After the break-up of the original line-up of The Specials; Terry Hall, Lyn… Read Full Bio ↴After the break-up of the original line-up of The Specials; Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staple broke away to form Fun Boy Three.

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.

Man at C & A
Fun Boy Three Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Warning, warning, nuclear attack
Atomic sounds designed to blow your mind
World war three - nuclear attack
Rocking atomically - this third world war - atomic sounds

The man in black he told me the latest Moscow news about the storm across the Red Sea
They drove their ball point views

I'm the man in grey, I'm just the man at sea
And I don't have a say in the war games that they play

Warning, warning, nuclear attack
Shark attack to hit you on your back
World war three

The Mickey Mouse badge told the Ayatollah at his feet
You drink your oil you schmuck, we'll eat our heads of wheat

I'm the man in grey, I'm just the man at see
And I don't have a say in the war games that they play

Boom shakalaka boom
Nuclear nuclear, nuclear war
Warning, warning, nuclear attack

The boom never ban
Shark attack

Overall Meaning

The Fun Boy Three's song Man at C & A is a political protest song with a clear message against nuclear war. The lyrics highlight the fear and destruction that comes with the nuclear blast and the helplessness of people who are caught in the middle of a world war.

The song begins with repeated warnings of a nuclear attack that is imminent, and the atomic sounds that accompany it. The lyrics draw attention to the devastating impact of the third world war, which would be fought with nuclear weapons. The imagery of the "rocking atomically" sounds adds to the sense of chaos and destruction that the song is trying to convey.

The song's narrator is described as the "man in grey," who is just "the man at sea" but is not involved in the "war games that they play." This is a reference to the everyday people who have no control over the decisions that lead to war. The man in grey's lack of a say in the matter is highlighted through the repeated chorus of "warning, warning, nuclear attack" which sounds like an alarm that is going unheard.

The second verse talks about the geopolitical situation of the time, with references to Moscow news, the Red Sea, and the Ayatollah. The Mickey Mouse badge symbolizes the Western powers that have arrogance and disregard for the cultures and views of other nations. The song's message is clear – war is destructive, and nuclear war is catastrophic. It is a call-to-action to take steps towards peace and nuclear disarmament.

Line by Line Meaning

Warning, warning, nuclear attack
Attention! Danger is imminent as a nuclear attack could occur any moment!

Atomic sounds designed to blow your mind
The sound of impending doom has been created to have a significant emotional impact on those who listen.

World war three - nuclear attack
This is an all-out war. Countries are willing to go to the brink of the end to prove their points.

Rocking atomically - this third world war - atomic sounds
The presence of this war has created a vibration that can be felt by everyone. The sounds and effects of a nuclear arms race can be catastrophic.

The man in black he told me the latest Moscow news about the storm across the Red Sea
The person dressed in black informed me of the difficulties happening in Moscow and the conflict in places far away.

They drove their ball point views
Rather than literally using cars or other vehicles, influential people and their ideas can sometimes be driven forcefully into the public consciousness.

I'm the man in grey, I'm just the man at sea
I am a mere bystander and have little control over the decisions and events that are unfolding.

And I don't have a say in the war games that they play
I'm not in charge of the games people play with human lives during war or of the outcomes those games create.

Shark attack to hit you on your back
Just as sharks attack their prey from the back when they are not looking, danger can strike in unsuspecting ways in a war-torn world.

The Mickey Mouse badge told the Ayatollah at his feet
An insignificant symbol or token can change the perspectives of those who hold power over us.

You drink your oil you schmuck, we'll eat our heads of wheat
This is a situation where the less wealthy people must trade their oil resources for grain because they do not have the resources to grow their own food.

Boom shakalaka boom Nuclear nuclear, nuclear war Warning, warning, nuclear attack The boom never ban Shark attack
The sounds of war are loud and never-ending. The next attack may be just around the corner, and there is not much that individuals can do to prevent it.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JERRY DAMMERS, TERRY HALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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