In 1994, the duo expanded to a trio when Resque drummer Wez joined the band. In 1996, the band expanded further to include Salvatore Alessi of S*M*A*S*H on bass, Ben Lambert on keyboards, and Wez's brother Steve on guitar.
The groups most successful single, "The Only Living Boy in New Cross" from their UK #1 album "1992: The Love Album", reached #7 in the UK and #26 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in the United States.
Nowhere Fast
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It stands for care in the community
And I've got you to care for me
So I can care for you
The north and south are divided no more
So you and I can be equally poor
And all the things I love you for
And flattery will get you nowhere fast
What we need is a roof overhead
And old settee and a room with a bed
And old TV to feed your head
With news and films and soap
Maybe then we can try for a child
The news at 10 with a beautiful smile
A boy or girl to save the world
With peace and love for you
And peace and love
Will get you nowhere too
And I know that it won't be you
And you know it won't be me
This is the future and it starts with a C
It stands for care in the community
And I've got you to care for me
So I can care for you
The north and south are divided no more
So you and I can be equally poor
And all the things that I adore
Won't pay for food and gas
And flattery will get you nowhere fast
Nowhere Fast by Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine is a satirical song about the societal issues in the United Kingdom during the 1990s. The title itself is a metaphor for how fast society is headed towards a bleak, unpredictable future. The opening lines are cryptic; "This is our future and it starts with a C/It stands for care in the community." The C, in this case, is a reference to the policy of care in the community which aimed to provide care at home for the elderly, disabled, and mentally ill. However, the song suggests that this policy has put the burden on the families themselves, resulting in economic difficulties.
The next line, "And I've got you to care for me/So I can care for you," is an ironic take on the sentiment of mutual care. It highlights how people are forced to pay for each other's welfare in a system that is supposed to be collectively beneficial. The division of the north and south of the UK once again is a reference to the economic disparities in the country. The song says that now that the division is gone, no one is better off as they are "equally poor" and unable to afford the things they cherish.
The line "Flattery will get you nowhere fast" is a critique of the self-serving, empty promises made by the government to the citizens. The ending lines of the song restate the opening lines and reiterate the message that the future shall start with a C (care in the community), but it isn't only about mutual support; it is a call for the government to support its citizens' basic needs for housing, food, and education.
Line by Line Meaning
This is our future and it starts with a C
The future of our society is being dominated by the concept of 'care in the community.'
It stands for care in the community
The 'C' in the first line stands for 'care in the community.'
And I've got you to care for me
I have you to take care of me, which makes my life easier.
So I can care for you
This also means that I can take care of you when you need it.
The north and south are divided no more
The social and economic differences between the North and South regions are no longer applicable.
So you and I can be equally poor
Because of this, you and I can be on the same level of poverty.
And all the things I love you for
All the qualities that I love about you.
Won't pay for food and gas
However, those things won't help us cover our basic needs like food and fuel.
And flattery will get you nowhere fast
Empty praises will not lead to any substantial benefits.
What we need is a roof overhead
We need to have a shelter to protect us from external elements.
And old settee and a room with a bed
We also need some basic furniture and living space.
And old TV to feed your head
We could even use an old TV to get some information and entertainment.
With news and films and soap
We can get our daily dose of information, movies, and TV dramas.
Maybe then we can try for a child
Once we settle down, we might consider having a child.
The news at 10 with a beautiful smile
We can watch the news with a good anchor who has a pleasant face.
A boy or girl to save the world
Our child could make the world a better place.
With peace and love for you
Our child can bring us peace and love.
And peace and love
However, it won't help us solve practical problems.
Will get you nowhere too
Peace and love won't lead to any practical solutions.
And I know that it won't be you
I know that you aren't the best person for solving our material problems.
And you know it won't be me
Similarly, you know that I'm not great at practical problem-solving either.
This is the future and it starts with a C
Again, the future is dominated by the 'care in the community' ideology.
It stands for care in the community
And the 'C' still stands for 'care in the community.'
And I've got you to care for me
Once again, you are here to take care of me when I need it.
So I can care for you
So I can also take care of you too when you need it.
The north and south are divided no more
And once again, we're on the same level of poverty.
So you and I can be equally poor
Our economic conditions are the same.
And all the things that I adore
All the qualities that I love about you; I still love them.
Won't pay for food and gas
But they don't help us survive in a practical sense.
And flattery will get you nowhere fast
Empty praise is still useless in solving our problems.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES NEIL MORRISON, LESLIE GEORGE CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind