Going Underground

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Going Underground

Jam, The - Going Underground - UK.jpg

Vinyl single - UK - 1st edition.

Artist The Jam
Published 1980-03-??
Composer Paul Weller
Genre New wave, Mod
Themes Corruption, Politics, Rebellion
Rating Rating-7.svg

Going Underground is a new wave song by The Jam released as a single in March 1980. The song was intended to be the B-side of The Dreams of Children, but a misprint caused both sides to be labeled side-A. However, it's popularity caused it to be released as an A-side in other nations. The song was never released on a studio album, but was included on many compilation albums and became the band's most popular song.

The song was composed by Paul Weller. I haven't been able to find specifics on who plays on the single recording, but I think Weller sings and plays lead guitar, Bruce Foxton plays rhythm guitar and bass, and Rick Buckler plays drums.

In the song, the singer protests the warmongering of politicians and the apathy of the sheep-like masses and intends to go "underground" in order to avoid the violence, hate, and ignorance and just become content with being who they are.

Personal

Despite listening to a lot of radio stations that played songs from the 60-80s in my teen years, I never heard this song on the radio. While it was a number one single in the UK, it never charted in the USA, which probably accounts for its lack of airplay. I came across the song in a playlist of great songs from 1980 and enjoyed it right away then started listening to it on repeat for a while.

I especially like how the lyric, "the public gets what the public wants," from the first verse changes into, "the public wants what the public gets," in the second, showing how the masses can easily be manipulated into liking whatever they're given. I also love the lyric, "you choose your leaders and place your trust, as their lies wash you down and their promises rust, you'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns," which really fits how warmongers prefer killing their enemy over helping their allies. The guitar lead after the bridge is great, and, near the end, the lyric "and feet go pound-pound-pound," is really powerful. The overall sound of the song is very peppy and toe-tapping, and my daughters kept requesting I play for them when they were four years old despite not knowing what it was about.

Lyrics

Some people might say my life is in a rut,
I'm quite happy with what I got.
People might say that I should strive for more, 
But, I'm so happy I can't see the point.
Something's happening here today,
A show of strength with your boy's brigade.
And I'm so happy and you're so kind.
You want more money, of course I don't mind,
To buy nuclear textbooks for atomic crimes.
And the public gets what the public wants,
But I want nothing this society's got.

I'm going underground. (going underground)
Well, if the brass bands play and feet start to pound.
Going underground. (going underground)
Well, let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout for tomorrow.

Some people might get some pleasure out of hate,
Me, I've enough already on my plate.
People might need some tension to relax,
Me? I'm too busy dodging between the flak.
What you see is what you get.
You've made your bed, you better lie in it.
You choose your leaders and place your trust,
As their lies wash you down and their promises rust.
You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns.
And the public wants what the public gets,
But I don't get what this society wants.

I'm going underground. (going underground)
Well, if the brass bands play and feet start to pound.
Going underground. (going underground)
So let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout for tomorrow.

(Oi) la-la-la-la.
(Oi) la-la-la-la.

We talk and we talk until my head explodes.
I turn on the news and my body froze.
These braying sheep on my TV screen,
Make this boy shout, make this boy scream.
Going underground.
I'm going underground.
I'm going underground.
I'm going underground.

(Oi) la-la-la-la.
(Oi) la-la-la-la.
(Oi) la-la-la-la.
(Oi) la-la-la-la.

Braying sheep on my TV screen,
Make this boy shout, make this boy scream.

Going underground. (going underground)
Well, if the brass bands play and feet start to pound.
Going underground. (going underground)
Well, let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout.

Going underground. (going underground)
Well, if the brass bands play and feet go pound-pound-pound.
Going underground. (going underground)
So let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout for tomorrow.

Media

Album Art

Videos

Official music video.

Links

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