They are commonly regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement and the punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock genres in general. They are primarily remembered for their singles, a string of would-be hits that combined a strong grasp of pop song craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece" The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love?" remains one of their best-known songs.
The name "Buzzcocks" partially comes from the Manchester slang term cock meaning youngster, and its use in the 1970s ITV drama serial Rock Follies which included the catch phrases "that's the buzz, cocks" and "give me a buzz, cock!"
Buzzcocks were one of the key first generation British punk rock bands to form in the wake of the Sex Pistols in 1976. They were founded by Mancunians Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, however Devoto left soon after the group released their Spiral Scratch EP (on their own independent label), leaving Shelley to take over vocals.
They are best known for their catchy, poppy punk sound, which has been widely influential, which was adopted as Peter Shelley took over on the vocals, singing about what the whole punk rock scene opted not to sing about: love. Devoto in the meanwhile formed Magazine.
They rehearsed in a friend's kitchen and played at the all-day 100 club punk "festival", in London. At the end of 1977 the band signed to United Artists and released "Orgasm Addict", with Shelley's high-pitched vocal delivery and Ramones-esque fuzz-guitar sound ensuring the controversial single would be played over again. Later came "What Do I Get?" which hit the UK charts and showed Shelley's brilliance in songwriting.
An LP was then released, Another Music in a Different Kitchen which came with its own carrier bag, labelled "Product". In 1978-79 five chart-hitting singles were released including "Ever Fallen in Love?" and had captured a pop-loving audience by this time. Love Bites, their second LP was released later on, which had less excitement than the last album, though it did sell well, with Steve Diggle taking over lyric-writing.
October 1979 saw A Different Kind of Tension which was panned by some critics, quite unfairly, as it contains some excellent songs, the title track being the stand-out. It perhaps suffered from being the second album to be released that year, with the record company keen to capitalise on the band's chart success at the time.
3 more singles followed in 1980, but the spark had clearly gone out for a while. Musical differences and the long slog behind them led to the band splitting in early 1981. Pete Shelley embarked in a solo career..
He released three dance/electronic influenced solo albums: Homosapien, XL1 and Heaven and The Sea - all with the same fine songwriting skills. Meanwhile, Steve Diggle formed Flag of Convenience - a power pop combo - and toured with some success.
A 5 album/CD set was released in 1989 called Product, which contained all the albums to date, plus the greatest hits and B sides album, Singles Going Steady, and the last non-album singles, Why She's A Girl From the Chainstore, Airwaves Dream and Running Free, plus the B sides
In 1992 the Buzzcocks reformed, without original drummer John Maher and bassist Steve Garvey, and releasd Trade Test Transmissions in 1993, quite different from their earlier material, with nods to the power pop scene popular at the time. All Set in 1996 saw a return to form with familiar riffs and pin sharp lyrics pop-punk. Next year Chronology was released, the missing album, including outtakes from the three United Artists albums. In 1999 they released Modern, which saw Shelley in reflective mode and Steve Diggle taking over more of the vocal duties.
Then followed another brief break in 2000, with Shelley teaming up with old band-mate Howard Devoto to release a largely disappointing album, Buzzkunst. Compilations followed, including Inventory in 2003, which contained every single to date, and 30 in 2005 to celebrate 30 years performing
2005 saw the Buzzcocks back touring and in 2007 they released the superb Flat Pack Philosophy, widely agreed to rank up with the best of Buzzcocks output
2008/9 saw a short tour where the band played tracks from Another Music and Love Bites.
In August 2011 they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.
In November 2011 it was announced they would be playing two shows in 2012 that would feature the original line-up as well as the classic line-up of the band reunited for the first time in many years; these shows took place on 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 Academy. It was announced on 26 May 2012 that, for the first time, they would headline Thursday night in the Empress Ballroom at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool sharing the stage with the likes of Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.
On 1 May 2014 Buzzcocks released the album The Way via PledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014 Buzzcocks played "a brief but triumphant set" at Riot Fest 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In October 2014 Buzzcocks toured the U.K. for three weeks with The Dollyrots as main support.
In 2016, the band embarked on their 40th-anniversary tour (dubbed "Buzzcocks 40"). In 2017, "Why Can't I Touch It" was featured in the opening segment of the Telltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.
Buzzcocks continue to be a huge influence on many bands and are still enjoyed by a large, and very loyal, fanbase.
Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018.
Do It
Buzzcocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blind as a fool who won't see
Suddenly taking control again
What could be happening to me
My only consolation
Is that someday you'll care
My source of inspiration
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it,do it,do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
Hestitate is there no end to it
So tired of living a lie
Time won't wait too late to start again
Wander while wondering why
My only consolation
Is that someday you'll care
Perverse sophistication
You won't get far if you're going nowhere
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
My only consolation
Is that someday you'll care
My source of inspiration
You don't get far if you're going nowhere
It's not infatuation
To hope that you're the one to care
My final consolation
You won't get far you're going nowhere
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
I can do it, do it, do it,do it
Here again playing the lonely game
Blind as a fool who won't see
Suddenly taking control again
What could be happening to me
My only consolation
Is that someday you'll care
My source of inspiration
You don't get far when you're going nowhere
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
Hestitate is there no end to it
So tired of living a lie
Time won't wait too late to start again
Wander while wondering why
My only consolation
Is that someday you'll care
Perverse sophistication
You won't get far if you're going nowhere
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
My only consolation
Is that someday you'll care
My source of inspiration
You don't get far if you're going nowhere
It's not infatuation
To hope that you're the one to care
My final consolation
You won't get far you're going nowhere
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Like the river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
I can do it, do it, do it, do it
Buzzcocks’s song “Do It” is a reflection of a deep sense of longing for validation and acceptance, as well as frustration with the feeling of being stuck in a meaningless, stagnant routine. The opening lines, “Here again playing the lonely game/ Blind as a fool who won't see/ Suddenly taking control again/ What could be happening to me,” suggest a sense of being lost and searching for direction. The singer finds some solace in the hope that someday they will find someone who cares for them, as seen in the lines, “My only consolation/ Is that someday you'll care/ My source of inspiration/ You don't get far when you're going nowhere.”
The song takes on a more hopeful tone in the chorus, which repeats the phrase “I can do it” over and over again, accompanied by an urge to move forward and break free from the sense of being stuck. The line “I can do it like the birds and the bees” in particular implies a sense of vitality and freedom, while the assertion “You won't get far you're going nowhere” represents the determination to avoid being trapped in a meaningless existence.
Overall, “Do It” is a powerful reflection on the universal human struggle to find meaning and direction in life, all while facing the ever-present threat of feeling stuck and trapped. The song’s message of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity is one that has resonated with generations of music lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
Here again playing the lonely game
Starting over from the beginning, alone
Blind as a fool who won't see
Ignoring the truth and refusing to see clearly
Suddenly taking control again
Seizing power and control in a sudden, unexpected manner
What could be happening to me
Wondering about a change that seems to be occurring
My only consolation
The one thing that brings comfort
Is that someday you'll care
Hope for the future, that someday someone will care
My source of inspiration
The thing that inspires and motivates
You don't get far when you're going nowhere
Lack of progress when there is no direction or goal
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Ability to persist and endure until daybreak
Like the river fills the sea
As naturally and relentlessly as a river fills the sea
I can do it, do it, do it like incessant drums
Ability to keep going like an unending beat of drums
I can do it like the birds and the bees
Capable of effortlessly and instinctively carrying out actions, like birds and bees do
Hesitate, is there no end to it
Questioning the constant hesitation and lack of decision-making
So tired of living a lie
Exhausted and fed up with pretending and deception
Time won't wait too late to start again
The urgency to restart and not waste any more time
Wander while wondering why
Travel aimlessly, while pondering the reason for things
Perverse sophistication
Twisted and corrupted form of sophistication
You won't get far if you're going nowhere
Lack of progress when there is no direction or goal
It's not infatuation
This is not just a simple crush or obsession
To hope that you're the one to care
Hoping for someone to reciprocate feelings and care
My final consolation
The last thing that brings comfort
You won't get far you're going nowhere
Lack of progress when there is no direction or goal
I can do it, do it, do it till the morning comes
Ability to persist and endure until daybreak
I can do it, do it, do it, do it
Repetition of the ability to persist and endure
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER SHELLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Local Resident Of Gorton Markets.
The most underrated band. They've never made a bad song!
Steven Fallon
First song off their comeback record. All The Buzzcocks newer albums are just as good as the old ones, they are still making great punk and still kill live. Seeing them again for the millionth time next month!
Ted Cantu
I never get sick of seeing these guys live or hearing about the new projects. These guys still deliver hands down.
Robert Caffrey
I always thought that Petes voice was such a huge part of buzzcocks sound, a very distinctive and melodic voice kind of deadpan but full of life.. R.i.P Mr McNeish
Barnaby ap Robert
Why would anyone give this a thumbs down???
wilson alexandre alexandre
Muito boooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm !
David Waterhouse
RIP Pete ! You are a GOD in Manchester! dx
paulosclei
sonzera, RIP shelley
Fernando Yanmar
why thay had to use the phaser effect for ANYTHING in this song and all other from the album still demands an explanation, even so this is one of my favorite albums ever!
Guy-Paul Mitchell-Dwelly
Great video and re-mix. God I miss Pete