Later that year, they also opened for The Damned on a short tour round the north of England. November 1981 saw the release of their first single, a cover version of Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London', with the song that was to become the group's anthem, 'So What' on the B side.
In 1982, things were looking good for the band, with the 'So What Tour' in the company of such groups as Chelsea, Chron Gen and the Defects, and the release of their debut album We Are...The League. However, the Obscene Publications Squad seized all copies of their records, which were removed from shops and they were banned from TV and Radio. To top it all, they were thrown out of the Top Of The Pops studio...just because Animal happened to be carrying a 3ft axe around with him! However the year finished on a high, with the 'Hardcore Storms America' tour with the UK Subs.
Anti-Nowhere League LogoGilly (real name Mark Gilham) joined the band in 1983 as an extra guitarist, which according to the bands website,[1], was because Magoo was drinking heavily and was often unable to carry out his commitments as guitarist. The band went to Yugoslavia to record a live album, imaginatively called Live In Yugoslavia, but even this was dogged by problems with the authorities insisting that references that Animal had made about recently deceased president Tito be removed from the master tapes, and any language which they deemed to be offensive be bleeped (including a few "when’s", "it’s" and "ands" according to Animal!).
By 1984, things were not looking too good. PJ quit, unable to cope with the pressures of the drugs and alcohol lifestyle the band were now leading and they were musically inactive. 1985 saw Michael Bettel on the drums, followed in 1986 by JB (Jonathan Birch). During this time they signed for GWR Records, and recorded the Perfect Crime album. However, once again there were problems, when GWR refused to put up the money to finish the album once they heard its rough cut, and it was released unfinished to try to get back some of the money already invested in it. This was the final straw, and in 1987 ANWL disbanded. There was a "Farewell" show in 1989.
Fast forward to 1992, and Animal was working on his car, in the rain. The phone went, and it was JB, with the news that Metallica wanted Animal to guest at Wembley Arena, when they did their cover of 'So What'. Apparently Animals response was "Who the fuck are Metallica?, and anyway I'm working on my car!!" JB phoned back later, and managed to persuade Animal to do the slot. Animal put it thus on ANWL's website. "As I waited on the edge of the stage waiting to go on it suddenly dawned on me I was just about to stand in front of 10,000 punters who didn’t know me from Adam and sing a song that I couldn’t fucking remember………….all that kept running through my head was RUN you silly old fucker!". However, after the show, the bug had bitten again. Mark joined that year on Lead Guitar, and 1993 - 1995 was spent playing gigs in the small venues the band had started out in. In 1996, they signed up with Impact Records and recorded their next album Pig Iron. Beef also joined the band after Mark's departure.
1997 saw another personnel change when Winston left the band to be replaced by Jon Jon, and recording the album Scum.
Danny joined on drums in 1998.
The album Out Of Control was released a year later in 1999 2001 Magoo quit playing live shows.
2002 - now.... Jon Jon, Beef and Danny all left, to be replaced by PJ (original drummer), Jez, and Shady. This lineup of the band is still going as of April 2006.
Medication
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cuz I wont be a problem anymore.
I'll be a good little boy, I'll be your perfect little toy,
But please, don't inject me anymore!
Medication – It's time for your medication.
Ah, the needle feels so thick, and these pills they make me sick,
And I promise not to run, or go searching for the sun.
So please, lock me up and go away!
Medication – It's time for your medication.
(Don't be difficult now – we don't want to get the doctor do we?)
And when I'm old and grey, we will all look back and say;
"Oh it's been such a lovely, lovely day".
But don't be so assured, if you think that I am cured.
So inject me once again, for the/that good old days!
(Medication) – It's time for my medication! – (It's time for your medication).
(?) – (?)down the hole – (hold him down nurse, hold him down). - (?) – (?)down the hole
The lyrics of Anti-Nowhere League's song, "Medication," are a cry for help from someone who feels they are being overmedicated and do not want to be controlled anymore. The singer in the song is pleading with their captors to not inject them with medication anymore. They promise to be a good little boy and a perfect little toy if they are not subjected to further injections or pills. The singer fears the thick needle and the sickness caused by the pills, thus they beg to be locked up and left alone.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Medication - It's time for your medication," indicating the singer is being forced to take drugs for some ailment they are suffering from. The last verse of the song is particularly disturbing, as it reveals that even in old age, the singer will still be injected with drugs to keep them subdued. The song ends with the plea for medication again.
"Medication" is a song that many people can relate to, as it speaks to the fear of being overmedicated and losing control of your own body and mind. It is a call to listen to people who are struggling with mental health issues and to work with them to find solutions that do not involve locking them up and drugging them. It is a poignant reminder that sometimes, the cure can be worse than the disease.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, please don't inject me, inspect me or protect me,
The singer is apprehensive about being injected or examined or given protection, indicating some kind of forced medical procedure or mental institution.
'Cuz I wont be a problem anymore.
The singer implies they will comply with their medical treatment only to assure those handling them they are not problematic.
I'll be a good little boy, I'll be your perfect little toy,
The singer is acquiescent to surroundings for the sake of structure and possibly to avoid punishment.
But please, don't inject me anymore!
Despite the initial acquiescence, the artist is still opposed to being injected.
Ah, the needle feels so thick, and these pills they make me sick,
The artist is uncomfortable with medical treatments, indicating negative side effects and potential fear of needles.
So you know I'll be a good boy here today.
The singer is willing to comply with medical treatment but not indefinitely.
And I promise not to run, or go searching for the sun.
The singer won't attempt to escape and is obedient, relinquishing freedom for perceived safety.
So please, lock me up and go away!
The artist is willing to be restrained for compliance.
And when I'm old and grey, we will all look back and say;
Future nostalgia/looking back on memories and experiences.
"Oh it's been such a lovely, lovely day".
Positive memories of a day experienced in the past.
But don't be so assured, if you think that I am cured.
Despite compliance, the singer implies that their medical issue perhaps cannot be cured and could resurface.
So inject me once again, for the/that good old days!
The artist is resigned to the cycle of being medicated and no longer opposes it.
(Medication) – It's time for my medication! – (It's time for your medication).
The chorus seems to be a voice from a caretaker or authority figure rather than the singer, reinforcing the insitutionalization of the patient.
(?) – (?)down the hole – (hold him down nurse, hold him down).
The final lines of the song seem to depict the singer becoming nonverbal and perhaps violent or unstable, requiring more restraining than before.
Contributed by Kayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Harley Fishlock
AS A LIFE LONG LOVER OF ANL AND A SCHITCHOPHRENIC PART WAY THROUGH I LOVE ANL FOR THIS HUMOUROUS SONG. TAKE YOUR MEDICATION EVERYONE
michael nixson
Having stayed in the nut house more than once, this brings back some memories...! I met some of the sanest people ever in there and I’m not joking.
steven knight
brilliant album anti nowhere league the road to rampton
WOODY CFC
Turned into an 80's Rock band lol first saw them in London 1981 first band on On an aldayer.
Fabrício Nascimento
Its time for your medicatication ♫ nice song haha
malcolm scally
55 and on arthritis medication now :)
ANIMAL MOTHER DK
ERM what happened to the league????
Jennifer Tingelöf - TRUE CRIME
If the medication just would work, it make my symptoms better for a little bit but I won't be well and normal. My doctor said that you can't treat bpd, I'll have it for life and the medication can just make it a bit bearable... I will always be a problem...
vanja mihalić
@Jennifer Tingelöf - TRUE CRIME Well it is not the end of the world.
Not one person is absolutely normal. You just know your diagnosis. I have PTSD chr. And I am still here.
Don't let your problems lead you through life.
Jennifer Tingelöf - TRUE CRIME
@vanja mihalić Borderline Personality Disorder