After banshee wailer Poly Styrene departed from X-Ray Spex, the remaining members held auditions for a replacement singer. Solo won the approval of a few of Styrene's former bandmates, and they debuted at the Music Machine on August 1979. Airport left the group before they even recorded their first single; he was replaced by Gary Steadman. In 1981, Classix Nouveaux released "Guilty," one of their most well-known tracks; the track was a Top-20 hit in Sweden and received interest in the U.K. as well as the U.S. The music video also received airplay on MTV.
A year later, the single "Is It a Dream" reached number 13 on the U.K. charts. Despite successful tours in Yugoslavia, Finland, and Poland, none of Classix Nouveaux's three albums truly catapulted them beyond cult status in Britain or America, getting lost in the shuffle of other new romantic groups that they had originally influenced. The band split up in 1985, and Solo started recording Christian music.
In 2021 band has reunited and released album with re-recorded songs from their back catalogue plus some new material in November 2023 entitled "Battle Cry"
No Sympathy No Violins
Classix Nouveaux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Men such as we have no feelings at all
So you assume when we step from the crowd
Deaf to the voice that objects aloud
We stand up proud
No sympathy (No violins)
For such as we (No violins)
No sympathy (No violins)
There's no escape from the look on your face
Cut me I bleed, give me cause and I'll cry
People don't change though you wonder why
We have to try
No sympathy... etc...
No sympathy (No violins)
For such as we (No violins)
There is no need (No violins) No sympathy
The lyrics to Classix Nouveaux's song "No Sympathy No Violins" tell the story of a person who feels misunderstood and alienated from society. The person is portrayed as someone who is hardened and emotionless ("Men such as we have no feelings at all"), someone who is used to being objectified and judged ("Stares that suggest we're an alien race"), yet who still longs for understanding and empathy ("Cut me I bleed, give me cause and I'll cry").
The chorus of the song features the line "No sympathy (No violins) for such as we", which suggests that the person does not want pity or sympathy, but rather acceptance and recognition of their humanity. The repeated reference to "No violins" in the chorus may be interpreted as a rejection of sentimentality or melodrama, emphasizing the need for a more honest and direct communication.
The song's overall message could be seen as a plea for more empathy and understanding in society, and a call to reject stereotypes and prejudices. The lyrics are complemented by a driving, energetic music that creates a sense of urgency and anger, highlighting the emotional intensity of the message.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't talk to me, I will talk to the wall
I am not interested in talking to you and would rather talk to a wall than engage in conversation with you.
Men such as we have no feelings at all
People like us are commonly seen as emotionless beings.
So you assume when we step from the crowd
People typically assume certain things about us when we stand out from the crowd.
Deaf to the voice that objects aloud
We cannot hear or are unwilling to hear the voices of those who object to us.
We stand up proud
Despite the negative assumptions people may have about us, we are proud of who we are.
No sympathy (No violins)
We do not want or need pity or sorrow from others.
For such as we (No violins)
People like us do not want sympathy from others.
Stares that suggest we're an alien race
People look at us as if we are fundamentally different or alien to them.
There's no escape from the look on your face
We cannot avoid or ignore the negative look on other people's faces when they encounter us.
Cut me I bleed, give me cause and I'll cry
Despite the common assumptions about us, we are still human and have the same emotional responses as anyone else would.
People don't change though you wonder why
People like us are not likely to change, regardless of others' wishes or desires.
We have to try
Despite the difficulties and challenges we face, we still make an effort to be ourselves and express our individuality.
No sympathy... etc...
We do not want or need sympathy from others.
No sympathy (No violins)
We do not want or need pity or sorrow from others.
For such as we (No violins)
People like us do not want sympathy from others.
There is no need (No violins) No sympathy
There is no reason or need for anyone to feel sympathy towards us.
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Clive Smith
"No Sympathy, No Violins" - Classix Nouveaux, 1981.
Don't talk to me, I will talk to the wall
Men such as we have no feelings at all
So you assume when we step from the crowd
Deaf to the voice that objects aloud
We stand up proud
No sympathy No violins
For such as we No violins
No sympathy No violins No!
Stares that suggest we're an alien race
There's no escape from the look on your face
Cut me I bleed, give me cause and I'll cry
People don't change though you wonder why
We have to try
No sympathy No violins
For such as we No violins
No sympathy No violins No!
No sympathy No violins
For such as we No violins
There is no need No violins No sympathy
No sympathy No violins
For such as we No violins
There is no need No violins No sympathy
No sympathy , For such as we, There is no need
john bambury
I love this period. best time of my life.. 1980-81-82-83
Anjana Dey Clark
Mine too!
kikehippo
Yeah, I agree. Music at that time is definitely better than nowadays, not just music. Some would argue that people with that attitude remember their youth, but I think that's only partially true.
klapsznita
Oooh I fell in love with this song!
Paulo Esteves
Great Sound!
Dana Guy
I so miss the "sound" of the 80's!
Anjana Dey Clark
Me too...that's why I listen to everything 80's I can find now... within reason!
promisedeyes
Excellent! :-D