( s ) Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook Producer ( s ) John Wood, Squeeze Squeeze singles chronology `` If I Did n't Love You '' ( 1980 ) `` Pulling Mussels ( From the Shell ) '' ( 1980 ) `` Farfisa Beat '' ( 1980 ) `` If I Did n't Love You '' ( 1980 ) `` Pulling Mussels ( From the Shell ) '' ( 1980 ) `` Farfisa Beat '' ( 1980 ) Argybargy track listing 11 tracks Side one `` Pulling Mussels ( from the Shell ) '' `` Another Nail in My Heart '' `` Separate Beds '' `` Misadventure '' `` I Think I 'm Go Go '' Side two `` Farfisa Beat '' `` Here Comes That Feeling '' `` Vicky Verky '' `` If I Did n't Love You '' `` Wrong Side of the Moon '' `` There at the Top '' Audio sample file help `` Pulling Mussels ( From the Shell ) '' is a song by the band Squeeze. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and became one of Squeeze 's most popular songs. The song is about one of the band members ' experiences at a holiday camp. Contents 1 Background 2 Release 3 Reception 3.1 Critical reception 3.2 Chart performance 4 Live performances 5 Track listing 6 Charts 7 References Background The song `` Pulling Mussels '' was written by band members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. According to critic Chris Woodstra, it is an `` observation of the British working class '' and `` offers a series of detailed snapshots of the different walks of life on a seaside holiday in Leysdown on Sea. '' The lyrics are based on Difford 's own experiences. Rob Sachs interviewed Difford and wrote that the song `` is about a memory he has from his time spent at a British holiday camp in, a budget resort type of place that includes basic accommodations, entertainment, and other facilities. '' The lines `` They do it down on Camber Sands / They do it at Waikiki '' refer to a sand dune system in East Sussex, England, and the Honolulu, Hawaii beach, respectively. The phrase `` pulling mussels '' is British slang for sexual intercourse, mainly used in England. The song features piano playing by keyboardist Jools Holland. Release `` Pulling Mussels '' was released as the first track on Squeeze 's album Argybargy in February 1980. The 7 '' single was released in April 1980 with the B - side `` What the Butler Saw ''. The song has also been included on several of Squeeze 's compilation albums, such as Singles -- 45 's and Under, Greatest Hits, and The Big Squeeze -- The Very Best of Squeeze. It was re-recorded for the 2010 album Spot the Difference. A live version was included on A Round and a Bout. Reception Critical reception `` Pulling Mussels '' received positive reviews from music critics. It has been variously described as `` a timeless cult classic '', `` a brilliant slice of pop genius '', `` a pop classic of the new wave era '', and `` a piece of pop mastery ''. In 2007, Anna Borg wrote, `` The build up before the chorus always gets me, even 25 years later. '' Allmusic 's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as `` a vivid portrait of a seaside vacation where Difford 's vignettes are made all the more vivid by Tilbrook 's bright, invigorating pop. '' It is regarded as one of Squeeze 's catchiest songs. Chart performance The single debuted on the UK chart at No. 52 on 10 May 1980. It stayed on the chart for six weeks, peaking at No. 44 on 24 May. Though the song did not chart in the United States, it became a hit on the country 's college radio stations and in new wave clubs. Live performances `` Pulling Mussels '' is a `` crowd favorite '' at Squeeze concerts. The band performed the song on Saturday Night Live on 20 November 1982. They played the song at concerts during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 2001, it was the finale of a Glenn Tilbrook show in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Squeeze played `` Pulling Mussels '' last during concerts in 2010. Track listing 7 - inch vinyl `` Pulling Mussels ( From the Shell ) '' `` What The Butler Saw '' Charts Chart ( 1980 ) Peak position UK Singles 44 References Jump up ^ `` Pulling Mussels ( From the Shell ) ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2011. ^ Jump up to : All Music Guide to Rock ( 2002 ). Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 1065. Jump up ^ Sachs, Rob ( 2010 ). What Would Rob Do ? John Wiley and Sons. pp. 38 -- 39. ^ Jump up to : Mann, Brent ( 2005 ). Blinded by the Lyrics. Citadel Press. p. 39. Jump up ^ Riley, Tim ( 1999 ). Hard Rain. Da Capo Press. p. 210. Jump up ^ Digital Audio and Compact Disc Review ( 1985 ). WGE Pub. p. 44. ^ Jump up to : Strong, Martin Charles ( 2003 ). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate U.S. Jump up ^ `` Spot the Difference -- Squeeze ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Jump up ^ Ankeny, Jason. `` Glenn Tilbrook ''. MTV. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Jump up ^ The Rough Guide to Rock ( 2003 ). Rough Guides. p. 999. Jump up ^ Borack, John M. ( 2007 ). Shake Some Action. PowerPop. p. 81. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. `` Argybargy -- Squeeze ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2011. ^ Jump up to : Pareles, Jon. `` Rock : Squeeze, At Garden ''. The New York Times. 17 November 1987. Retrieved 11 November 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Chart Stats -- Squeeze -- Pulling Mussels ''. chartstats.com. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. `` Squeeze ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2011. ^ Jump up to : Augusto, Troy J. `` Squeeze ''. Variety. 1 December 1993. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Jump up ^ Damas, Jason. `` Glenn Tilbrook ''. PopMatters. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Jump up ^ Larsen, Peter. `` Squeeze still a sharp blast from the past in L.A. ''. ocregister.com. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2011. Jump up ^ Perry, Andrew. `` Squeeze, Hard Rock Café, London, review ''. The Daily Telegraph. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2011. Squeeze Chris Difford Glenn Tilbrook Stephen Large Simon Hanson Steve Smith Yolanda Charles Paul Gunn Harry Kakoulli Jools Holland Gilson Lavis John Bentley Paul Carrack Don Snow Christopher Holland Keith Wilkinson Andy Metcalfe Matt Irving Pete Thomas Kevin Wilkinson Ash Soan Hilaire Penda Steve Nieve Nick Harper Lucy Shaw Management & producers Miles Copeland III John Cale John Wood Roger Bechirian Elvis Costello Dave Edmunds Nick Lowe Phil McDonald Alan Tarney Laurie Latham Eric `` ET '' Thorngren Pete Hammond Steve Forward Tony Berg Peter Smith Andrew J. Jones Studio albums Squeeze Cool for Cats Argybargy East Side Story Sweets from a Stranger Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti Babylon and On Frank Play Some Fantastic Place Ridiculous Domino Spot the Difference Cradle to the Grave The Knowledge EPs Packet of Three Compilations Singles -- 45 's and Under Singles `` Take Me I 'm Yours '' `` Bang Bang '' `` Goodbye Girl '' `` Cool for Cats '' `` Up the Junction '' `` Slap and Tickle '' `` Christmas Day '' `` Another Nail in My Heart '' `` If I Did n't Love You '' `` Pulling Mussels ( from the Shell ) '' `` Farfisa Beat '' `` Is That Love '' `` Tempted '' `` Labelled with Love '' `` Messed Around '' `` Black Coffee in Bed '' `` When the Hangover Strikes '' `` I 've Returned '' `` Annie Get Your Gun '' `` Last Time Forever '' `` No Place Like Home '' `` Hits of the Year '' `` Heartbreaking World '' `` King George Street '' `` Hourglass '' `` Trust Me to Open My Mouth '' `` The Waiting Game '' `` 853 - 5937 '' `` Footprints '' `` If It 's Love '' `` Love Circles '' `` Sunday Street '' `` Satisfied '' `` Crying in My Sleep '' `` Third Rail '' `` Everything in the World '' `` Some Fantastic Place '' `` Loving You Tonight '' `` It 's Over '' `` This Summer '' `` Electric Trains '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` This Summer ( Remix ) '' `` Down in the Valley '' `` Happy Days '' `` Cradle to the Grave '' `` Innocence in Paradise '' Other songs `` I Think I 'm Go Go '' `` In Quintessence '' `` The Elephant Ride '' Related articles Discography Difford & Tilbrook Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pulling_Mussels_(from_the_Shell)&oldid=796798619 '' Categories : Squeeze ( band ) songs 1980 singles Songs written by Chris Difford Songs written by Glenn Tilbrook 1980 songs A&M Records singles Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from January 2016 EngvarB from January 2016 Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 23 August 2017, at 03 : 23. 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Question: squeeze pulling mussels from a shell lyrics meaning
Answer: observation of the British working class