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.
Woman
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in love in you
My love is deep
My love is true
To you, woman, I'm in love
Your hair's so soft
Your eyes are blue
And I'll be true to you
Woman, I'm in love with you
You came to me in a dream, I'm sure
You gave your love, you gave much more to me
Woman
Will you marry me?
Do you take this woman
To be your lawful wedded wife
To love and to cherish
And in sickness and in health
Till death do you part?
I do.
Till death us do part [6x]
What's that you just said to me
You didn't love me like this yesterday
Woman
I don't understand
And what's that you did say to me
I guess this love is just more to me
Woman
You're annoying me
Yeah, you're sitting on your arse in your dirty clothes
You're looking a mess, you're picking your nose
Woman
You're a fucking mess
Your tits are big but your brains are small
Sometimes I wonder you got any brains at all
Woman
Ah stuff yourself
Well fuck you, fuck you
Don't you tell me what to do
Woman
Ah fuck off
I've got my deed, I've married you
What did I do to deserve you?
Woman
Why me?
Woman
Woman
Woman
Woman
Woman
I hate you
The song "Woman" by the Anti-Nowhere League follows a man's declaration of his love for a woman, expressing his adoration for her physical features and pledging to devote himself to her forever. The opening lines set the tone for the romantic sentiments that the man feels towards his love interest. He describes his love as deep and true. The following lines list the woman's desirable traits, such as her soft hair, blue eyes, and warm skin. Eventually, he asks the woman to marry him, emphasizing his commitment to being her loyal and devoted husband in sickness and in health until death separates them.
However, the woman's reaction is not what he expects. She appears to be dismissive and annoyed, criticizes his apartment and appearance, and even insults him. The man's initial declaration of love turns sour, and he begins to express his hatred for her. The song's lyrics reveal the complicated nature of love and relationships, capturing the intensity of feelings from infatuation to disillusionment.
Interestingly, the song's explicit language and controversial subject matter stirred controversy upon its release. Despite this, the song became a fan favorite and a cult classic, highlighting the punk rock era's themes of rebellion, anger, and dissent.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
I'm in love in you
The singer is deeply and truly in love with the woman
My love is deep
The singer's love for the woman is profound and meaningful
My love is true
The singer's love for the woman is genuine and pure
To you, woman, I'm in love
The singer declares his love for the woman
Your hair's so soft
The singer admires the softness of the woman's hair
Your eyes are blue
The singer appreciates the woman's beautiful blue eyes
Your skin is warm
The singer likes the warmth of the woman's skin
And I'll be true to you
The singer promises to remain faithful to the woman
Woman, I'm in love with you
The singer declares his love for the woman
You came to me in a dream, I'm sure
The singer dreamt about the woman
You gave your love, you gave much more to me
The woman expressed her love to the singer in the dream
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Will you marry me?
The singer proposes to the woman
Do you take this woman
The officiant asks the groom if he accepts the bride
To be your lawful wedded wife
The officiant asks the groom if he will marry the bride legally
To love and to cherish
The officiant asks the groom if he will love and care for the bride
And in sickness and in health
The officiant asks the groom if he will support the bride in any situation
Till death do you part?
The officiant asks the groom if he will remain married to the bride until one of them dies
I do.
The groom accepts the bride's hand in marriage
Till death us do part [6x]
A reminder that the marriage will last until death
What's that you just said to me
The singer doesn't understand what the woman said
You didn't love me like this yesterday
The woman's behaviour has changed since the singer proposed marriage
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
I don't understand
The singer is confused by the woman's words and actions
And what's that you did say to me
The singer is still confused by the woman's words
I guess this love is just more to me
The singer is hurt that the woman doesn't feel the same way about him
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
You're annoying me
The woman is irritating and frustrating the singer
Yeah, you're sitting on your arse in your dirty clothes
The singer is upset at the woman's unkempt state
You're looking a mess, you're picking your nose
The singer is disgusted by the woman's unhygienic habits
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
You're a fucking mess
The singer expresses his frustration at the woman's behaviour and appearance
Your tits are big but your brains are small
The singer insults the woman's intelligence
Sometimes I wonder you got any brains at all
The singer doubts the woman's intellectual capacity
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Ah stuff yourself
The singer tells the woman to go away
Well fuck you, fuck you
The singer is angry and cursing the woman
Don't you tell me what to do
The singer resents the woman's attempts to control him
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Ah fuck off
The singer tells the woman to go away
I've got my deed, I've married you
The singer reminds the woman that they are married
What did I do to deserve you?
The singer is questioning why he married the woman
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Why me?
The singer is regretful and questioning his decision to marry the woman
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
Woman
The singer addresses the woman
I hate you
The singer expresses his hatred for the woman
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Clive Blake, Nicholas John Culmer, Chris Exall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Threesocks Morgan
I just found this song. I had no idea there was a song that so accurately describes my marriage
Angela Elsender
I'm afraid it describes most birds me included
paul hardman
For some reason my wife wouldn't let me play this at our wedding reception 2 weeks ago.
Dave Poole
I had the same idea but my girlfriend's put the kybosh on any thoughts of this being out first dance.
Peter Lancaster
😉👍
Michael Vance
It's because she wants you defenseless!!! She won't even let you have your music cuz it's all about HER
stephen allison
This song is timeless...a source of solace and comfort to millions who have either parted with their loved ones or longing for them. It's so peaceful and ensuring. It will never lose its charm, depth, affection and warmth. It takes you back and forth to your childhood, youth, middle age and old, happiness, sorrows, laughter and tears....hope and joy.
Gökhan Y.
Most realistic love song ever written.
Handsome Jack
Was thinking same thing
Jimi H
@Kristina Wilde
😂😂😂😂👍