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Read the original blog post7.25am
21 April 2010
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In the song The Shiek of Araby:
“At night when your asleep
Into your tent I’ll creep” NUMAH!
What is that strange vocalization after the word creep? Is it supposed to be a camel? Is it a word that I’m just not hearing correctly? Does it sound as weird and out of place to you as it does to me? It happens twice in the song.
Who is saying it and why?
Why has no one ever mentioned it when writing about this song? It’s just plain bizarre to me. I am a bit hard of hearing. Does it make sense to good ears?
Thanks!
8.55am
13 November 2009
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They’re saying “Not ‘arf!” (‘arf meaning half). It’s English slang. If someone said, “Was it any good?” and someone replied, “Not ‘arf!”, it would mean it was very good.
It tells you what they’re saying in the Anthology 1 album booklet. It’s John and Paul saying it, I think.
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William Shears Campbell, WeepingAtlasCedars, Richard9.39am
31 March 2008
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Lyrics here: https://www.beatlesbible.com/s…..-of-araby/
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3.25am
21 April 2010
Offline Ah. that makes sense but it still sounds very strange to me. I guess “Not Arf” or ‘Not Alf” is dialect for “Not Half” which is probaby short for “Not Half Bad”.
This forum is great. These questions have bothered me for years and you guys answer them in one day.
Thanks!
10.56pm
30 April 2019
Offline Into your tent I’ll creep 
Well 
Some lyrics certainly age better than others
This is just in the others camp 
The following people thank Tangerine for this post:
William Shears Campbell, 50yearslate, Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars4.01am
18 October 2013
Offline I’d reckon the boys had grown up like I did with the popular alternative schoolboy lyrics……
‘I’m the sheik of the lavat’ry
All your pennies belong to me
Just drop one in the slot
And then you drop your lot….”
..I won’t go on.
Must have been a fun song for them……
The following people thank Wigwam for this post:
Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars
