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.

Spirit of '76
Cock Sparrer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It’s the hottest summer anyone can remember
Everybody knows something’s gonna start
This fella sings with a hundred and one reasons
For you to give him the keys, the keys to your heart
Guitars crash land in flames from hell
With bullets for rich or poor
A voice rings out like a bell
Cutting trough the chaos of hate and war

Back to basics, guitar picks, drumsticks – spirit of ‘76
Sceptics, slapsticks, limericks and plastics – spirit of ‘76
Convicts, ethnics, mavericks and beatniks – spirit of ‘76
Psychics, mystics, politics and con tricks – spirit of ‘76

While Mister Nasty makes enemies of new statesmen
And others jam with soul but nothing new
And Yankee cars play the same old, on the stereo
He walks up to the mike and he shows us what to do
Music like this can kick down doors
Dressed in rags with style
They don’t believe the truth no more
A white riot leaves them bleeding in the aisles

Back to Basics, guitar picks, drumsticks – spirit of ‘76
Sceptics, slapsticks, limericks and plastics – spirit of ‘76
Convicts, ethnics, mavericks and beatniks – spirit of ‘76
Psychics, mystics, politics and con tricks – spirit of ‘76

And nothing’s gonna be the same again
Said nothing’s gonna be the same again

Music like this can kick down doors
Dressed in rags with style

They don’t believe the truth no more
A white riot leaves them bleeding in the aisles

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cock Sparrer's "Spirit of '76" describe a chaotic and tense situation in the midst of a scorching summer. The opening lines establish a sense of unease and anticipation, with the suggestion that something is about to happen. The singer then introduces a character who is trying to win over the affection of a lover with his songs. As the chaos and violence around them intensifies, the singer raises his voice above the fray with a message of unity and rebellion.

The chorus of the song expresses a sense of inclusivity, listing off various groups of people who are all united in their love of music and their desire for something more. The final verse touches on the idea of political disillusionment, with the suggestion that the truth has been lost amid the chaos and confusion. The song ends on a note of defiance, suggesting that the spirit of rebellion and revolution embodied by the summer of 1976 will have a lasting impact.

Overall, "Spirit of '76" is a powerful anthem that speaks to the desire for change and the power of music to unite people in pursuit of a common goal. It captures a moment in time when tensions were high and the future felt uncertain, and it remains relevant today as a reminder of the need to stand up and fight for what we believe in.

Line by Line Meaning

It’s the hottest summer anyone can remember
The summer is unusually hot and memorable for everyone.

Everybody knows something’s gonna start
People anticipate that something significant is going to happen soon.

This fella sings with a hundred and one reasons For you to give him the keys, the keys to your heart
The singer, with his convincing voice, tries to persuade listeners to open up emotionally to him.

Guitars crash land in flames from hell With bullets for rich or poor A voice rings out like a bell Cutting trough the chaos of hate and war
The music is intense and impactful, expressing political and social turmoil through the well-delivered voice of the singer that stands out amid the noise of the instruments.

Back to basics, guitar picks, drumsticks – spirit of ‘76
The band's ethos is a return to the essential elements of rock and roll music, represented by basic instruments like guitar picks and drumsticks, reminiscent of the musical style from America's bicentennial year, 1976.

Sceptics, slapsticks, limericks and plastics – spirit of ‘76
The band welcomes a mix of individuals from different backgrounds, including skeptics, comedians, poets, and people of diverse materialistic interests, fostering the true spirit of the '76 movement.

Convicts, ethnics, mavericks and beatniks – spirit of ‘76
The band unites people from all walks of life, including convicted felons, people of different ethnic backgrounds, unconventional thinkers, and bohemians, promoting the inclusive spirit of the '76 movement.

Psychics, mystics, politics and con tricks – spirit of ‘76
The band's audience comprises believers in supernatural phenomena, mystics, politically engaged individuals, and those who distrust established institutions, aligning with the alternative thinking style that characterized the '76 movement.

While Mister Nasty makes enemies of new statesmen And others jam with soul but nothing new And Yankee cars play the same old, on the stereo He walks up to the mike and he shows us what to do
While other musicians align themselves with the status quo, a singer approaches the microphone with originality and purpose to inspire his audience with new ideas.

And nothing’s gonna be the same again Said nothing’s gonna be the same again
After listening to the transformative music of the band, nothing can be viewed the same way as before, and people may be inspired to make changes in their lives or society.

Music like this can kick down doors Dressed in rags with style They don’t believe the truth no more A white riot leaves them bleeding in the aisles
The raw and authentic music played by the band can bring about significant changes, and those who dress unconventionally are also part of the movement. The white riot represents the backlash from those opposing progress, which can be violent and hurtful.

Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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