2021 sees the 25th Anniversary of Dodgy’s best selling album, Free Peace Sweet – a fan favourite and deemed a classic album of the era, spawning hits such as ‘In A Room’, ‘If You’re Thinking Of Me’, ‘Found You’ and of course, ‘Good Enough’ The band will be dipping into this album for their festival appearances across the Summer of 2021 and intend to celebrate it’s 26th Birthday next year with a series of celebratory shows and tour.
Dodgy’s 2012 comeback album ‘Stand Upright In A Cool Place’, was a long time coming, 15 years to be precise since the double platinum selling ‘Free Peace Sweet’. From the rave reviews and many media plaudits that were heaped upon ‘Stand Upright….’ it seemed that the original line up of the band had done the impossible – to reform and make a contemporary and relevant album that surpassed their previous work. Creating a sound with “golden harmonies and echoes of CSN&Y and Fleet Foxes”, and prompting The Word magazine to say “They’ve just made the record of their career by a country mile”, The Guardian described the album as a “revelation” whilst it went on to get 4**** reviews in Mojo, Uncut, Q, The Times, The Mirror and The Express.
In 2017 Dodgy released ‘What Are We Fighting For’ on Cherry Red Records, the fifth album from the original line-up of Nigel Clark, Mathew Priest and Andy Miller to amazing reviews and was the first collection of new material since their critically acclaimed reunion album, ‘Stand Upright In A Cool Place’ in 2012. It was also the first album to feature new member Stu Thoy on bass and also featured the incredible Vanessa Wilson-Best from Ultrasound.
Gigs and festival appearances have always been a crucial part of the Dodgy experience, for many they are the perfect festival band. The band have performed at most festivals worth their salt, such as Bestival, Isle of Wight, Camp Bestival, V Festival, Glastonbury, Reading, Beautiful Days, Hyde Park, Kendal Calling and many more across the UK and Europe.rtially helped fund the recording sessions.
Text from: https://www.lunartalent.com/celebrity-agency-rosters/live-roster/dodgy-band-agent/
You've Gotta Look Up
Dodgy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've gotta look up don't look down on me
You've gotta look up don't look down on me
Yeah !
Disrespecting me won't keep you alive
All the tricks you pulled and those you've tried
You've gotta look up don't look down on me
You've gotta look up don't look down on me
Yeah !
I wake up in the morning and it's a quarter to five
I breathe in deep to tell me I'm still alive
the state in education will make a monkey out of me
If I hang around any longer I'll be one of them
If I don't fit for your invitation
If I don't meet your expectation
your only thought demands to be treated
Just give me one in five
You've gotta look up , don't look down on me (repeat 4 times)
Don't look down on me !
Man you destroyed all you can
Ain't nothing left for you to do now
Aaaah, Aaaa
hang around the streets where I come from
There taking calls cause they're angry I'm singing my song
One mans victory is another jokers fun
all the houses around me are now gonna show
If I don't fit for your invitation
If I don't meet your expectation
your only thought demands to be treated
Just give me one in five
You've gotta look up , don't look down on me (repeat 4 times)
Don't look down on me !
Don't look down on me !
Don't look down on me !
Don't look down on me !
In Dodgy's song "You've Gotta Look Up," the singer is pleading with someone to stop disrespecting them and to start valuing them. The repeated phrase "You've gotta look up, don't look down on me" emphasizes the idea that the other person needs to recognize the singer's worth and treat them with respect. The singer also mentions how the state of education is making them feel like a "monkey" and how they don't fit in with societal expectations. The line "if I don't meet your expectation, your only thought demands to be treated, just give me one in five" highlights the pressure that the singer feels to conform to other people's standards.
The overall message of the song is one of empowerment and the importance of valuing oneself. The repeated plea to look up signifies a need to focus on the positive aspects of oneself and others, rather than focusing on flaws or shortcomings. The mention of inequality and pressure to conform highlights larger societal issues that can impact individuals' self-worth and confidence.
Line by Line Meaning
You've gotta look up don't look down on me
I demand respect so don't talk down to me or underestimate me.
Disrespecting me won't keep you alive
Treating me poorly will not work out for you in the end.
All the tricks you pulled and those you've tried
Your attempts to deceive or manipulate me have failed.
I wake up in the morning and it's a quarter to five
I am up early and working hard every day to advance in life.
I breathe in deep to tell me I'm still alive
I take a deep breath to remind myself that I am alive and determined to succeed.
The state in education will make a monkey out of me
The education system has failed me and is not properly preparing me for success.
If I hang around any longer I'll be one of them
If I continue to stay in my current environment, I will not be able to escape the cycle of poverty and struggle.
If I don't fit for your invitation
If I don't meet your standards or expectations,
If I don't meet your expectation
If I don't meet your standards or expectations,
Your only thought demands to be treated
You only care about being treated a certain way.
Just give me one in five
Just give me a chance or opportunity to prove myself.
Man you destroyed all you can
You have already caused damage and made things difficult for yourself.
Ain't nothing left for you to do now
There is no more you can do to make things better for yourself.
Hang around the streets where I come from
Stay in the neighborhood where I live.
There taking calls cause they're angry I'm singing my song
People in my community are angry that I am speaking out against the struggles we face.
One mans victory is another jokers fun
Some people find joy in other people's failures.
All the houses around me are now gonna show
All the struggles and problems in my community are going to become more apparent and visible.
Don't look down on me!
I demand respect and equality, so do not look at me with disrespect or condescension.
Contributed by Sophia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.