The blatantly image conscious group soon secured management, fired their first drummer, and auditioned over 50 drummers before settling on Mark Laff of Subway Sect. They were photogenic and signed a worldwide long term deal to Chrysalis (also home of Blondie) and had popsmith Phil Wainman, producer of The Bay City Rollers and Sweet mix their debut album. In September 1977 they became the first punk group to "sell out" and lip synch their debut single Your Generation on TV's Tops of The Pops, and also that month performed on Marc Bolan's TV show just days before the T-Rex frontman's death. Generation X also appeared in films like DOA and in Don Letts' Punk Movie.
In October of 1978, recordings for a second Generation X album produced by Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople followed, the resulting Valley Of The Dolls hitting the streets in 1979. Guitarist Bob Dagwood Anderson eventually quit the lineup after completing a Japanese tour and the recordings for a third album in 1979.(The final Derwood lineup LP actually doesn't resurface for almost 20 years until 1998, and was finally released on an indie against Idol's wishes as Sweet Revenge).
After a troubling two year period of uncertainty due to legal and financial battles with manager Stewart Joseph, Billy Idol and Tony James re-recruited & re-christened for their re-dubbed Gen X project. Friends, foes, pros and fellow fools then convened and attempted to get another record out. Outside the core Idol/James duo, studio collaborators like ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes, Chelsea guitarist James Stevenson, Steve New of Rich Kids, Danny Kustow of Tom Robinson Band, as well as John McGeogh later of Siouxsie & the Banshees.
With renewed spirit and producer Keith Forsey at the helm, Gen X would go on to release one more LP Kiss Me Deadly in 1981. After neither the album nor the singles "Dancing With Myself" and "Kiss Me Deadly" took the charts, the band broke up. Idol joined up with NYC based Kiss manager Bill Aucion, re-releasing "Dancing with Myself" and the rest, as they say, is history.
A one off Generation X reunion occurred in 1993 at London's Astoria. Hopes for future reunions have popped up infrequently, but, with the band members ensconced in their own projects, prospects have seemed unlikely.The group's music remains popular among punk rock, new wave, and power pop revivalists in the U.K. and elsewhere, with a cult following lasting into the new millennium.
Listen
Generation X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's it like to have a wooden heart?
Every word you say is so rehearsed
You think your clothes and actions control the universe
Listen, what you'd better do
Listen, better change your head
Listen, or there's nothing we can do
You're the face upon a playing card
A colored painted cold visage
(You're) just a pawn of somebody somewhere
Only trouble is you're gonna get no-where
Listen, what you'd better do
Listen, better change your head
Listen, or there's nothing we can do
Listen to the one who will change your world
What's it like to play a part?
(You) got a wooden heart
(You're) just a puppet on a string
A nothing, a no-one, no style
(You) just play a part
(You're) just a pawn of someone somewhere
And you'll get no-where
Listen what you'd better do
Listen, better change your head
Listen, or there's nothing we can do
Listen to the one who will change your world
Gonna change your world
Gonna change your world
The song "Listen!" by Generation X is a commentary on conformity and the pressures to fit in with the societal expectations. The lyrics describe the feelings of individuals who are pretending to be someone they are not, trying to mold their behavior, style, and opinions to mimic what they perceive as the norm. The first verse describes the artificiality of their behavior as everything they say is rehearsed and they believe their clothes and actions can control the universe. In the chorus, the song speaks directly to these individuals, asking them to listen and change their ways before it is too late.
In the second verse, the song compares these individuals to a face upon a playing card, colored and painted with a cold visage. They are merely pawns of the system and will ultimately get nowhere. The lyrics continue to emphasize the importance of listening to the one who will change their world in order to break free from the cycle of conformity.
Overall, "Listen!" is a call to action to those trapped in conformity to break free and find their own path. It speaks to the importance of individuality and standing up for what one truly believes in, rather than playing a part just to fit in.
Line by Line Meaning
What's it like to play a part?
How does it feel to pretend to be something you're not?
What's it like to have a wooden heart?
What does it feel like to have no emotions or feelings?
Every word you say is so rehearsed
You speak in a way that seems planned and insincere
You think your clothes and actions control the universe
You believe that your appearance and behavior are all that matters
Listen, what you'd better do
Pay attention to what I'm about to tell you
Listen, better change your head
You need to change your way of thinking
Listen, or there's nothing we can do
If you don't listen, we won't be able to help you
Listen to the one who will change your world
Listen to the person who can make a positive impact on your life
You're the face upon a playing card
You're just a representation of something else
A colored painted cold visage
An image that is superficial and devoid of emotions
(You're) just a pawn of somebody somewhere
You're being used by someone else for their own gain
Only trouble is you're gonna get no-where
You won't achieve anything on your own
(You) just play a part
You're only pretending to be someone else
(You're) just a pawn of someone somewhere
You're being manipulated and controlled by someone else
And you'll get no-where
You won't achieve anything in life unless you change your ways
Gonna change your world
Things will improve and become better for you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARMEN CUESTA, ROBERT JAMES, CHARLES S LOEB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
willieluncheonette
And here is the album version of Listen, only appearing on the British and not the American issue of their debut LP.
What a leap forward from the Peel version. IMO. I want to single out guitarist Bob "Derwood" Andrews. He may not be as famous as Steve Jones, Mick Jones or Brian James but he is a MONSTER punk guitarist. Just hear how marvelous Derwood is on this tremendous song. I would especially direct your attention to the 55 seconds of the song from 2:00 - 2:55. Andrews' delicate touches and guitar overdubs are a thing of beauty.
What's it like to play a part?
What's it like to have a wooden heart?
Where every word you say is so rehearsed
You think your clothes and actions control the universe
Well listen what you'd better do
Well listen or change your head
Well listen, or there's nothing can do
Listen to the ones who will change your world
Well you're the face upon a playing card
A colored painted cold visage
You're just a pawn of somebody somewhere
Well the only trouble is you're gonna get nowhere
CHORUS
What's it like so play a part?
You've got a wooden heart
Just a puppet on a string
A nothing, no-one, no style
Just play a part
Just a pawn of someone somewhere
And you'll get nowhere
CHORUS
Gonna change your world
Gonna change your world
willieluncheonette
And here is the album version of Listen, only appearing on the British and not the American issue of their debut LP.
What a leap forward from the Peel version. IMO. I want to single out guitarist Bob "Derwood" Andrews. He may not be as famous as Steve Jones, Mick Jones or Brian James but he is a MONSTER punk guitarist. Just hear how marvelous Derwood is on this tremendous song. I would especially direct your attention to the 55 seconds of the song from 2:00 - 2:55. Andrews' delicate touches and guitar overdubs are a thing of beauty.
What's it like to play a part?
What's it like to have a wooden heart?
Where every word you say is so rehearsed
You think your clothes and actions control the universe
Well listen what you'd better do
Well listen or change your head
Well listen, or there's nothing can do
Listen to the ones who will change your world
Well you're the face upon a playing card
A colored painted cold visage
You're just a pawn of somebody somewhere
Well the only trouble is you're gonna get nowhere
CHORUS
What's it like so play a part?
You've got a wooden heart
Just a puppet on a string
A nothing, no-one, no style
Just play a part
Just a pawn of someone somewhere
And you'll get nowhere
CHORUS
Gonna change your world
Gonna change your world
Mesolithic Man
willieluncheonette
You're right about Derwood. He was an outstanding player. It seems Generation X were under record company pressure for chart hits and Derwood was pressuring Idol and James to allow him to start contributing a few songs. I and J saw the band as a vehicle for their songwriting, plus probably a little bit of ego got in the way and Derwood was sacked.
Looking back Tony James thinks it was a big mistake as Derwood was a tremendous talent who should have been an asset to any band. In fact, Mark Laff was great on drums, so I think Generation X was ultimately one of the potentially great bands that fail due to outside influences. Billy Idol's serious involvement with white powder was one of those pressures, the band's new manager was another.
The surprising thing is that Derwood didn't move his talents to another established band of the time. His ultimate fading into obscurity asks questions about his own attitude and lack of self belief. His talent was unquestionable.
willie luncheonette
@Mesolithic Man thanks for this. The Brit version of this album is my all time fav punk album. IMO every song is great and it is SO musical.
Mesolithic Man
willie luncheonette
When you think that these guys were in their late teens making music that stands the test 40 years later, some achievement. Tony James lyrics, Idol's tunes, Derwood's artistry and Mark Laff's rhythm. It all came together. They weren't liked by the snobby music press and had pressures to make money for their label. That's a shame because I've heard interviews with very credible punk era figures saying GenerationX were their secret pleasure.
And clearly Idol had talent demonstrated by his later US success. Apparently he was 'too pretty' and therefore not worthy of respect. Yet Billy Idol is a rocker at heart and a fan of Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, the Beatles, Velvet Underground etc.
But they were a great band and it's always special to hear from people that love the music of a much overlooked band.
Mesolithic Man
willieluncheonette
The first album, in my opinion, is as good/exciting as any first album by a punk band. I'd have to put 'Bollocks' and 'The Clash' ahead, but for consistent quality of songwriting this album is as good as any. Even Bollocks has its share of filler. Their singles were also good and back up tracks like This Heat Trying for Kicks and New Orders are all high quality material. It's a shame the pressure for success broke them up.
Spotted Saint
Billy Idol was why I got into punk rock. It started in the 1980's and I'm still into it now at 50 years old.
Tommy Joe 90
The perfect punk-power-pop -mod song. Unsurpassed! (and very very good drum performance)
Darren Brown
I'd forgotten how good this was.
Chris Smith
I was 13 when this song changed my life and made me a punk. I'm 50 now.
Fuzzy Punk-Rock
Mark Laff is the greatest of Rock & Roll's underated drummers (in my opinion)