In 1985, the quartet debuted on record for the first time with The Dangling Man E.P., a self-produced EP quickly establishing the band's moody, atmospheric blues-based aesthetic. Former Swell Maps drummer Epic Soundtracks joined Crime after the EP's release, freeing Harvey to alternate among a variety of instruments for the haunting follow-up, Just South of Heaven. Their full-length bow Room of Lights appeared in 1986 and featured the remarkable "Six Bells Chime", which so impressed acclaimed filmmaker Wim Wenders that he invited the band to perform the song live in his 1988 masterpiece Wings of Desire.
By the time the film appeared, however, the incarnation of Crime & the City Solution presented onscreen was no more; after Room of Lights, the Howard brothers and Soundtracks exited to form These Immortal Souls, leaving Bonney, Harvey and violinist Bronwyn Adams (also Bonney's wife and songwriting partner) to relocate to Berlin, where they recruited a number of local musicians, including Einstürzende Neubauten guitarist Alexander Hacke, to cut 1988's ornate, intoxicating Shine. Even more baroque was the follow-up, 1989's The Bride Ship.
In 1990, Crime returned to the studio one final time to record Paradise Discotheque, a record built around Bonney's ambitious four-part suite "The Last Dictator", a song cycle inspired by the downfall of Romanian warlord Nicolae Ceaucescu. After contributing "The Adversary" to the soundtrack of Wenders' Until the End of the World, Crime & the City Solution disbanded; while Harvey rejoined former Birthday Party mate Nick Cave in the Bad Seeds, Bonney began work on his 1992 solo debut, Forever.
In late 2011 the band's rebirth was declared, that resulted in a brand new album American Twilight released in 2013.
Band Line-ups:
Sydney, 1977-1978
Simon Bonney - vocals
Don McLennan - drums
Harry Zanteni - guitar
Phil Kitchener - bass
Dave MacKinnon - soprano & tenor saxophone
Melbourne, 1979
Simon Bonney - vocals
Don McLennan - drums
Dan Wallace-Crabbe - guitar
Lindsay O'Meara - bass
Chris Astley - keyboards
Kim Beissel - alto saxophone
Berlin/London, 1985-1986
Simon Bonney - vocals
Mick Harvey - guitar
Rowland S. Howard - guitar
Harry Howard - bass
Epic Soundtracks - drums
Berlin, July 1987-1991
Simon Bonney - vocals
Mick Harvey - drums
Bronwyn Adams - violin
Chrislo Haas - synthesizer
Alexander Hacke - guitar
Thomas Stern - bass
NEW WORLD
Crime & The City Solution Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bought machine guns in a red red bar
Another one’s down
Another one’s down
Shoot him now
Shoot him now
There’ll be blue skies and sunshine
And a white picket fence around my home
You’re so wrong
The war goes on and on and on and on and on
You’re married to your downfall
Out of the wreckage the family crawls
Happy songs drift from the crater
Clean up, clean up
We’ll clean up later
The bad gate was old and full of sin
The good cop came and smashed it in
Another one’s down
Another one’s down
Shoot him now
Shoot him now
Well this tenement slum is full of losers
And losers can’t be choosers
No losers can’t be choosers
The New World is free
The New World is King
If the New World protects you
You’ll never win
Hark, I hear celestial music, golden harps
In paradise the money sings
In paradise the family is King
The family is King
The family is King
We’ll meet again
The lyrics to Crime & The City Solution's song "New World" are a commentary on the destructive nature of greed and violence. The song begins with a family driving to a bar to purchase machine guns, indicating their preparation for a war. They continue to shoot indiscriminately, as evidenced by the lines "Another one’s down, shoot him now." The family believes that their violent actions will lead to a peaceful future, symbolized by the "blue skies and sunshine" and "white picket fence" around their home. However, the singer recognizes the futility of their actions and declares "You’re married to your downfall."
The lyrics continue with references to "Happy songs" and "clean up," contrasting with the violent theme of the song. The idea of a "New World" is introduced, suggesting that there could be a better future for all, but only if it protects, rather than harms, its citizens. The final lines of the song, "The family is King, we'll meet again," imply that the cycle of violence will continue, with new generations taking up the same destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
The whole family took the car
The entire family left in their vehicle
Bought machine guns in a red red bar
They obtained weapons at a bar with red lighting
Another one’s down
Someone has been shot
Shoot him now
They are commanding someone to fire a gun
There’ll be blue skies and sunshine
They are looking forward to better times
And a white picket fence around my home
They expect a perfect life
Oh you’re so wrong
They are criticizing someone's views
The war goes on and on and on and on and on
The conflict has been ongoing
You’re married to your downfall
They believe someone is intentionally damaging themselves
Out of the wreckage the family crawls
The family survives through hardship
Happy songs drift from the crater
Despite devastation, they are optimistic
Clean up, clean up / We’ll clean up later
They are prioritizing other things over cleaning up immediately
The bad gate was old and full of sin
The entrance was in disrepair and associated with evil
The good cop came and smashed it in
A positive force destroyed the gate
Well this tenement slum is full of losers
The area is rundown and populated by unfortunate people
And losers can’t be choosers
The individuals don't have many options
The New World is free
A new era promises freedom
The New World is King
The society is ruled by the new era
If the New World protects you / You’ll never win
Survival isn't guaranteed in the new society
Hark, I hear celestial music, golden harps
The artist is hearing heavenly sounds
In paradise the money sings
Money equals happiness in paradise
In paradise the family is King / The family is King / The family is King
The family unit is held in high regard in paradise
We’ll meet again
They anticipate future encounters
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Spenser T
Epic.
Spenser T
Led Zep meets Postpunk ... the older I get the more I like Simon than Nick Cave. Better voice and NC just got way way to literary.
karager23
I agree, this music is way better than anything Nick did throughout his career with the exception of Birthday Party and his voice sounds like literally coming from the Cave too much ;)