Get Out Of London is still occasionally heard in bizzare places, such as in a Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen movie, as well as a cover by The Pretenders in movie version of "The Wild Thornberrys".
Simon Fellowes later embarked on a solo career, releasing three albums and later, several one-off 12" under the name F-Machine. Having spent a decade in the USA he returned to the UK where he worked as a Film/TV director and screenwriter.
He is now a published author. His debut novel 'Don't Breathe the Air' (Strata Books) was published in Oct 2013. It is set in the seedy underbelly of the rock'n'roll business in 90s' London and LA and is the first in his Hollywood trilogy.
Simon Gillham now teaches Philosophy in the UK - specializing in Nietzsche.
Get Out of London
Intaferon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Monday morning, wake up yawning
Break an egg, bust my head, maybe it's a warning
Ring on the bell, says it's half past eight
Keys on the TV, hey I'm gonna be late
I'm walking on the pavement skipping all the lines
So the bears don't eat me, send me to the saltmines
Get on the bus, but the bus don't stop
I can't see out the window 'cause there ain't no sun
I think somebody's tellin' me to g-g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
My feets keep movin' and I don't wear any socks
Can't stop singing, head ting-a-lingin'
Left my house, now I hang out in a phone box
Making coffins out of bits of old wood
Sell 'em cheap to the council though I know it's not good
To be a traitor, collaborator
Still, I'd rather be a snitch than a cocktail waiter
Commit my crime now, pay my penalty later
Okay, all right, I know I'm doin' wrong
But save it 'til tomorrow I got to g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Last night I lost my purity, it started with a kiss
I settled in to revel in a night of bedded bliss
I had a bee in my bonnet, a tiger in my tank
I was on my maiden voyage but my liner just sank
They call me Jack of Hearts, some would say a knave
My mother was the Queen of Tarts, my baby was a sex slave
Pa's selling weapons to the Red Army Faction
I burn myself in public just to get a reaction
Tattoo my face so my race is run
My car is on fire got to g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Don't wear a suit, don't wear a smile
Don't wear my spikes out on the golden mile
Keep my hand on my gun, I keep my eye on my mines
I keep my heart on the beat when I'm running through the front lines
Chain gang chasin' me, but I'm quick as a fox
An' I rock my body to the sound of the box
The louder you scream, the faster we go
It's an ack-ack battery, a boom-boom-boom
Helter Skelter flattery coming down soon
Pay packet, jug drug, babies buying fun
Purdie's on speed I got to g-g-g-g-get out of London
Run, don't walk, keep as straight as a crow
I'm waiting for my treasure at the Admiral Benbow
Blues in my pockets, reds in my bed
The weights are building bodies and the blacks are pumping lead
A face in a photo, the beauty is bare
Tears on her cheek, she's living in a nightmare
Turn the page to a brand new leaf
Resolute swagger loot time to be a thief
Go to task, wear a mask, four ponies a ton
Keep out of Sing Sing, got to g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Everybody in the land turn into a sugar-tooth
Beg like a puppy dog, brains like a hedgehog
Gimme ten P, and I'll tell you the truth
Sell you a wonder drug, elixir of youth
Threw a party for my friends so they wouldn't be lonely
They wouldn't let me in, said it's membership only
Ah, don't worry bout me 'cause I'm doin' fine
I'm standin' on my head and sittin' on a gold mine
Keep taking nitro three times a day
Keep out of the crossfire and g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
The song "Get Out of London" by Intaferon offers a bizarre and surreal tour of the city of London through the lens of the singer's perspective. The lyrics are highly experimental and appear to be a stream of consciousness narrative, imparting a sense of disorientation and confusion to the listener. The song opens with the singer describing a typical Monday morning, waking up late, and rushing towards work. He describes how everything seems to be going against him, from the ringing bell to the bus that never stops, further emphasizing his desperation to get out of London.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take on a darker tone, with references to the singer's criminal tendencies, sexual exploits, and his family's association with the Red Army Faction. These themes are juxtaposed against the singer's desire to be free from the constraints of the city, leading him to contemplate leaving London altogether. The song ends on a note of caution, with the singer warning others to stay away from the city before it consumes them.
Overall, "Get Out of London" is a vivid and evocative portrayal of a city on the edge, where the everyday norms are subverted and the characters inhabiting it are struggling to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold tight
Get ready, be prepared
Monday morning, wake up yawning
Starting a new week, feeling tired and unenthusiastic
Break an egg, bust my head, maybe it's a warning
Having an accident while preparing breakfast, feeling like something bad will happen
Ring on the bell, says it's half past eight
Hearing a doorbell, realizing it's already late
Keys on the TV, hey I'm gonna be late
Misplacing keys, realizing it will make you late
I'm walking on the pavement skipping all the lines
Walking on the sidewalk, avoiding crowds
So the bears don't eat me, send me to the saltmines
Avoiding danger by working in a safe place
Get on the bus, but the bus don't stop
Boarding a bus, but it doesn't stop where expected
My feet are sitting downstairs, my head on the top
Being in a double-decker bus, sitting upstairs with feet downstairs
I can't see out the window 'cause there ain't no sun
Not being able to see outside due to lack of sunlight
I think somebody's tellin' me to g-g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Feeling like something is urging you to leave London
My feets keep movin' and I don't wear any socks
Walking without socks
Can't stop singing, head ting-a-lingin'
Having a catchy tune stuck in your head
Left my house, now I hang out in a phone box
Leaving your home, hanging out in a phone booth
Making coffins out of bits of old wood
Building coffins from scrap wood
Sell 'em cheap to the council though I know it's not good
Selling coffins at a low price to the council despite it not being ethical
To be a traitor, collaborator
Being an informant in a negative way
Still, I'd rather be a snitch than a cocktail waiter
Preferring to be a negative informant than a cocktail waiter
Commit my crime now, pay my penalty later
Committing a crime without worrying about the consequences
Okay, all right, I know I'm doin' wrong
Being aware of doing something unethical
But save it 'til tomorrow I got to g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Planning to deal with it later, but feeling like it's urgent to leave London
Last night I lost my purity, it started with a kiss
Losing innocence due to a romantic experience
I settled in to revel in a night of bedded bliss
Looking forward to a night of happiness in bed
I had a bee in my bonnet, a tiger in my tank
Being filled with energy and enthusiasm
I was on my maiden voyage but my liner just sank
Failing at something new
They call me Jack of Hearts, some would say a knave
Having a nickname, but it may not be positive
My mother was the Queen of Tarts, my baby was a sex slave
Having a mother who was a sex worker and a partner who was forced into sex work
Pa's selling weapons to the Red Army Faction
Having a father who sells weapons to a violent organization
I burn myself in public just to get a reaction
Harming yourself in public for attention
Tattoo my face so my race is run
Leaving a lasting impression on your face
My car is on fire got to g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Feeling like you're in danger and must leave London
Don't wear a suit, don't wear a smile
Choosing not to dress up or be in a good mood
Don't wear my spikes out on the golden mile
Avoiding showing off or standing out on a popular street
Keep my hand on my gun, I keep my eye on my mines
Being vigilant and cautious
I keep my heart on the beat when I'm running through the front lines
Being brave and determined in the face of adversity
Chain gang chasin' me, but I'm quick as a fox
Being pursued by authorities, but feeling able to escape
An' I rock my body to the sound of the box
Dancing to music
It's an ack-ack battery, a boom-boom-boom
Hearing loud and aggressive sounds
Helter Skelter flattery coming down soon
Expecting chaos or trouble soon
Pay packet, jug drug, babies buying fun
Money, drugs, and people seeking entertainment
Purdie's on speed I got to g-g-g-g-get out of London
Feeling like the atmosphere is overwhelming and must leave London
Run, don't walk, keep as straight as a crow
Urgently leaving, going in a direct path
I'm waiting for my treasure at the Admiral Benbow
Looking for something valuable or important
Blues in my pockets, reds in my bed
Feeling sad and lonely with little money
The weights are building bodies and the blacks are pumping lead
People are building their strength and preparing for conflict
A face in a photo, the beauty is bare
Seeing someone's vulnerable side in a picture
Tears on her cheek, she's living in a nightmare
Someone is suffering and in distress
Turn the page to a brand new leaf
Starting fresh, making positive changes
Resolute swagger loot time to be a thief
Feeling confident and determined, even if it means doing something wrong
Go to task, wear a mask, four ponies a ton
Doing a job, hiding your identity, getting paid handsomely
Keep out of Sing Sing, got to g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Avoiding trouble and leaving London
Everybody in the land turn into a sugar-tooth
People becoming addicted to sugar
Beg like a puppy dog, brains like a hedgehog
Acting like an animal, not being smart
Gimme ten P, and I'll tell you the truth
Offering information for a small amount of money
Sell you a wonder drug, elixir of youth
Selling something that promises to make you young and healthy
Threw a party for my friends so they wouldn't be lonely
Hosting a party to help your friends not feel alone
They wouldn't let me in, said it's membership only
Not being allowed to attend a private event
Ah, don't worry bout me 'cause I'm doin' fine
Assuring someone that you're okay
I'm standin' on my head and sittin' on a gold mine
Having a lot of wealth and success
Keep taking nitro three times a day
Taking medicine for a medical condition
Keep out of the crossfire and g-g-g-g-g-g-get out of London
Avoiding danger and leaving London
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@murraytrow1955
Jeez, 40 years old nd still a great track,, Well done Simons!
@SteveSputnik
One of the biggest musical travesties of the 1980s was that this wasn't an ultra-hit... I used to play it all the time on my radio show - both mixes!! Nothing less than fucking spectacular!
@AngeloBetrulas
Absolutely. Used to play the 12" at the Roller Disco, back in my '80s (very) amateur DJ days...
@ericcarlson1709
This was a favourite of Karyn Hay of the New Zealand show Radio With Pictures.
@StuartConstantine
"Commit my crime now, pay my penalty later" was my senior quote in my high school year book. Thanks WLIR!
@ianfryer8386
I loved this song. First heard it on the Max Headroom video show but by then it was out of the shops. Found it years later in a charity shop. John Peel also played it - I used to have an audio tape of that show. He likened it to Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues.
@steverichardson1210
I used to know Simon Gillam from school (the guy running/escaping) and we used to swap band demos etc. I actually remember him saying that he had hooked up with Simon Fellowes and had been signed! Quite matter of fact about it! He also told us they had got into trouble because as publicity, DJ’s had been sent messages just saying ‘get out of london in 3 weeks’. Then Get out in 2 weeks etc.. the DJ’s were scared it was some kind of threat!
@bestbass42
THATS ME!!!!!!! I'm in this video, 3.10, I'm the tall one facing camera, spikey blond hair, army trousers and Dr Martins!!! April 1983. My Brumie Psycho mates and I were on-route to see Psychobilly Godfather's The M3t3ors @ Rayleigh Crocs. We were approached at Paddington Station (i think it was) and asked to be in a video! We all got £5 each for just a few seconds. Amazing that it was almost 40 years ago now but I remember it like yesterday.
@chrisr5499
Were you going to see them at the Klubfoot ?
@bestbass42
@@chrisr5499 Crocs in Rayleigh, Essex. The klub Foot Psychobilly events hadnt started when I was following the M3t3ors.