They had four distinct line-ups: Sydney in 1977–78, Melbourne in 1979] and two groupings in Berlin from 1985–1990. The only common member in all four line-ups was Bonney.
Other members included: former members of The Birthday Party (Mick Harvey and Rowland S. Howard); former Swell Maps drummer Epic Soundtracks; and Alexander Hacke from Einstürzende Neubauten.
Free World
Crime And The City Solution Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did Luther King ring
And said I have everything
I take what I need
Right for those who would succeed
In this land of righteous money
You will always look funny
The donkey and the rod
Such are the stakes
I bury my mistakes
Are we agreed
Oh yes we’re all agreed
Edward Low
Said I know, I know
There will be no king
We’re well rid of these things
In this land of milk and honey
No-one will ever be hungry
To have and to hold
To sell and be sold
To have and to hold
To sell and be sold
Choosers can’t be losers
Losers choose to lose
Choosers can’t be losers
Losers choose to lose
Well Luther King
Said what do you make of these things
All great men the same
One need lose that they may gain
All free worlds I fear are the same
Everyone’s looking for someone to blame
Edward Low was not pleased
Said Luther was a danger and a disease
He’d just have to leave
There will be no king
We’re well rid of these things
In this land of milk and honey
No-one will be hungry
To have and to hold
To sell and be sold
To have and to hold
To sell and be sold
Edward Low
Said to Luther the King
The following things
God smiles down
On this free-skinned man
The man that you are not
The man that I am
All great men the same
Only losers take the blame
Well Luther said what is this wrong
And this right
That casts such a narrow light
More a sickness than a sight
Edward Low I just don’t think you know
Where the free world is
Or even how you might live
The choices it gives
Goodbye Edward Low
Remember me as I go
There will be no king
We’re well rid of these things
In this land of milk and honey
Money will never be hungry
To have and to hold
To sell or be sold
Choosers can’t be losers
If they lose, if they lose
They choose to lose.
The lyrics of Crime And The City Solution's Free World depict a conversation between two men, Edward Low and Luther King. The song seems to be a commentary on the capitalist society we live in and its hierarchical nature. Edward Low, who appears to be a wealthy and powerful person, asserts that he takes what he needs and that those who want to succeed in this land of righteous money must do the same. He believes that in this world, money talks and that everyone must sell themselves to be sold. To him, choosers can't be losers, but losers choose to lose.
On the other hand, Luther King challenges Low's views and argues that everyone is looking for someone to blame in this free world. King, who seems to be a person of principles, believes that all great men are the same, and that the only difference is that some take the blame, while others don't. This appears to be a direct reference to the corrupt nature of power and privilege. Ultimately, King and Low part ways, and Low bids him farewell, claiming that there will be no king in this world.
Overall, Free World is a song that comments on the nature of power, privilege, and capitalism. It's a scathing critique of the hierarchical structure of society, where those on the top can do as they please and those at the bottom are left with nothing but their principles. It's a message to people everywhere to question the status quo and to fight for a more just and fair world, where everyone has a chance to succeed.
Line by Line Meaning
Well Edward Low
Introducing the character of Edward Low
Did Luther King ring
Luther King contacted Edward Low
And said I have everything
Luther King claimed to have everything
I take what I need
Luther King takes what he needs
Right for those who would succeed
Luther King takes what's right for those who would succeed
In this land of righteous money
Referring to the US as a land of righteous money
You will always look funny
You will always look funny in this land of righteous money
The donkey and the rod
Metaphorical reference to the power dynamic between the oppressed and the oppressor
The trader and the trod
Metaphorical reference to the capitalist exploiting the laborer
Such are the stakes
These are the risks involved
I bury my mistakes
I hide my mistakes
Are we agreed
Asking if everyone is in agreement
Oh yes we’re all agreed
Everyone is in agreement
Said I know, I know
Edward Low replied saying he knew
There will be no king
Edward Low claims there will be no king
We’re well rid of these things
We're better off without these things
In this land of milk and honey
Referring to the US as a land of opportunity
No-one will ever be hungry
No one will ever be hungry in this land of milk and honey
To have and to hold
The act of ownership over something
To sell and be sold
The capitalist system of buying and selling goods
Choosers can’t be losers
Those who have the power to choose cannot lose
Losers choose to lose
Those who lose do so by choice
Said what do you make of these things
Luther King asked Edward Low for his opinion
One need lose that they may gain
In order for someone to gain, someone else must lose
All free worlds I fear are the same
Luther King believes all free worlds are the same
Everyone’s looking for someone to blame
People are always looking for someone to blame when something goes wrong
Said Luther was a danger and a disease
Edward Low accused Luther King of being a danger and a disease
He’d just have to leave
Edward Low asked Luther King to leave
Said to Luther the King
Edward Low addressing Luther King
The following things
Referring to what he's about to say
God smiles down
Religious reference
On this free-skinned man
Referring to himself as a free-skinned man
The man that you are not
Edward Low claimed Luther King isn't a free-skinned man
Only losers take the blame
Edward Low claims only losers take the blame
Well Luther said what is this wrong
Luther King asked what is right and wrong
And this right
Referring to what's right
That casts such a narrow light
That only presents one side of the story
More a sickness than a sight
Something that's sickening to see
Edward Low I just don’t think you know
Luther King believes Edward Low doesn't understand
Where the free world is
The idea that there isn't a truly free world
Or even how you might live
Luther King questions Edward Low's understanding of how to live in a free world
The choices it gives
The freedoms that come with living in a free world
Goodbye Edward Low
Luther King bidding farewell to Edward Low
Remember me as I go
Luther King wanting to be remembered by Edward Low
If they lose, if they lose
Reiterating that those who lose do so by choice
They choose to lose.
The idea that losing is by choice
Contributed by Luke M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
edvinchicha
good idea!