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.
Don't Be Square
Adam and the Ants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be square be there
All good clean fun
(Whatever that means)
Ant music for sex people
Sex music for ant people
Get off your knees
And hear the insect prayer
The brain will suffer
So ride hard ride clean
How reputations scare
And love goes to war
(Whatever that means)
Ant music for sex people
Sex music for ant people
Get off your knees
And hear the insect prayer
You may not like it now but you will
(The future will not stand still)
The lyrics of Adam and the Ants' "Don't Be Square" are an interesting mix of seemingly unrelated phrases that come together to create a unique message about the power of music and breaking free from societal norms. The opening lines, "Music for a future age, don't be square be there, all good clean fun," set the tone for the song. The idea is that the music is meant for the future, yet the listener is being urged to be present and not stuck in the past. The idea of "all good clean fun" suggests that the music is not harmful, and is perhaps even a way to improve oneself.
The next few lines of the song, "Ant music for sex people, sex music for ant people, get off your knees, and hear the insect prayer," are a bit more abstract. The idea of ant music for sex people and sex music for ant people suggests that this music is for everyone, no matter their shape or size. The idea of getting off your knees and hearing the insect prayer may be a call to embrace one's primal instincts and connect with nature. The reference to "Dirk wears white sox" is a nod to the band's earlier single and album by the same name.
The final lines, "So ride hard, ride clean, how reputations scare, and love goes to war, ant music for sex people, sex music for ant people, get off your knees, and hear the insect prayer, you may not like it now but you will, the future will not stand still," suggest that the music is a call to action. It is not enough to simply listen to the music; one must also take action and embrace it. The idea of riding hard and riding clean suggests that this is not a passive activity, but something that requires effort and intention. The final line, "you may not like it now, but you will," suggests that even if the listener does not fully understand or appreciate the music currently, they will eventually come around to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Music for a future age
This music is intended for people who are forward-thinking and open-minded.
Don't be square be there
Don't be boring and conventional, come and experience this exciting music.
All good clean fun
This music is harmless and enjoyable for everyone.
(Whatever that means)
Not sure what is meant by 'good clean fun'.
Ant music for sex people
This music is intended for people who are passionate and sexual.
Sex music for ant people
People who are usually considered small or insignificant can still enjoy and appreciate sexual music.
Get off your knees
Stop being subservient and stand up for yourself.
And hear the insect prayer
Listen closely to the sounds of nature and the world around you.
Dirk wears white sox
A random statement, possibly referring to the band's drummer or a character in a story.
The brain will suffer
Excessive exposure to loud or intense music can have negative effects on the brain.
So ride hard ride clean
Be passionate and dedicated in everything you do, but still be true to your values.
How reputations scare
The fear of damaging one's reputation can hold people back from truly expressing themselves.
And love goes to war
Even love can be difficult and cause conflict at times.
(Whatever that means)
Not sure what is meant by 'love goes to war'.
Ant music for sex people
Repeating the earlier sentiment that this music is for people who are sexual and passionate.
Sex music for ant people
Repeating the earlier metaphorical idea that even small or overlooked people can appreciate sexual music.
Get off your knees
Repeating the notion to stand up for oneself and not be subservient.
And hear the insect prayer
Repeating the idea to listen closely to the world around you.
You may not like it now but you will
You might not appreciate this music immediately, but eventually you will come around.
The future will not stand still
The world is constantly evolving and changing, and this music is a reflection of that.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Ant, Marco Pirroni
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AaronHendu
I heard Stand and Deliver when I was an early teen or there around in the late 90's and have been hooked ever since.
@MontagZoso
I love the early sound of the 1980 to 82 music coming out of England. I could easily imagine early Duran Duran singing this.
@MicheleBohmke
Dirk wears white sox!
@jerrymarbury9365
It took skill and talent to create this music,sound is unmistakable.
@petemarr824
Should have been a single !!!
@RobCLynch
This was my first album. You may not like it now, but you will...
@geoffreylogsdon162
I am having a serious issue here. I am 59 years old, in the US, and l promise you l have never heard this song before. It was not a single, no radio play, and no video for it either. A few mornings ago l awakened at 5AM with it playing in my head and enough lyrics that l was able to Google it.
I swear l have never heard this. I didn't party with any Ant fans, never bought any records, etc.
The only thing l can think of is that l heard it playing in a record store 40 years ago. Is that even possible, that it would have been in my head all of that time, and just surface now?
Obviously it is weird enough to make me wonder because l sound like a twit.
@mhurst4317
have you checked if it was flying ant day?
@geoffreylogsdon162
@@mhurst4317 I don't know if that is a thing but it could have been!
@Calmany37
its your angels saying you need to listen to the full album