The group's debut single, titled "Relax", was famously banned by the BBC and subsequently topped the U.K. singles chart for five weeks, enjoying prolonged chart success throughout 1984. Following the phenomenal follow-up success of "Two Tribes" and "The Power of Love", the latter being an emotional ballad experiencing seasonal resurgence over the years, FGTH became only the second act in the history of the UK charts to reach number one with their first three singles.
Things began to unravel in 1985 when their fourth single, "Welcome To The Pleasuredome", stalled at number two (success that many other groups would deeply envy, but they faced massive expectations). Their second (and final album), called 'Liverpool', took over a year to complete, reportedly at huge expense. The lead-off single, "Rage Hard", peaked at number four, and it was clear that the public had began to move on. 'Liverpool' sold poorly, despite critical acclaim and underground song plays, and conflict between lead singer Holly Johnson and the rest of the band led to an acrimonious split.
Johnson embarked on an initially successful solo career, but he quickly spiraled into obscurity. The rest of the band broke up completely after several attempts to recruit a new lead singer. Nonetheless, the group had proved hugely influential. Their three number one singles have been extensively remixed and repackaged over the years, and, despite their limited back catalogue, the band is generally seen as being one of the defining moments of the eighties. Numerous new wave and post-punk music revivalists look back to their aggressive yet stylish sound as an inspiration. The band is also known today for having a hit video game based around them for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64, giving them an interesting spot in video gaming history.
Two Tribes
Frankie Goes to Hollywood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A point is all that you can score
(Score them all, score them all)
When two tribes go to war
A point is all that you can score
(Working for the black gas)
Cowboy number one
(Poor man's son)
On the air America
I modeled shirts by Van Heusen
(Working for the black gas)
Yeah
You know
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
(Storm them all, storm them all)
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
Working for the black gas
Switch off your shield
Switch off and feel
I'm working on loving, yeah
Giving you back the good times
Ship it out, out
Working for the black gas
A point is all you can score
When two tribes go to war
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
We got two tribes
We got the bomb
We got the bomb, yeah
Yeah
Sock it to me biscuits, now
Are we living in a land
Where sex and horror are the new Gods?
Yeah
When two tribes go to war
A point is all you can score
The lyrics of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" can be interpreted as a commentary on the Cold War era, highlighting the futility and danger of war between two superpowers possessing nuclear weapons. The lines "When two tribes go to war, a point is all that you can score" could suggest the idea that in a nuclear war, any point scored by one side would ultimately lead to mutual destruction.
The reference to "working for the black gas" could be seen as a reference to the oil industry, hinting at the role of oil in the politics and power dynamics of the Cold War era. The lines "switch off your shield, switch off and feel" could be interpreted as a call to disarm and embrace peace.
The use of the phrase "biscuits" in the final lines of the song is a nod to the British term for cookies, and could be interpreted as a playful nod to the confusion and absurdity of the Cold War era.
Line by Line Meaning
When two tribes go to war
When two groups of people or nations engage in conflict
A point is all that you can score (Score them all, score them all)
In war, victory is the ultimate goal and everything else becomes meaningless
Working for the black gas
The phrase refers to the Cold War and the arms race between the Western allies led by the US and the Soviet Union
Cowboy number one, A born-again poor man's son (Poor man's son), On the air America, I modeled shirts by Van Heusen (Working for the black gas)
This is a reference to Ronald Reagan, who was nicknamed the 'cowboy President'. The 'born-again poor man's son' refers to Reagan's humble origins and the 'Van Heusen' brand he modeled for was a shirt brand. 'On the air America' and 'working for the black gas' refer to Reagan's leadership during the Cold War and the arms race with the Soviet Union
Switch off your shield, Switch off and feel, I'm working on loving, yeah, Giving you back the good times, Ship it out, out, Working for the black gas
This is a call to disarmament and embracing of love instead of war. 'Ship it out, out' refers to exporting of weapons and the 'black gas' refers to the arms race between the US and the Soviet Union
We got two tribes, We got the bomb, We got the bomb, yeah, Yeah, Sock it to me biscuits, now
This is a satirical commentary on the arms race between the US and the Soviet Union, with the 'bomb' being a reference to nuclear weapons
Are we living in a land, Where sex and horror are the new Gods? Yeah
The lyric is a commentary on the state of the Western society in which sex and violence have become a preoccupation for the masses, with the media glorifying and promoting them as the new societal 'Gods'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Holly Johnson, Mark William OToole, Peter Gill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rmarsyoutube
A song that come out in the 80s would be so relevant today in 2024
@redalbatross5649
Could wars please be fought like this. Leaders in a ring and they fight it between themselves. Leave thousands and millions of innocent people alone.
@jussikankinen9409
Or let humans war and let nature be in peace, war is human from day 1 even cavemen killed before money was god and all looked same
@victorgrech1136
putin and biden I'd put my money on putin
@anneodonnell9839
Yes ! I agree !
@williamkarbala5718
It used to be like this. You’d send your two best fighters to mediate via one on one combat.
@EyesWideOpen...3.16
Couldn’t agree more…….bit of BKFC
@StressJudoCoaching
38 years and this song still kicks ass
@mattwolf7698
And is unfortunately relevant again
@pauloneill9880
Land of confusion by genesis also!.