- published: 29 Apr 2008
- views: 805939
Brian Edward Cox, OBE (born 3 March 1968) is an English physicist, and Advanced Fellow of particle physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. He is best known to the public as the presenter of science programmes, especially the Wonders of... series and for popular science books, such as Why Does E=mc²? and The Quantum Universe. Cox has been described as the natural successor for BBC's scientific programming by both David Attenborough and the late Patrick Moore. Before his academic career, Cox was a keyboard player for the bands D:Ream and Dare.
Cox was born in the Royal Oldham Hospital, later living in Chadderton, Oldham, from 1971, Cox's parents worked in Yorkshire bank, his mother as a cashier and his father as a middle-manager in the same branch. He attended the independent Hulme Grammar School in Oldham from 1979 to 1986. Cox revealed on The Jonathan Ross Show that he performed poorly on his Maths A-level: "I got a D ... I was really not very good ... I found out you need to practice." He cites a lack of interest and fledgling band commitments as the reason for the result.
(Cap D)
1720, new worlds on fire
got them sailors makin' money
with them guns for hire
Got that letter of marque
ye be grindin'
on the seas ye be free
to sinkin' what ye findin'
free traders sailin freighters
droppin cargo for dimes
to the islands, and their neighbors
then there's treasure to find
there be men of the law
who be quick on the draw
cause them nations
be impatient
or you exploitin' their flaws
(Admirality)
You know the score, navy vessels be patrolling the
shores
Can you dig it when our frigates be enforcing them
laws?
From the quays to the caves, yeah you'd better behave,
Cos when we battle on the seas the Caribbean's your
grave
Chorus:
(Cap D)
We're off to sail the burning sea
that's the life for me
We're off to sail the burning sea
lives of piracy
we're off to sail the burning sea
that's the life for me
(Admirality)
Agreed, ye damn fiend -
spark up that sea weed! Cos tonight we dine in hell
and from our mission we're freed!
(Cap D)
I be a pirate, there's no use to hide it
I've been sailin' burning seas
hearing pleas I can't deny it
I'm cuttin' Navies down
did a stutter?
Slice through your fleet
like they made out of butter
I like more than plunder
strike shores with thunder
I fight dirty on the grind
blow boards asunder
then send your whole crew under
I serve no flag, I head no king
sure to brag once we freed your bling
(Admirality)
Well pack it in cos taking rings be the least of yer
sins
Scurvy rhymes, dollar signs, Cornish pasties and cash-
I'll never fly the bones - blue's forever in fashion
Cos the sea is my heart, and my ship is my passion
(Chorus)
(Cap D)
I fight Dirty
you know,
I got that scurvy
kick a barrel at yer head
and knock you topsy tervy
push your head in the bilge
and give you a swirly
make a dive for the prize
you know I be that nervy
throw elbows for blows
you know how it goes
I'll kick you in the shin
and make jump with this flow
some fencers are notorious
for being laborious
with their balancing acts
they makin' battles victorious
Florentine
makes a mean cut on the scene
slicing all them sailors
on the aquamarine
the might and the fitness
a plight you can witness
the sight ends with quickness
a fight skill with sickness
(Admirality)
Bloody, Bold, and resolute
the brethren of the coast
shoot off a cannon salute
We live free, fight hard
and obey only fate
leave debris, like shards
fer yer pieces of eight!