Karl Hyde (vocalist, Underworld): We used to go out drinking in Soho and I ended up in the Ship on Wardour Street. All the lyrics were written on that night. A drunk sees the world in fragments and I wanted to recreate that. I was inspired by Lou Reed’s New York album and Sam Shepard’s Motel Chronicles. I was into flash photography as well, so I was walking around Soho with a notebook and camera, just observing things. In those days I’d open the book whenever a musical idea inspired me. Rick [Smith] came up with a rhythm and I started singing over it. The vocals were done in one take. When I lost my place, I’d repeat the same line; that’s why it goes, “lager, lager, lager, lager”. The first time we played it live, people raised their lager cans and I was horrified because I was still deep into alcoholism. It was never meant to be a drinking anthem; it was a cry for help. Now I don’t mind. Why Born Slippy? It was a greyhound we won money on.
They used to have the Trainspotting soundtrack in the jukebox at Footsies and I’d cue it up whenever I was in there. One time I was with Daniel and we picked out a bunch of songs including “Born Slippy” and sat down at the bar. When it finally came on we got excited, because it’s one of our favorite songs, and I don’t think I could ever get tired of it because it’s also an amazing track, but about a minute into it the bartender hit the override button (I never realized that they even had such things!) and was like, “sorry, if I hear that song one more time I’m going to ________”. I don’t remember exactly the words he used but the implication was that if he had to hear that song one more time it would push him over some edge. He was nice enough about it and gave us a bunch of credits to pick other songs but still.
I’m still trying to get this on the wedding playlist but Lindsey is like “it’s too long” and “only you and Daniel are going to be dancing to it.” So radio edit it is! And I mean, isn’t it tradition for the groom and best man to start raving at the reception?
