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.
Secret Army
Cock Sparrer Lyrics
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Like a door to door salesman in the dead of night
Russian guns help him on his way
Bought with money from the USA
[Chorus]
And the ordinary people say what's it for
And the ordinary people say we want no more
He's in he secret army
And this man with a gun says not a sound
I want this aeroplane turned around
He spent his life learning how to fill a man with lead
He'll probably spend the rest of it dead.
[Chorus]
When a bomb goes off in a city street
When a man gets killed for his beliefs
When a mother cries for the son she had
That's when the world's gone mad
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
The song "Secret Army" by Cock Sparrer is a political track that speaks on the topic of war and how the common people are left at the mercy of the decisions made by people in power. The track focuses on the idea of the "secret army", and how it is funded to serve the purposes of the people in power. The verses speak of a man collecting funds for the holy fight, implying religious war or a larger cause, like fighting against communism, and how he hides his intentions in the dead of night, like a door to door salesman. He is aided by Russian guns, which were purchased with American money, highlighting the complex web of international relations that influence war.
The chorus of the song speaks to the frustration and helplessness experienced by the ordinary people who are left to suffer the consequences of these secret armies' actions. The lyrics imply that the real harm is caused by the people at the top who know what they are doing but choose to ignore the warnings of the common people. The second verse speaks of a man with a gun who can make an airplane turn around, conveying the idea of the power that rests in the hands of those who wield guns--they can make anyone do whatever they want them to do. The rest of the lyrics continue to highlight the horrors that arise from war and the destruction it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Collecting funds for the holy fight
Gathering money for a supposed religious war
Like a door to door salesman in the dead of night
Approaching people secretly for donations
Russian guns help him on his way
Receiving weapons from Russia to aid in the war effort
Bought with money from the USA
Purchasing the weapons with money from the United States
And the ordinary people say what's it for
The general public questions the purpose of the war
And the ordinary people say we want no more
The public expresses their desire for peace and an end to the conflict
But the man at the top knows where to do the most harm
The leader is aware of the most damaging actions to take
He's in he secret army
He is part of a covert military force
And this man with a gun says not a sound
An armed individual remains silent
I want this aeroplane turned around
Demanding the plane to change its course
He spent his life learning how to fill a man with lead
The person has dedicated their life to mastering the skill of killing
He'll probably spend the rest of it dead.
The individual will likely die in the same violent way they have lived
When a bomb goes off in a city street
Describing the aftermath of a bombing in a populated area
When a man gets killed for his beliefs
Detailing a situation where someone is murdered due to their beliefs
When a mother cries for the son she had
Depicting the painful loss a mother feels for her deceased child
That's when the world's gone mad
These tragic events signify the chaos and insanity in the world
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind