Publicada en septiembre de 1979 como avance de su álbum "Drums and Wires", esta canción supuso el gran despegue comercial de XTC, llegando al puesto 17 de las listas británicas.
Lo curioso es que, a diferencia de la mayoría de temas de la banda (normalmente escritos por Andy Partridge), este lo compuso el bajista Colin Moulding, y también es él quien canta. Partridge llegó a reconocer que le sentó mal que su banda dedicara tanto tiempo a pulir esta canción mientras las suyas quedaban de lado.
La letra habla de unos padres controladores que deciden el futuro de su hijo Nigel, incluido un trabajo asegurado en la empresa British Steel. Moulding explicó que la canción es parcialmente autobiográfica: su propio padre lo presionaba para que fuera a la universidad y se cortara el pelo, hasta el punto de intentar arrastrarlo literalmente a la barbería.
El single se publicó con una edición especial en formato de juego de mesa tipo "oca", protagonizado por Nigel y sus padres, aunque nunca llegaron a incluirse las reglas del juego.
La canción ha sido versionada por artistas como Primus, The Rembrandts y Robbie Williams.
Vídeo oficial:
Letra:
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs that helping hand
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his world
We're only making plans for Nigel
He has his future in a British steel
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel's whole future is as good as sealed, yeah
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his world
Nigel is not outspoken but he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to (in his world)
Nigel is happy in his world (in his world)
Nigel is happy in his world (in his world)
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his world
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
We're only making plans for Nigel
He has his future in a British steel
Steel, steel, steel, steel, steel, yeah
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel, Nigel, Nigel, Nigel
Nigel, Nigel, Nigel, Nigel
Nigel, Nigel, Nigel, Nigel
Nigel, Nigel, Nigel, Nigel
