Said production was based on a previous U.K. miners' strike. "Only You", their debut single, was the British Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top, and it also did well around Europe. Ironically enough, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, fighting an acrimonious political battle with unions at the time, said that the single was one of her favorite songs. A second single, a cover of the soul classic "When You're Young and in Love" by Van McCoy, reached number seven, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' track "Who's That Girl?", barely charted at all.
Joining Hibbard in the Flying Pickets were Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson, and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins). They were internationally renowned for their appearances: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripes thick eyeliner, and four others showing off flamboyant suits and large hats. A group like the Pickets were very lucky to get into the charts at all, let alone a Christmas number one and a pleasing number seven afterwards.
Hibbard and Gittins tried desperately to stay in the music business, and they formed their own act called 'Brian and Stripe'. Unfortunately, their first and only single failed, and they returned to their separate acting careers. Other group members drifted into various careers.
Since the original Flying Pickets split, a new team of five ambitious men have tried to follow in the original's footsteps. Yet they have had no chart success. Still, they've toured around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, trying to at least touch the giddy heights of their predecessors.
Factory
Flying Pickets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man rises from bed and puts on his clothes
Man takes his lunch
Walks out in the morning light
It's the work, the working
Just the working life
The working, the working
Just the working life
Through the mansions of fear
Through the mansions of pain
See my daddy walking through them
Factory gates in the rain
Factory takes his hearing
Factory gives him life
The working, the working
Just the working life
The working, the working
Just the working life
End of the day, factory whistle cries
Men walk through these gates with
Death in their eyes
And you just better believe somebody's
Gonna get hurt tonight
It's the working, the working
Just the working life
The work, the work, the working life
The song "Factory" by the Flying Pickets is a powerful commentary on the working-class life, and the hardships that come along with it. The lyrics capture the daily routine of a factory worker, who wakes up early in the morning to the sound of the factory whistle and steps out into the morning light to begin his day. The factories are depicted as places of fear and pain, where workers like the singer's father have to toil away their lives. The factory takes away his father's hearing, but it is also the source of his livelihood. The song acknowledges that it is the working life that keeps things moving, even though it comes with a cost.
The song continues to build on this theme as it describes the end of the day, when the factory whistle cries and the men walk out of the gates with death in their eyes. The lyrics suggest that the stress and burden of the job can take a toll on the workers, who may have to leave their families behind in search of employment. The song concludes with a warning that someone is going to get hurt that night, reflecting the tension and anger that can build up in a community where people are struggling to make ends meet. Overall, "Factory" is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the realities of working-class life in industrialized societies, and the sacrifices that must be made to keep the economy running.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the morning factory whistle blows
The start of another day's work in the factory is signaled by the whistle blowing in the early hours of the morning.
Man rises from bed and puts on his clothes
A man wakes up from his bed and dresses himself, knowing that he has to go to work.
Man takes his lunch, walks out in the morning light
The man prepares his lunch for the day ahead and leaves his home in the morning light to head to work.
It's the working, the working, just the working life
This is the daily routine of a working man, and it's simply the working life he lives.
Through the mansions of fear, through the mansions of pain
The working-class people have to endure difficulties and hardships throughout their lives, filled with fear and pain.
I see my daddy walking through them factory gates in the rain
The singer observes his father in pain going through the factory gates on a rainy day, possibly hinting at his father being injured or sick due to work-related problems.
Factory takes his hearing, factory gives him life
Despite causing injuries and hardships to the workers, the factory also provides them with employment, giving them a source of livelihood.
End of the day, factory whistle cries
The end of the workday is signaled by the factory whistle crying out.
Men walk through these gates with death in their eyes
Workers leave the factory gates with a look of defeat, exhaustion or even physical injuries, highlighting the harshness and inhumaneness of the working conditions.
And you just better believe, boy
The artist is warning the listener that the struggles and hardships faced by the workers are real and must not be taken lightly.
Somebody's gonna get hurt tonight
The harshness of the working conditions can lead to accidents and injuries, and the singer is lamenting the fact that someone is going to get hurt tonight.
It's the working, the working, just the working life
The daily grind and struggles of the working-class people are summarized in this line, highlighting the monotony of life for the workers.
Oh, it's the working, the working, just the working life
Repeating the previous line, the singer is emphasizing how the working life is a constant struggle for most working-class people.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind