Kelly Johnson and Denise Dufort later joined and in April 1978 they changed their name to Girlschool.
Their first single Take it all away was released on the City Records label which led to them gaining a Motörhead support slot on the Overkill tour in 1979.
Having signed with Lemmy´s record company Bronze later that year, the band released their first album Demolition in 1980.
After touring Japan in 1982, Enid left and was replaced by Gil Weston of The Killjoys and Girlschool recorded their third album Screaming Blue Murder.
When Kelly left to live in L.A. she was replaced by Cris Bonacci on lead guitar and singer Jackie Bodimead on lead vocals for the 1985 album Running Wild.
After many more line-up changes and releases on various labels, the original bassist/vocalist Enid rejoined the band in 2000, together with Jackie Chambers. In 2002 the band released the 21st Anniversary: Not that Innocent album.
Their 12th and latest output is the re-recorded Hit and Run: Revisited. Girlschool continued to tour Europe and South America in 2011-12 and returned in Japan in 2013. In early 2015, they recorded a new album titled 'Guilty as Sin' with producer Chris Tsangarides, which was released on 13 November 2015. On 30 January 2019, it was announced on the band's website that "Girlschool have parted ways once again with bassist Enid Williams" and that Tracey Lamb would return to replace her.
In 2023, Girlschool, now consisting of Kim McAuliffe on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Denise Dufort on drums, Tracey Lamb on bass and Jackie Chambers on lead guitar have unveiled a video for their new single “Are You Ready?” from their upcoming studio album WTFortyfive?, which will be released on July 28, 2023.
--Discography--
Demolition (1980)
Hit and Run (1981)
Screaming Blue Murder (1982)
Play Dirty (1983)
Running Wild (1985)
Nightmare at Maple Cross (1986)
Take a Bite (1988)
Girlschool (1992)
21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent (2002)
Believe (2004)
Legacy (2008)
Hit and Run - Revisited (2011)
Guilty as Sin (2015)
WTFortyfive? (2023)
I Spy
Girlschool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be careful what they know
They're watching every movement
Every place and where you go
You're under their surveillance
Be sure to toe the line
In the name of your security
Playing I spy in the sky
Big Brother's up above
They've got you in their sights
Escape the private eyes that pry
If you've not done wrong yet
There's nothing there to fear
We sleepwalk into darkness
As freedoms disappear
Their criminal intentions
Will put the blame on you
No crime has been committed
But they watch you in case you do
Playing I spy in the sky
Big Brother's up above, look out
They've got you in their sights
Escape the private eyes that pry
Why?
The lyrics to Girlschool's song "I Spy" are a warning about the dangers of living in a surveillance state. The song tells us to be careful about what we do, and what is known about us. The opening lines emphasize the risks of being constantly watched and monitored. The song suggests that this monitoring makes us less free and subjects us to a system where we are always under scrutiny. It warns that we need to toe the line and be compliant with the authorities for our own security.
The chorus describes the feeling of being watched from above, alluding to the idea of Big Brother, the omnipresent figure in George Orwell’s 1984. The privacy invasion makes us feel like we are being spied on like children. The last stanza of the song addresses the paradox of how living in a world of too much security undermines our freedom. We are sleepwalking into darkness because of the government's criminal intentions, which put the blame on us. The song suggests that the only way to escape this surveillance is to be vigilant, and the last line appeals to the listeners to escape the 'private eyes' that pry.
Line by Line Meaning
Be careful what you do now
Be cautious about your actions as they are being monitored
Be careful what they know
Be mindful of the information they have access to
They're watching every movement
Surveillance cameras are tracking your every step
Every place and where you go
Your whereabouts are being recorded
You're under their surveillance
You are being watched
Be sure to toe the line
Conform to societal expectations and avoid rousing suspicion
In the name of your security
Your safety justifies their surveillance
The innocent stand trial
The blame is undeservedly placed on blameless individuals
Playing I spy in the sky
The government is covertly monitoring its citizens
Big Brother's up above
Authorities are controlling and powerful like Orwell's Big Brother
They've got you in their sights
You are being closely watched and scrutinized
Escape the private eyes that pry
Flee from those who are prying into your life
If you've not done wrong yet
If you have not committed a crime
There's nothing there to fear
There is no reason to worry
We sleepwalk into darkness
We are being lulled into a false sense of security
As freedoms disappear
As our rights and liberties are gradually eroded
Their criminal intentions
The intent of the authorities is dubious
Will put the blame on you
They will hold you accountable
No crime has been committed
There is no evidence of wrongdoing
But they watch you in case you do
They keep tabs on you to preempt any future misdemeanors
Big Brother's up above, look out
Be wary of the all-seeing eye of the government
Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.