Their peculiar brand of politically driven retro-pop made an impression on the British pop charts during 1981-1982. Their biggest hit was Our lips are sealed, a retread of Go-go's 1981 song, which was co-written by Terry Hall. Other well-known tracks include The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum) and T'ain't What You Do (Its The Way That You Do It), recorded with the fledgling all-girl group Bananarama.
Fun Boy Three's music draws on influences such as vintage soul, ska, reggae, muzak and kitsch movie soundtracks.
The band split-up in 1984, and Terry hall went on to perform solo and also form The Colourfield.
Going Home
Fun Boy Three Lyrics
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Treated like some kind of war refugee
We're here because you are there
A brand new money to buy
We were here because you were there
A brand new culture to learn
This is where I'm from
Is this home? This must be home
But is this where I belong?
All men are equal
But some more than others
Except that it sometimes
Depends on your color
Good morning young man, where you from?
A brand new language to speak
Good morning young man, where you from?
A brand new food to eat
Is this my home? This is my home
This is where I'm from
Is this home? This must be home
But is this where I belong?
Racist politicians call for repatriation
White bureaucrats ask for black-people-tation
Wherever you lay your hats, you're home
Is that true?
Wherever you lay your hats, you're home
If that's true, why are so many people confused?
Is this my home? This is my home
This is where I'm from
Is this home? This must be home
But is this where I belong?
Is this my home? This is my home
This is where I'm from
Is this home? This must be home
But is this where I belong?
Is this my home? This is my home
This is where I'm from
Is this home? This must be home
But is this where I belong?
Is this my home? This is my home
This is where I'm from
Is this home? This must be home
But is this where I belong?
The song "Going Home" by Fun Boy Three explores the themes of identity, displacement, and the complexities of finding a place to belong in a world where race, culture, and nationality can impact one's reception. The first two lines of the song, "Making the moon from the ex-colony, Treated like some kind of war refugee," suggest a feeling of displacement and marginalization. The moon is often seen as a symbol of belonging, but the fact that it is made from an ex-colony indicates a sense of being removed from a real and stable home. The reference to being treated like a war refugee also adds to the idea of being forced out of one's homeland and having to find a new place.
The next lines, "We're here because you are there, A brand new money to buy," reference the historical context of colonialism and the impact it had on the displacement of people. The first line suggests a sense of forced movement and perhaps even exploitation. The second line highlights the idea that colonization changes everything, including monetary systems and financial arrangements. The chorus of the song, with lines like "Is this my home? This must be home, But is this where I belong," ask the overarching question of whether one's physical location matches up with the internal sense of belonging.
The final lines of the song reference the ongoing impact of racism in society, with lines like "Racist politicians call for repatriation, White bureaucrats ask for black-people-tation." The song ultimately explores the complexity of individual identity and the challenges of being forced to adapt and find new belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Making the moon from the ex-colony
The singer feels like an outsider in their own home country, which was colonized, and as a result they feel like they are trying to create something new out of something old and foreign.
Treated like some kind of war refugee
The singer feels like they are not being welcomed in their own home country and instead are being treated like they are displaced by war, despite not being a part of any conflict.
We're here because you are there
The singer recognizes that their presence in their home country is due to colonialism and the exploitation of other nations and their people.
A brand new money to buy
The artist is confronted with a new currency that they do not recognize, which is symbolic of how foreign their own country feels to them.
We were here because you were there
The artist acknowledges the link between the presence of their own people in their home country and the colonizing of other nations and the exploitation of those people.
A brand new culture to learn
The singer is forced to adapt to a new culture, which is unfamiliar to them and they must learn its customs, values, and beliefs.
Is this my home? This is my home
The singer is questioning whether their home country is still their home, as they feel like a foreigner despite being born there and growing up there.
This is where I'm from
Despite feeling like a stranger in their own country, the artist recognizes that this is where they are from and has a sense of loyalty and belonging to it.
This must be home
The artist acknowledges that this place is where they have grown up and spent most of their life, and therefore must be considered their home.
But is this where I belong?
Despite recognizing that their home country is where they are from, the artist questions whether they really belong there due to their own feelings of dislocation and alienation.
All men are equal
The singer recognizes the value and dignity of all human beings, regardless of race or ethnicity.
But some more than others
Despite acknowledging the equality of all people, the artist recognizes that some are given more privileges, opportunities, and advantages than others based on their race or ethnicity.
Except that it sometimes
Despite recognizing the inherent value and dignity of all human beings, the singer acknowledges that in practice, there are still cases where some are treated unfairly and unjustly based on their race or ethnicity.
Depends on your color
The singer recognizes that people are often judged, discriminated against, and disadvantaged based on their skin color or ethnic background, which is unjust.
Good morning young man, where you from?
The singer is being asked about their country of origin, which they see as a reminder of their status as an outsider in their own home country.
A brand new language to speak
The artist is confronted with a new language that they do not speak, which is symbolic of how unfamiliar and foreign their own country feels to them.
Good morning young man, where you from?
The artist is again asked about their country of origin, and the repetition of the question emphasizes the artist's sense of alienation and dislocation in their own home country.
A brand new food to eat
The singer is confronted with a new kind of food that they are not accustomed to, which is symbolic of how different their own country feels to them.
Racist politicians call for repatriation
The singer is referring to politicians who advocate for the forced removal or deportation of people based on their race or ethnicity, which is discriminatory and unjust.
White bureaucrats ask for black-people-tation
The artist is referring to white bureaucrats who promote policies that discriminate against or disadvantage people of color, which is unjust and perpetuates inequality.
Wherever you lay your hats, you're home
The artist is asserting that home is not a physical place or a country, but rather a feeling of belonging and connection, which can be found anywhere.
Is that true?
The artist is questioning the validity of the previous assertion, as they feel like they have not found that feeling of belonging and connection anywhere.
If that's true, why are so many people confused?
The singer points out that many people do not feel a sense of belonging or connection anywhere, which challenges the idea that home is simply where you lay your hat.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID JOHN BUCKLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind