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70S 80S
Nightmares on Wax Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm

Thatcher was in power
Times were tight and sour
The letter A was sprayed in a circle everywhere (ooh)

And everybody's head was gettin' shaved or spiked
My sister stitched her flares and made 'em into drainpipes
She was into Adam Ant and Wuthering Heights
I was getting into Madness and grifter bikes

Mom had to work late, I had no complaints
Used to get away with murder when Grandad babysat us
Used to play fox and hound 'til the sun came down
Singin' Lip Up Fatty, running wild through the ghost town

And all I wanted was Doc boots and braces
My ear pierced, "So, mum, what's a racist?"
She didn't explain that we weren't quite Caucasian
And we conceive black children on some future occasion
And she'd keep that shtum
All my friends are gettin' brainwashed
Nf and swastikas they're scratchin' on the desktops

Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm

Riots and violence on the TV
Broken down on Newsround while eatin' Toast Toppers
Watchin' coppers get beat down
Church discos and trips with the play scheme
Dancin' to ska, kissing the girl of my dreams
My tenth birthday and those two-tones stay pressed
Money in my card I bought One Step Beyond, yes
Lent it to a friend, never got it back
"Dear Jim could you fix it for me?"
Remember that?

Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
Reminscin' 'bout the days and you think times are hard

Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm

Oh, let me tell you now, woo, oh, a wicked witch was in power
And oh, my god she did devour
Cast a spell called depression made a living hell
Turned man against man forgot the boys and girls
We had no future, home computer
Had to make do with what we had
Knock-a-door-run and the hand-me-down gowns
Current beat, upbeat, Cracker Jack of Underground
Synthpop, Muppet Show, electro on the radio
Mum, turn it up, it's a new thing, yeah

Now all I want is high tech's with fat basses
Got the next best friend started scratchin' and breakin'
Snatch your racks and battery by the stack to keep the boom box from going flat
Didn't cope and went in over the store with a performance kid
This place has never been so packed
Street light for a spot light, cardboard box for a stage
And if you had a score to settle you resolved it with your breakin'
Not like now they're using guns and bats
Robbin' old folk, we don't need no more of that

Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
Reminscin' 'bout the days and you think times are hard

Mhm, hey
Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
Reminscin' 'bout the days and you think times are hard
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm, hey
Mhm

Every brick and every stone thrown
Was for you and me
They stood firm
Truly revolutionary
Gave back as good as what they got
Every brick and every stone thrown
Was for you and me
They stood firm
Truly revolutionary
Gave back as good as what they got

Ooh, hoo
Ooh ooh, hoo
Ooh, hoo
Ooh ooh, hoo
Ooh, hoo
Ooh ooh, hoo
Ooh, hoo
Ooh ooh, hoo
Ooh, hoo
Ooh ooh, hoo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nightmares on Wax's song "70s 80s" recount the experiences of growing up in the UK during the 70s and early 80s. They describe the political climate in which Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government was in power and times were tight and sour. Thatcher's presence is referenced in the first verse of the song. The letter 'A' was sprayed everywhere in a circle, a symbol of the anarchist movement. The singer shares the memory of how everyone's head was getting shaved or spiked, and how their sister stitched her flares and made them into drainpipes. The singer reminisces how their mother had to work late, so they got away with murder when their grandfather babysat. They used to play fox and hound 'til the sun came down and sing "Lip Up Fatty," running wild through the ghost town. The singer also talks about their identity: "All I wanted was Doc boots and braces/ My ear pierced, ‘So mum what's a racist?' She didn't explain/ that we weren't quite caucasian/ And we can have black children on some future occasion/ And she'd keep shtum," revealing their ignorance about race at the time.


In the second verse, the singer describes growing up with riots and violence on TV, broken down on Newsround while eating Toast Toppers. They watched the police get beat down while going to Church discos and trips with the play scheme, and they danced to ska and kissed the girl of their dreams. They also mention their tenth birthday and how they were given money to buy albums. They lent the album to a friend who never returned it, creating a memory that's still vivid to the singer. The last verse speaks of how the times had changed, and the singer's interests shifted towards high-tech gadgets with fat basses. They got their next best friend started scratching and breaking, and they carried stacks of batteries to keep the boombox from going flat, as suggested by the lyrics: "Snatch your racks and battery/ By the stack to keep the boom box/ From going flat." The singer goes on to talk about how they would hold dance battles, resolving scores through breakdancing rather than violence.


Line by Line Meaning

Thatcher was in power
The British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was leading the country.


Times were tight and sour
The economic and political climate was difficult.


The letter A was sprayed in a circle everywhere (ooh)
The symbol of anarchy was commonly used as graffiti.


And everybody's head was gettin' shaved or spiked
People were experimenting with different hairstyles, such as mohawks or shaved heads.


My sister stitched her flares and made 'em into drainpipes
The artist's sister altered her clothing to follow new trends.


She was into Adam Ant and Wuthering Heights
The singer's sister enjoyed popular culture, such as music and books.


I was getting into Madness and grifter bikes
The singer had his own interests, such as music and bicycles.


Mom had to work late, I had no complaints
The artist's mother worked long hours, and they accepted it as a part of life.


Used to get away with murder when Grandad babysat us
The artist and their siblings misbehaved when their grandfather looked after them.


Used to play fox and hound 'til the sun came down
The artist spent time playing games outside with friends.


Singin' Lip Up Fatty, running wild through the ghost town
The singer would sing along to music and spend time exploring their surroundings.


And all I wanted was Doc boots and braces
The artist had specific fashion preferences.


My ear pierced, 'So, mum, what's a racist?'
The singer had questions about race and ethnicity.


She didn't explain that we weren't quite Caucasian
The singer's mother did not fully explain the family's racial background.


And we conceive black children on some future occasion
The singer is implying that they may have mixed-race children in the future.


All my friends are gettin' brainwashed
The artist's peers may have been influenced by dangerous ideologies.


Nf and swastikas they're scratchin' on the desktops
The artist has witnessed hateful symbols being drawn in school.


Riots and violence on the TV
The media was reporting on civil unrest and turmoil.


Broken down on Newsround while eatin' Toast Toppers
The singer was watching children's news while eating a snack.


Watchin' coppers get beat down
The artist saw law enforcement officers being attacked in the news.


Church discos and trips with the play scheme
The artist went to social events and activities with their religious community and summer program.


Dancin' to ska, kissing the girl of my dreams
The artist was enjoying themselves and forming romantic relationships.


My tenth birthday and those two-tones stay pressed
The singer received a gift of new shoes that they treasured.


Money in my card I bought One Step Beyond, yes
The artist used birthday money to purchase a music album.


Lent it to a friend, never got it back
The singer borrowed an item to a friend, but it was not returned.


'Dear Jim could you fix it for me?'
The singer references a popular TV show in which a man named Jim would grant wishes to participants.


Just a 70s baby, early 80s child
The singer is reflecting on their age and when they grew up.


Reminiscin' 'bout the days in the brick backyard
The artist is nostalgic about spending time in their childhood home's backyard.


Oh, let me tell you now, woo, oh, a wicked witch was in power
The artist is using a metaphor to describe the political leadership of Margaret Thatcher.


Cast a spell called depression made a living hell
The singer is describing the mental health struggles of people during Thatcher's time in power.


Turned man against man forgot the boys and girls
Thatcher's policies harmed and segregated various groups of people.


We had no future, home computer
The artist is suggesting that advancements in technology did not necessarily help improve their quality of life.


Had to make do with what we had
The artist had to learn to live with limited resources and opportunities.


Knock-a-door-run and the hand-me-down gowns
The artist references common childhood games and clothing practices.


Current beat, upbeat, Cracker Jack of Underground
The singer appreciates new and exciting music styles.


Synthpop, Muppet Show, electro on the radio
The artist references popular types of entertainment during that time period.


Mum, turn it up, it's a new thing, yeah
The singer is encouraging their mother to embrace new music and culture.


Now all I want is high tech's with fat basses
The singer's musical tastes have evolved.


Got the next best friend started scratchin' and breakin'
The singer is referring to a friend who has taken up DJing and breakdancing.


Snatch your racks and battery by the stack to keep the boom box from going flat
The artist describes how they kept their music equipment powered and portable.


Didn't cope and went in over the store with a performance kid
The artist may have been involved in a musical or performance-related project.


This place has never been so packed
The singer's event was popular and well-attended.


Street light for a spot light, cardboard box for a stage
The singer is describing the makeshift performance setting they used.


And if you had a score to settle you resolved it with your breakin'
The artist references how conflicts could be resolved through breaking and dancing rather than through violent means.


Not like now they're using guns and bats
The artist suggests that present-day conflicts have escalated to be much more violent and dangerous.


Robbin' old folk, we don't need no more of that
The artist is expressing frustration with contemporary criminal behavior.


Every brick and every stone thrown was for you and me
The singer reflects on the protests and uprisings that took place during their youth, and how these events were for the benefit of everyone.


They stood firm
The people involved in protests and uprisings remained steadfast in their convictions.


Truly revolutionary
The singer is emphasizing how significant and important the social movements of that time were.


Gave back as good as what they got
The singer is acknowledging the tough nature of the protests, and how protesters responded to provocation with equal force.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: George Evelyn, Leigh Kenny

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Lance Uppercut

I heard this tune almost 20 years ago I think and it’s been with me since then and everyone I show this tune to say they have never heard it before and they love it . The lyrics are brilliant it deserves a lot more exposure.
✌️

BFC

Was it that long ago

Garth Mckewen

I'm a 75 child it's purrfect and honest great toon lm on your team❤

Lance Uppercut

@Garth Mckewen 😊 👍

Carlos Hughes

Still an absolute joy to hear 🎶❤️

Sung Same Song

I've had this CD since it was released. The entire album is just amazing. 😊

Ata-ul Haque

Same here… Even saw them life back in the days.

Alex Sievers

man, this song is so good! For everyone who just finds this: be well and enjoy the tunes!

Jay Yamaki

Man, this song deserves so much more love

Mono & Brow

It certainly does :]

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