999 are an English punk band which formed in London in 1976. Founded by sin… Read Full Bio ↴999 are an English punk band which formed in London in 1976. Founded by singer/guitarist Nick Cash, 999's original lineup also included Guy Days (vocals/guitar), Jon Watson (bass) and Pablo LaBritain (drums). Ed Case served temporarily as drummer following LaBritain's injury in 1978, while Watson has since been replaced by Danny Palmer (1986-1991) and former Lurkers member Arturo Bassick (1991-present). 999 became a popular act within the London punk circuit, releasing its first single ("I'm Alive") in 1977 under its own label. The band soon found chart success, attaining five top 100 UK hits under the United Artists label. However, 999's popularity began to wane in the early 1980s. 999 disbanded in the mid-1980s only to reform soon afterward. They have since released several albums and continue to tour. Also similar to the Ruts, 999 built much of their following through gigging the down and dirty venues around Southall in West London. 999 never showed the same reggae influences as the Ruts though, maintaining a 'pure punk' sound throughout. They are also still alive and well, and still gigging it hard.

Nobody Knows
999 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nobody knows nobody cares
You always give as what you get
And never think of what you must forget
Your back street semi sweet carry on the good work

Nobody knows nobody cares
They fight to win but always lose
Regrets will follow it's headline news

A sin to win now what's the point of living

Nobody knows nobody cares
Nobody cares nobody tries oh no

Nobody knows nobody cares
A fall down this games confused
Its gone too far now we're not amused

Your back street semi sweet carry on the
Good work

Overall Meaning

The song "Nobody Knows" by 999 is a reflection on the struggles of life, where we often feel like nobody knows or cares about our problems. The first two stanzas convey the idea that people typically don't think about what they need to forget in order to move on. They focus on what they receive rather than their own personal growth. The phrase "back street semi sweet" is a metaphor for an optimistic outlook where there is still some sweetness on the rough path ahead. However, the chorus seems to suggest that nobody cares or tries, and those who fight to win inevitably lose. Regrets follow them, which becomes headline news, ultimately leading to wondering about the point of living.

The final stanza of the song emphasizes the confusion and disappointment of facing obstacles and failures in the game of life. The line "it's gone too far now we're not amused" aptly sums up the weariness and frustration of this battle. However, the mantra of "carry on the good work" seems to provide some solace, proposing the idea that we should persist despite the challenges we face.

Overall, "Nobody Knows" is a poignant and introspective track that is relatable to anyone who has struggled in life, trying to make sense of their own battles and feeling like nobody is there to share the burden.

Line by Line Meaning

Nobody knows nobody cares
People are unaware and unconcerned

You always give as what you get
You are receiving what you give in return

And never think of what you must forget
Ignoring certain things that need to be left behind

Your back street semi sweet carry on the good work
Keep up the good work, even in difficult circumstances

They fight to win but always lose
In the pursuit of victory, they are consistently defeated

Regrets will follow it's headline news
Negative consequences of past actions will be widely announced

A sin to win now what's the point of living
Winning through unethical or immoral means is not worthwhile

Nobody cares nobody tries oh no
There is a lack of concern and effort

A fall down this games confused
The game is confusing and can lead to a downfall

Its gone too far now we're not amused
The situation has escalated to an uncomfortable level

Your back street semi sweet carry on the good work
Keep up the good work, even in difficult circumstances