One of the first Oi! bands, Cock Sparrer was playing loud, raw, Cockney wor… Read Full Bio ↴One of the first Oi! bands, Cock Sparrer was playing loud, raw, Cockney working-class anthems as early as the first wave of British punk, although record company difficulties prevented them from issuing much material until the early '80s, when the Oi!movement was well underway. The group formed in London's East End in 1975, originally as a hard-edged pub rock combo in the vein of Dr. Feelgood. Four of the members -- vocalist Colin McFaull, guitarist Mick Beaufoy, bassist Steve Burgess, and drummer Steve Bruce -- had been schoolmates since age 11, and had been playing together in cover bands three years prior. They were joined by rhythm guitarist Gary Lammin (Burgess' cousin), and soon began playing the Bridgehouse Pub in Canning Town on a regular basis. The emergence of the Sex Pistols presented an opportunity to further toughen up their sound, which sparked a brief interest from Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren that didn't end up amounting to much. In 1977, Cock Sparrer signed with Decca Records (which had already landed another proto-Oi! band in Slaughter & the Dogs) and recorded their debut single, "Runnin' Riot," which was followed by a cover of the Rolling Stones' "We Love You." However, disagreements with Decca led to the sense that the band's simple, basic, street-level sound wasn't really understood; as a result, their self-titled debut was, for some reason, issued only in Spain. Lammin left the group to pursue an acting career not long after, and a frustrated Cock Sparrer went on an unofficial hiatus.

By the early '80s, bands like Sham 69, the Angelic Upstarts, and the Cockney Rejects had transformed the working-class punk sensibility into a Cockney-dominated subgenre dubbed Oi! As early progenitors of the scene, Cock Sparrer was in demand once again, especially after their song "Sunday Stripper" appeared on an Oi! compilation. They began gigging again and quickly landed a record deal, resulting in the 1982 hit single "England Belongs to Me," which struck a chord during the middle of the Falklands War. Cock Sparrer's official U.K. debut album, Shock Troops, was also released in 1982 and became a long-standing Oi! favorite. Guitarist Beaufoy left the band in 1983 and was replaced by the tandem of Chris Skepis (rhythm) and Shug O'Neill (lead). This lineup recorded the follow-up album, 1984's Runnin' Riot in '84, but Skepis and O'Neill both departed shortly thereafter. Beaufoy rejoined briefly for the Live & Loud album, released in 1987, but disagreements within the band and (again) with their record company precipitated another breakup.

In late 1992, Cock Sparrer was invited to play a reunion gig at the Astoria, near Charing Cross. The appearance of over 2,000 fans stunned the band into a full-fledged reunion, featuring the original quartet of McFaull, Beaufoy, Burgess, and Bruce, plus new rhythm guitarist Daryl Smith. In early 1994, Cock Sparrer released Guilty as Charged, their first album of all-new material in a decade. The odds-and-ends EP Run Away followed in 1995, featuring live and studio recordings; the proper follow-up to Guilty as Charged, Two Monkeys, was released in 1997, with rumors that it would be the band's last album featuring all new material. A spate of compilations and live recordings followed during the next few years, with the band continuing to tour extensively, hitting the U.S. in 2000.

Anthem
Cock Sparrer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me your hopes, give me your dreams
Give me your conscience and your fears
I'll keep them safe, I'll hold them dear
And I'll believe in you

When you're blind I'll be your eyes
When you're weak I'll carry you
When hope is gone I'll pull you through

And I'll believe in you

In darkest hours, in troubled times
Through seas of fire and fields of lies
When all is lost in clouds of pain
I'll be your comfort and your guide

When all around the battles rage
Remember you were born to be free
I'm in your blood, your part of me
And I'll believe in you

In darkest hours, in troubled times
Through seas of fire and fields of lies
When all is lost in clouds of pain
I'll be your comfort and your guide

So when you need me there just call
When your back's against the wall

I'll never let you fall
And I'll believe in you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cock Sparrer's song Anthem convey a message of unwavering support, loyalty, and encouragement to the listener. The song is an anthem of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The first verse opens with an earnest plea to the listener to share their hopes, dreams, conscience, and fears with the singer. The singer pledges to keep these prized possessions safe and dear and to believe in the listener.

The subsequent verses describe the singer's vow to be the listener's eyes when they are blind, to carry them when they are weak, and to pull them through when hope is gone. The singer goes on to declare that they will be the listener's comfort and guide through the darkest hours, troubled times, seas of fire, fields of lies, and clouds of pain. The chorus repeats the message of unwavering support and belief in the listener, and the final verse reassures the listener that they need only call on the singer when they need help.

Overall, the song is an uplifting message of solidarity and support. It reminds the listener that they are not alone in their struggles and that there is always someone who cares for them.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me your hopes, give me your dreams
I want you to share with me all your aspirations and ambitions, your deepest desires and longings.

Give me your conscience and your fears
I also want you to share with me all your doubts, anxieties, and worries, the things that keep you up at night.

I'll keep them safe, I'll hold them dear
You can trust me to protect and cherish all that you've shared with me. I'm here for you.

And I'll believe in you
I have faith in you, in your ability to overcome any obstacle, to realize your full potential, and to achieve your dreams.

When you're blind I'll be your eyes
If you ever find yourself lost or confused, I'll help you see the way forward, the path that leads to success and happiness.

When you're weak I'll carry you
You don't have to go through life's challenges alone. I'll support you, I'll uplift you, and I'll help you persevere.

When hope is gone I'll pull you through
Even if you feel like giving up, I won't. I'll always be there to remind you of your worth, your strength, and your resilience.

In darkest hours, in troubled times
Life can be tough at times, but I'll never leave you alone. My support and encouragement stay with you even when things get rough.

Through seas of fire and fields of lies
There may be obstacles in your way that seem impossible to overcome, but I'll help you navigate through them with courage, honesty, and integrity.

When all is lost in clouds of pain
Sometimes the pain of a situation can be all-consuming and it feels like there is no way out, but I'll stay by your side, through the bad and the worst of it.

I'll be your comfort and your guide
I'll provide you with solace and support, and I'll help you make the right decisions that will lead to a brighter future and a better life.

So when you need me there just call
I'm available to you, no matter where you are, and no matter the time of the day, if you need me, I'm here for you.

When your back's against the wall
Sometimes the world feels like it's against you, that you're fighting uphill battles, but whatever the situation is, we'll face it together.

I'll never let you fall
I'll be there to catch you, to pick you up when you stumble, and to ensure that you're always moving forwards, towards success and happiness.

And I'll believe in you
I will always have faith in your abilities, your potential, and your courage. You can count on me to be your biggest cheerleader.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDRE BELL, JAMES TODD SMITH, JANICE UPCHURCH, MARLON WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS