After the Sex Pistols broke up in 1978, he started Public Image Ltd. also called PiL. The group lasted for fourteen years with John Lydon as the only consistent member. In 2010, Lydon reassembled PIL and embarked on a successful tour of Europe, as well as re-visiting the United States for the first time in 18 years.
In 1997 he released a solo album on called Psycho's Path. He wrote all the songs and played (almost) all the instruments on the album.
Besides music, John has written a book called "Rotten - No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs", been in British reality television show, "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!", hosted the short-lived VH1 show "Rotten TV", co-starred in the movie "Copkiller" along with Harvey Keitel and hosted "It's a Rotten Day", a minute-long, syndicated US radio feature, in which he would offer cynical commentary on the day's headlines.
Grave Ride
John Lydon Lyrics
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I know I said I'd rescue you
But their troops had taken hold
At last you're not alone in that city
Am I safer, here in the cold?
These bombs and bullets at night
You wear like jewelry
Between you and me
Let's hope it's not a grave
No war is worth it, without you
No point in living without you
I know you feel the way I do
It's not a real world without you
Let's hope it's not a grave
I heard some friends got taken for a ride
A one way journey, everybody died
It's not unusual, many go that way
Their numbers mounting every single day
But what can I do but hope you're still alive
This is what happens when opposites collide
Public, and private, arbitrary death
'Cause war is power and power is business
We are but numbers, statistics on a sheet
This is what happens whenever humans meet
No need for fingers, we know who to blame
Intolerance will end and start this game
I write this letter while taken for a ride
Maybe I'll see you on the other side
Let's hope it's not a grave
Two fingers crossed, hope it's not a grave
But what can I do but hope you're still alive
This is what happens when opposites collide
Public and private, arbitrary death
'Cause war is power, and power business
These bombs and bullets at night
You wear like jewelry
That seems to be the difference
Between you and me
Hope it's not a grave
The song "Grave Ride" by John Lydon is a politically charged commentary on war and its consequences. The lyrics describe the hopeless feeling of being caught in the middle of a violent conflict, and the fear of never seeing loved ones again. The singer expresses regret over not being able to rescue someone from the danger of war, but ultimately acknowledges that war is a brutal and senseless business.
Throughout the song, the imagery of bombs and bullets is contrasted with the idea of jewelry, suggesting that violence has become a kind of adornment for those caught up in war. However, the singer recognizes that this brutality is not a choice but an inevitability in a world where power is synonymous with warfare. Ultimately, the song is a call to end this cycle of violence and destruction.
The chorus of the song, "No war is worth it, without you / No point in living without you / It's not a real world without you / Let's hope it's not a grave," is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war. Despite the violence and destruction, the singer emphasizes that the most important thing is not winning or losing, but the people who are impacted by the conflict.
Overall, "Grave Ride" is a powerful critique of war and its consequences. Through vivid imagery and emotive language, John Lydon highlights the futility of violence and calls for a more compassionate and peaceful world.
Line by Line Meaning
Taken for a ride
I have been deceived and manipulated
I know I said I'd rescue you
I promised to help you, but I couldn't follow through
But their troops had taken hold
The enemy had gained control of the area
At last you're not alone in that city
You have the company of others in a dangerous and uncertain place
Am I safer, here in the cold?
I question whether I am any better off, even though I am not in immediate danger
These bombs and bullets at night
The weapons used in war that pose a constant threat
You wear like jewelry
You have become accustomed to the danger and have normalized it
That seems to be the difference
This is what sets us apart
Between you and me
The contrast between our experiences
Let's hope it's not a grave
We both hope that death does not await us
No war is worth it, without you
I only find meaning in fighting for you
No point in living without you
Life loses its value without you
I know you feel the way I do
I believe you share my sentiment
It's not a real world without you
Without you, the world seems surreal and pointless
I heard some friends got taken for a ride
I have heard of others being deceived, just like me
A one way journey, everybody died
They were killed and had no chance to escape
It's not unusual, many go that way
This is a common occurrence in the horrors of war
Their numbers mounting every single day
The death toll rises steadily
But what can I do but hope you're still alive
I feel powerless to protect you, so I can only hold on to hope
This is what happens when opposites collide
The clash of different ideals leads to conflict and destruction
Public, and private, arbitrary death
People die without warning, regardless of their social status or personal circumstances
'Cause war is power and power is business
Wars are waged by those who seek to maintain or gain power, who see it as a means to profit
We are but numbers, statistics on a sheet
In the grand scheme of things, individuals do not matter, only the results do
This is what happens whenever humans meet
Conflict and violence are all too common in human interactions
No need for fingers, we know who to blame
There is always someone or something to hold responsible for the chaos that ensues
Intolerance will end and start this game
The cycle of violence will continue as long as we fail to embrace acceptance and empathy
I write this letter while taken for a ride
I am writing this in the midst of uncertainty and danger
Maybe I'll see you on the other side
I hope to reunite with you after this ordeal, if fate allows
Two fingers crossed, hope it's not a grave
We both pray for survival and a better future
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN LYDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind