Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a new wave band during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was one of the bands at the time that marked the transition from the '70s punk rock era to the new-wave post punk-music era. Although the band started off with a punk-influenced sound, it soon moved on to New Wave motivated by new sources such as the drum-heavy "Burundi Beat" heard on "Dog Eat Dog".
Led by Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard), the band formed in 1977 in London Read Full BioAdam and the Ants were a new wave band during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was one of the bands at the time that marked the transition from the '70s punk rock era to the new-wave post punk-music era. Although the band started off with a punk-influenced sound, it soon moved on to New Wave motivated by new sources such as the drum-heavy "Burundi Beat" heard on "Dog Eat Dog".
Led by Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard), the band formed in 1977 in London, England, consisting of Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) and Paul Flanagan (drums). Square was replaced by Mark Gaumont early in the band's career, before the release of their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox (1979, Do It Records). The album was somewhat dark, with post punk riffs and some vestiges of glam rock. The album was not a success, so Adam and the Ants hired Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols) to help with their image.
While preparing for their second album, McLaren convinced the Ants to leave Adam and form Bow Wow Wow. A new version of the Ants was formed by Marco Pirroni (guitar), Kevin Mooney (bass guitar) and two drummers, Terry Lee Miall and Merrick. Pirroni would go on to become an influential member of the group, and cowrite many of their songs with Adam Ant.
The band signed a major label deal with CBS Records and began recording Kings of the Wild Frontier. That album was an enormous hit in the United Kingdom and put the band at the forefront of the New Romantic moment. The album reached #1 on the UK album charts on January 24, 1981.
There were several hit singles from this LP, including Dog Eat Dog (reaching #4 on the UK singles charts in October 1980), Ant Music (#2 in January 1981) and Kings of the Wild Frontier (#2 in March 1981). In addition, Antmusic made it to No.1 in Australia for five weeks.
Bassist Kevin Mooney left the band in 1981, and was replaced with Gary Tibbs who joined just in time to record the hit single "Stand and Deliver".
In November 1981 Adam and the Ants released another highly successful album, Prince Charming. The band had two United Kingdom #1 singles. "Stand and Deliver" was the #1 single in the UK for 5 weeks in May 1981, followed by "Prince Charming", which topped the UK charts, for 4 weeks in September 1981. "Antrap" reached #3 in January, 1982.
The band seized the opportunities provided by music videos on the new MTV channel to develop a theatrical, charismatic onscreen persona. With romantic costumes and heavy make-up, the band was an early example of the New Romantic movement, with contemporaries such as Duran Duran dressing similarly. Lavish videos were produced for the Prince Charming singles, including Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming, and Ant Rap. In the Stand and Deliver video, Adam Ant is dressed as a "dandy highwayman" and generally indulges his exhibitionist tendencies. These videos helped break the band in the United States when MTV began airing them.
In early 1982 the band received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.
Led by Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard), the band formed in 1977 in London Read Full BioAdam and the Ants were a new wave band during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was one of the bands at the time that marked the transition from the '70s punk rock era to the new-wave post punk-music era. Although the band started off with a punk-influenced sound, it soon moved on to New Wave motivated by new sources such as the drum-heavy "Burundi Beat" heard on "Dog Eat Dog".
Led by Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard), the band formed in 1977 in London, England, consisting of Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) and Paul Flanagan (drums). Square was replaced by Mark Gaumont early in the band's career, before the release of their debut album Dirk Wears White Sox (1979, Do It Records). The album was somewhat dark, with post punk riffs and some vestiges of glam rock. The album was not a success, so Adam and the Ants hired Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols) to help with their image.
While preparing for their second album, McLaren convinced the Ants to leave Adam and form Bow Wow Wow. A new version of the Ants was formed by Marco Pirroni (guitar), Kevin Mooney (bass guitar) and two drummers, Terry Lee Miall and Merrick. Pirroni would go on to become an influential member of the group, and cowrite many of their songs with Adam Ant.
The band signed a major label deal with CBS Records and began recording Kings of the Wild Frontier. That album was an enormous hit in the United Kingdom and put the band at the forefront of the New Romantic moment. The album reached #1 on the UK album charts on January 24, 1981.
There were several hit singles from this LP, including Dog Eat Dog (reaching #4 on the UK singles charts in October 1980), Ant Music (#2 in January 1981) and Kings of the Wild Frontier (#2 in March 1981). In addition, Antmusic made it to No.1 in Australia for five weeks.
Bassist Kevin Mooney left the band in 1981, and was replaced with Gary Tibbs who joined just in time to record the hit single "Stand and Deliver".
In November 1981 Adam and the Ants released another highly successful album, Prince Charming. The band had two United Kingdom #1 singles. "Stand and Deliver" was the #1 single in the UK for 5 weeks in May 1981, followed by "Prince Charming", which topped the UK charts, for 4 weeks in September 1981. "Antrap" reached #3 in January, 1982.
The band seized the opportunities provided by music videos on the new MTV channel to develop a theatrical, charismatic onscreen persona. With romantic costumes and heavy make-up, the band was an early example of the New Romantic movement, with contemporaries such as Duran Duran dressing similarly. Lavish videos were produced for the Prince Charming singles, including Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming, and Ant Rap. In the Stand and Deliver video, Adam Ant is dressed as a "dandy highwayman" and generally indulges his exhibitionist tendencies. These videos helped break the band in the United States when MTV began airing them.
In early 1982 the band received a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.
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Stand and Deliver
Adam and the Ants Lyrics
Stand and deliver
I'm the dandy highwayman who you're too scared to mention
I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention
The devil take your stereo and your record collection (oh-oh)
The way you look you'll qualify for next year's old age pension
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
I'm the dandy highwayman so sick of easy fashion
The clumsy boots, peek-a-boo roots that people think so dashing
So what's the point of robbery when nothing is worth taking? (oh oh)
It's kind of tough to tell a scruff the big mistake he's making
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
And even though you fool your soul
Your conscience will be mine
All mine
We're the dandy highwaymen so tired of excuses
Of deep meaning philosophies where only showbiz loses
We're the dandy highwaymen and here's our invitation (oh oh)
"Throw your safety overboard and join our insect nation"
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
And even though you fool your soul
Your conscience will be mine
All mine
Qua qua da diddley qua qua da diddley
Qua qua da diddley qua qua da diddley
Qua qua da diddley qua qua da diddley
Qua qua da diddley qua qua da diddley
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARCO PIRRONI, ADAM ANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Matti
@Natasha C I became a highwayman was daylight robbery
I was no prince charming nothing dandy about me!
The truth is I was violent and with my good mate Matt king robbed travellers at gunpoint money watches anything
My horse it wasn't called Black Bess although that's what you've read
Was no romantic hero shot not one but two men dead
The legend that surrounds me misses out the crucial part
I was a ruthless killer with a ruthless killer's heart
I was a vicious highwayman a source of pain and tears
When you hear how my story ends you won't believe your ears
I ran away to Yorkshire, changed my name to John Palmer
Was sent to prison after stealing chickens from a farmer
I wrote a letter to my family, a plea to relate
The postman saw the envelope and here's the twist of fate!
He had taught me how to write, so he knew I'd lied!
"That's not John Palmer's hand, that's Dick Turpin's!" he cried!
I was a vicious highwayman my crimes had bought me fame
Was stitched up by a postie that's not glamorous that's lame
No more stand and deliver you'll remember this I hope
It's no fun hanging with highwaymen when you're...hanging from a rope?!
Harold Gillies
Stand and deliver!
I'm the dandy highwayman
Whom you're too scared to mention
I spend my cash
On looking flash
And grabbing your attention
The devil take your stereo
And your record collection
The way you look, you'll qualify
For next year's old age pension!
Stand and deliver
Your money or your life
Hoh!
Try to use a mirror
Not a bullet or a knife
Hoh!
I'm the dandy highwayman
So sick of easy fashion
The clumsy boots, peekaboo roots
That people think so dashing
So what's the point of robbery
When nothing is worth taking?
It's kind of tough to tell a scruff
The big mistake he's making
Stand and deliver
Your money or your life
Hoh!
Try to use a mirror
Not a bullet or a knife
Hoh!
And even though you fool your soul
Your conscience will be mine
All mine
We're the dandy highwaymen
So tired of excuses
Of deep meaning philosophies
Where only showbiz loses
We're the dandy highwaymen
And here's our invitation
Throw your safety overboard
And join our insect nation!
Stand and deliver
Your money or your life
Hoh!
Try to use a mirror
Not a bullet or a knife
Hoh!
Even though you fool your soul
Your conscience will be mine
All mine
Qua qua
Da diddly qua qua
Da diddly qua qua
Da diddly qua qua
Stand and deliver!
Stand and deliver!
Stand and deliver!
Harold Gillies
I'm the dandy highwayman who you're too scared to mention
I spend my cash on looking flash and grabbing your attention
The devil take your stereo and your record collection (oh-oh)
The way you look you'll qualify for next year's old age pension
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
I'm the dandy highwayman so sick of easy fashion
The clumsy boots, peek-a-boo roots that people think so dashing
So what's the point of robbery when nothing is worth taking? (oh oh)
It's kind of tough to tell a scruff the big mistake he's making
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
And even though you fool your soul
Your conscience will be mine
All mine
We're the dandy highwaymen so tired of excuses
Of deep meaning philosophies where only showbiz loses
We're the dandy highwaymen and here's our invitation (oh oh)
"Throw your safety overboard and join our insect nation"
Stand and deliver your money or your life
Try and use a mirror no bullet or a knife
And even though you fool your soul
Your conscience will be mine
All mine
Steven Michael Martin
if you're still listening to Adam & The Ants in 2021 you're a freakin legend π
Marcus Smith
Haha itβs a meme for me and my friends we learnt about highwaymen in primary and pretend we are highwaymen and when we Rob sweets from yr 7s we say stand and deliver πππΊit brings back good memories
mercoid
Lol
Brian M
Why thank you
Jon Evans
Thank you! I love the thought that I'm a legend. Used to own this single, but lost it and all the LPs when I got divorced.
Bip Bippadotta
A Real Royal Family, A Royal Nobility
Savox
It's no fun hanging with highwaymen when you're... hanging from a rope.
Melania MoneyPenny
they always kill the good ones.
Joseph William
I Thothed on the retro Mesugah/Cavalera rhythms. YeT. Your retort infatigbly valid. π¨πΌβπ€
Monsieur baguette
@Kelcey itβs pg so itβs cool