This is one of the first – maybe even the very first – songs I played for my children when they were very small.

I felt that its simplicity – everything is minimalist, from the guitar riff to the bass riff, the drumming and the lyrics – would appeal to toddlers.

My fervent hope was that they would sing along to that infectious chorus that takes up the whole of the second half of the song:

“I am the fly. I am the fly. Fly in the. Fly in the. Ointment.”

If they did, I must have missed that moment.

I suppose I hoped they would grow up with a passion for punk, particularly for Wire.

There has been no evidence of that over the subsequent 30 years.

Not even from the boy, who has inherited his father’s passion for music to the extent of playing in a couple of bands, and getting involved in running a record label and festival.

I’ve never heard him talk about Wire though.

Never mind, I did my best. And that’s all you can do with kids.