China Crisis is a British pop/rock group formed in 1979 in Kirkby on Mersey… Read Full Bio ↴China Crisis is a British pop/rock group formed in 1979 in Kirkby on Merseyside, with a core band of vocalist/keyboardist Garry Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon. They've produced pop music similar in style to that of the new romantic movement. Yet they've also had strong similarities to the post-punk movement of the early 80s, particularly inclusion of a broader range of musical influences and occasional flirtation with political commentary.

Sharing an affection for Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Brian Eno, Daly and Lundon had become burned out from playing with various Knowsley post-punk groups. Daly quit school and then spent much of his time indoors tinkering with synthesizers and a drum machine. Along with Lundon, Daly began writing songs using his high-tech toys. Feeling creatively stifled by the drum machine, the pair eventually asked percussionist Dave Reilly to join them, and in 1982 they released the single "African & White" as China Crisis on the independent label Inevitable. Later re-released by Virgin Records, "African & White" was also China Crisis' first hit in the U.K..

Throughout their career, China Crisis has seen moderate success in the United Kingdom, western Europe, Australia,Philippines and the Americas. Adding Gary "Gazza" Johnson and Kevin Wilkinson to the lineup, they recorded their debut album Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms. Another single, "Christian", hit U.K. #12, followed by two singles from second album, Working with Fire and Steel Possible Pop Songs, Vol. 2.

China Crisis spent 1984-1985 making their biggest chart run, beginning with their first top-ten hit, "Wishful Thinking". Third album Flaunt the Imperfection was produced by the sympathetic Walter Becker, and resulted in the hit singles "Black Man Ray" and "King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up)". The album was followed up in 1986 with What Price Paradise, though China Crisis worked with Becker once more on 1989's Diary of a Hollow Horse, which earned critical raves though not much commercial movement.

Sometimes misunderstood by critics, China Crisis distinguished themselves from Liverpudlian peers like Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Teardrop Explodes, and Echo & The Bunnymen by digesting a cornucopia of musical genres, everything from jazz to progressive rock. Despite the stylistic deviations, China Crisis maintained their distinctive sound through a number of albums in the '80s and '90s. Tragically, Wilkinson hanged himself on July 17, 1999. In 2000, Daly contributed a track to a tribute compilation to Wilkinson, Green Indians.

Bigger The Punch I'm Feeling
China Crisis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Taken in by what you see
And what you want
You want for free
And could it be
You could be wrong
Are we as weak as you are strong

Why do you do that poor man thing

Why do you do that poor man

All of my life it's as sharp as the
Bigger the punch I'm feeling

You could be close to
The way you want to
Why do you do that poor man
There ain't no self doubt
You know no way out
Why do you do that poor man

Why do you do that poor man thing
Why do you do that poor man

All of my life it's as sharp as the
Bigger the punch I'm feeling

Overcome by what you say
And what you want
Is your own way
And could it be

I could be right
You only see life's black or white

Overall Meaning

"Bigger The Punch I'm Feeling" is a song that explores themes of materialism and social hierarchy while also acknowledging the complexities of human nature. The first verse describes how people can be taken in by appearances and desires, and how easy it is to mistake strength for weakness. The chorus repeats the phrase "why do you do that poor man thing," which could refer to trying to emulate people of higher status or trying to appear wealthy despite limited means. The second verse shifts the perspective to the singer, who questions the motivations of those around him and wonders if they are only interested in their own wants and needs. The song closes by suggesting that life can be more nuanced than just black or white.

Line by Line Meaning

Taken in by what you see
You are swayed by appearances

And what you want
You are influenced by your desires

You want for free
You want things but do not want to work for them

And could it be
Is it possible that

You could be wrong
Your current perspective might not be correct

Are we as weak as you are strong
Are we easily influenced by you who seem so strong?

Why do you do that poor man thing
Why do you pretend to be poor when you are not

All of my life it's as sharp as the
Throughout my life, I have been keenly aware of

Bigger the punch I'm feeling
The greater the impact or influence I feel

You could be close to
You have the potential to be

The way you want to
Achieve your desires