| "After the Watershed (Early Learning the Hard Way)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine | ||||
| from the album Straw Donkey... The Singles | ||||
| Released | 5 October 1991 | |||
| Format | CD, 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, cassette | |||
| Recorded | 1990 | |||
| Genre | alternative rock, punk, electronic dance | |||
| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis Records | |||
| Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine singles chronology | ||||
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"After the Watershed" is a single by Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, released in 1991, and was not featured on any original album by the band, only on compilations later on. Legal complications arose following the release of the song, as The Rolling Stones took a dim view of the use of the refrain "Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday" in the song's chorus. The song is memorable as being performed at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party of 1991, when Fruitbat rugby tackled Philip Schofield on live TV after his reference to Carter's instrument-smashing performance lacking originality.[1].
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The title of the song refers to the BBC's watershed time period, controlled mainly by Ofcom, as a way of preventing younger audiences seeing unnecessary imagery, which was shown on TV after 9pm.
The "Hard Way" reference was simply put to have two meanings: one was, that it meant "a young boy watching adult films saw something graphical and learnt his lesson to never watch that genre again"; the other meaning was the definition of a young boy watching adult programming with an erection, or in Carter USM's meaning, a hard on.
The song samples lyrics from the song Ruby Tuesday through the lyrics "goodbye Ruby Tuesday, come home you silly cow", it also uses the bass riff from Satisfaction. Following legal action by The Rolling Stones, the track is now credited to Morrison, Carter, Richards and Jagger.
The song also pays tribute to the well-known author David Icke, by stating "David Icke said, he'd like to show us how, to love us back to life again now".