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.
Where Are They Now?
Cock Sparrer Lyrics
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And I believed in Tommy and his written words of anarchy
And I believed in Joe when he said we had to fight
And I believed in Jimmy when he told us to unite
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they, six years on and they've all gone
Where are they now
Hollywood nights in Soho
Writing on the wall of The Roxy loo
Rotten on the telly
Showing what a few choice words can do
Was it ever worth it
Causing all the fuss
You know, I believed in them
Don't you believe in us
No more kids are innocent
We will get fooled again
Only faces ever change
The song remains the same
Was it ever worth it
Causing all the fuss
You know, I believed in them
Don't you believe in us
Where are they know....
The lyrics of Cock Sparrer's song "Where Are They Now" are a poignant reflection on the disillusionment that often accompanies growing up and realizing that the heroes and ideals we once fervently believed in may not have been as infallible as we once thought. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about the people who inspired him in his youth - Julie, Tommy, Joe, and Jimmy - and how he believed in their messages of rebellion, anarchy, and unity. However, six years later, he wonders where they are now and what happened to their movements. The song makes references to the punk rock scene in London's Soho, where the Roxy music club was located, and the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten, who was known for his controversial behavior on television.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly critical of the figureheads of the movements he once believed in. He questions whether their actions were truly worth the fuss they caused and whether they had any lasting impact. The lyric "no more kids are innocent" suggests a loss of naivety that comes with age, and the refrain "the song remains the same" implies a sense of disappointment in the lack of progress and change. The chorus "where are they now" repeats throughout the song, highlighting the singer's frustration and confusion at the disappearance of his childhood heroes.
Line by Line Meaning
I believed in julie when she said how easy it could be
I had faith in Julie and her promise of a simple solution
And I believed in Tommy and his written words of anarchy
I trusted Tommy and the radical ideas he expressed through his writing
And I believed in Joe when he said we had to fight
I had confidence in Joe's call to action and the need for a fight
And I believed in Jimmy when he told us to unite
I put my trust in Jimmy's plea for unity among our group
Where are they now
Now, years later, where have these once-trusted individuals gone?
Where are they now
I repeat the question in disbelief
Where are they, six years on and they've all gone
It's been six years since I last heard from them, and they've all vanished
Now it's all turned sour
The situation has deteriorated, and things have not turned out as expected
Hollywood nights in Soho
I remember nights of excitement and glamour in Soho
Writing on the wall of The Roxy loo
I recall the graffiti on the walls of The Roxy bathroom
Rotten on the telly
I see how these once-inspiring individuals have turned corrupt and lost their way
Showing what a few choice words can do
Their choice of words and actions have led to a negative outcome
No more kids are innocent
The youth are no longer naive and innocent
We will get fooled again
We are bound to make the same mistakes and be deceived again
Only faces ever change
The people in charge may change, but the issues and problems remain the same
The song remains the same
The message and theme of the song still hold true
Was it ever worth it
I question the value of what we all believed in and fought for
Causing all the fuss
I question if all the commotion and uproar was worth it
You know, I believed in them
I admit that I, too, believed in them
Don't you believe in us
I urge others to continue believing in our cause and not lose hope
Where are they know....
I repeat the question one last time, still searching for answers
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind