Emergency
999 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've learning to ignore
You must confess this awful mess
Isn't just a bore
It's more than we could bear
But you don't really care
Kiss of live to save our life
All you do is stare
Make our mother weep
Loosing pride is hard to hide
And harder still to keep
I'm back in full attack
Never give in until they crack
Emergency
Raiders strike but where
Panic in the air
Running scared oh I'm so scared
It gets you everywhere
Heard it on the news
Rebels get accused
Fighting for another cause
But why and where and whose
Carry out their plan
Release us if you can
what's your worth to a pile of earth
you're just another man
Black jack want to quack
Never get your money back
Pack attack in the back
By a bloody maniac
Better see industry
Take it fast and make it last
Go away make them pay
Never make the same mistakes
Sometimes care sometimes not
See 'em bleed and see them rot
The first verse of the song Emergency by 999 talks about how they have heard it all before and have learned to ignore it. They criticize those who have caused an awful mess and ask them to confess. The situation is unbearable, but the ones responsible don't seem to care. The lyrics explain how those in power care only about themselves and make the public suffer. The line, "Kiss of life to save our life, all you do is stare" highlights the inaction of those in power, who are supposed to save lives.
In the second verse, the song takes a broader perspective and references a raid, rebels being accused in the news, and fighting for another cause. The lyrics ask why they are fighting, where and whose cause it is. People are running scared, and there is panic in the air. The line "you're just another man" emphasizes that each person is replaceable and expendable. The third verse talks about how industries are taking over and making people pay. It urges people not to make the same mistakes and to take action against the system.
Line by Line Meaning
We've heard it all before
We are familiar with this situation
We've learning to ignore
We have become accustomed to ignoring it
You must confess this awful mess
You must acknowledge this unpleasant situation
Isn't just a bore
It is not merely uninteresting
It's more than we could bear
It's overwhelming
But you don't really care
You are indifferent
Kiss of live to save our life
An attempt to save our lives
All you do is stare
You are doing nothing but watching
Sell yourself for cheap
Cheapen yourself
Make our mother weep
Cause emotional pain to our mother
Loosing pride is hard to hide
It's difficult to conceal a loss of dignity
And harder still to keep
And even more difficult to maintain
I'm back in full attack
Returning with full force
Never give in until they crack
Persist until they surrender
Emergency
A crisis situation
Raiders strike but where
Where have the raiders struck?
Panic in the air
A sense of panic is present
Running scared oh I'm so scared
Fearing for one's safety
It gets you everywhere
Fear affects everything
Heard it on the news
Learned of it through the media
Rebels get accused
Rebels are being blamed
Fighting for another cause
Fighting for a different purpose
But why and where and whose
Questions of motive and responsibility
Carry out their plan
Executing their scheme
Release us if you can
Set us free if possible
what's your worth to a pile of earth
The value of one's life to the earth
you're just another man
You are no different from anyone else
Black jack want to quack
Black jack wants to cheat
Never get your money back
You will never get your money back
Pack attack in the back
A surprise attack from behind
By a bloody maniac
By a crazed and violent individual
Better see industry
One should focus on productivity
Take it fast and make it last
Quickly acquire and prolong the benefits
Go away make them pay
Leave and make them compensate for their actions
Never make the same mistakes
Avoid repeating past errors
Sometimes care sometimes not
Occasionally attentive, other times not
See 'em bleed and see them rot
Witnessing the negative consequences of actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Keith Rodger Lucas, Guy Martin Days
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulgormley9528
Unfortunately an appropriately titled song to listen to in lockdown due to coronavirus, one of the best punk rock singles of all time by one of the best punk bands of all time,the album 999 is 10 out of 10 on my punkometer,good health everybody
@mredwards3000
This band should have been massive. Looked great, sounded great, original....that first album, a genuine classic.
@ealing456
Both albums they released in 1978 were great, though I prefer the second, Separates. They may not have exploded like many of the others, but they didn't burn out either, still going today, which is more you can say about a lot of 70s punk bands, right?
@cameronjohnson3529
These guys, The Stranglers, and The Middle Class from California and I'd even go so far to say Richard Hell and the Voidoids were all underappreciated punk bands.
@charlieschmitt1420
They still rule! One of the best of all time. Never wrote a bad song. So original. Yes they should have been huge. They are huge in my book!
@tigertruckerman
Do you know the story why they didn't become huge?
@charlieschmitt1420
@purple guy. no I do not know the story.
@tigertruckerman
@Charlie Schmitt because when they where due to go on top of the pops,with homicide which was riding high in the charts and would have give them massive publicity there was a electrians strike last minute so tops never went ahead,in those days appearances on top of the pops was everything
@rieuwertbuitenga3284
One of the best punk rock songs ever.
@VincentRE79
Agree