Miles was a member of groups "The Influence", which also included Paul Thompson, later drummer with Roxy Music and Vic Malcolm, later vocalist with Geordie and "The John Miles Set," before starting his solo career in 1971. During the 1970s he issued 18 singles and four albums, including "Rebel" (1976), "Stranger In The City" (1977), and "Zaragon" (1978). He had most success with singles; in addition to Music, he also charted with "Highfly" (1975), "Remember Yesterday" (1976), and "Slow Down" (1977). Most of his songs were co-written with his bassist Bob Marshall.
Miles has toured with Tina Turner, often filling in for Bryan Adams when the latter was unavailable to join her on tour for their duet. Miles is also a frequent guest vocalist on albums by The Alan Parsons Project.
In the 1980s he continued to record and tour. In 1983 a new radio station in the south of England, Radio Mercury, used parts from the song "Music" for their link jingles. The actual song itself also received extensive airplay on the station, leading one to speculate this was perhaps part of a deal for the usage in their jingles.
A list of Miles album releases from the 1980s and 1990s is as follows:
Sympathy (1980)
Miles High (1981)
John Miles' Music (1982)
Play On (1983)
Transition (1985)
John Miles Live In Concert (1992)
Anthology (1993)
Upfront (1993)
Master Series (1998)
Tom and Catherine (1999)
Millennium Edition (1999)
Throughout the late 80s and into the 90s John Miles was musical director to Tina Turner on her various tours, and played on several of her albums. He also played Hammond organ on Joe Cocker's album "Night Calls"(1992).
In 2002 he issued the DVD "John Miles - Live In Concert." In 2007, Miles performed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany with German band Pur and sang two songs. One of those songs, "Abenteuerland", Miles sang with Pur in German. The concert is available on the DVD, Pur-Friends-Live-Schalke-2007. In October 2008, Miles began touring once again with Tina Turner until May 2009.
In 2017, Miles was awarded an outstanding contribution to music award at the Progressive Rock awards.
Pull the Damn Thing Down
John Miles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're gonna build a highway.
And either side we'll beautify
With concrete reaching to the sky.
Pull the damn thing down,
Soon you won't remember,
As all the people turn their backs
On cobbled stones and chimney stacks.
They're gonna pull his house down,
They say that it's a slum.
No thought for peoples feelings
'Cause progress has to come.
The home he's had for sixty years
Is standing in their way,
So they'll find an institution
Where he'll spend his lonely days.
Pull the damn thing down,
We're gonna build a highway.
And I decide we'll beautify
With concrete reaching to the sky.
Pull the damn thing down,
Soon you won't remember,
As all the people turn their backs
On cobbled stones and chimney stacks.
Pull the damn thing down!
He's back home for the first time
In nearly twenty years,
With money and position
And wife in mink and furs.
Places that he used to know
Before he broke the ties
Are all multi-storey car parks
And he can't believe his eyes.
Pull the damn thing down,
We're gonna build a highway.
And I decide we'll beautify
With concrete reaching to the sky.
Pull the damn thing down,
Soon you won't remember,
As all the people turn their backs
On cobbled stones and chimney stacks.
Pull the damn thing down!
People don't want changes
To keep up with the times.
Secure in their surroundings
And leading quiet lives.
And then the man from London town
Decides to rearrange
And the place that they remember
Will just never be the same.
Pull the damn thing down,
We're gonna build a highway.
And I decide we'll beautify
With concrete reaching to the sky.
Pull the damn thing down,
Soon you won't remember,
As all the people turn their backs
On cobbled stones and chimney stacks.
Pull the damn thing down!
The song "Pull the Damn Thing Down" by John Miles is a commentary on modernization and urbanization in cities. The lyrics describe the destruction of old buildings and neighborhoods to make way for new highways and high-rise buildings, with little thought for the people who are affected by these changes. The song suggests that this kind of progress comes at a cost, and that the destruction of the past can have a deep impact on people's lives.
The chorus, "Pull the damn thing down, we're gonna build a highway," is a call to action, urging the destruction of old buildings to make way for new infrastructure. The lyrics go on to describe the emotional toll this kind of modernization can have on people who are forced to leave their homes and communities behind. The lines, "No thought for people's feelings, 'cause progress has to come," reflect the callous attitude of those in power who prioritize progress over the well-being of individuals.
The song also highlights the tension between urban and rural life. The singer of the song returns to his hometown after being away for twenty years, only to find it unrecognizable, with his old haunts replaced by multi-story car parks. The lyrics suggest that urbanization and modernization can erase the history and identity of a place, leaving it a soulless concrete jungle.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull the damn thing down,
The singer wants to demolish a building or structure.
We're gonna build a highway.
They plan to construct a new road.
And either side we'll beautify
With concrete reaching to the sky.
Both sides of the road will be decorated with tall concrete structures.
Soon you won't remember,
In the near future, people won't recall the old way of life.
As all the people turn their backs
On cobbled stones and chimney stacks.
People abandon old architectural styles in favor of modern ones.
They're gonna pull his house down,
Someone's home is set to be demolished.
They say that it's a slum.
The authorities consider this particular home to be in poor condition.
No thought for peoples feelings
'Cause progress has to come.
The government doesn't care about the citizens' emotions as they prioritize development.
The home he's had for sixty years
Is standing in their way,
The character has lived in this house for a long time, but the authorities perceive it as an obstacle.
So they'll find an institution
Where he'll spend his lonely days.
The house's owner will be placed in an unfamiliar institution as a result of the demolition of the house.
He's back home for the first time
In nearly twenty years,
The singer returns to his hometown for the first time in two decades.
With money and position
And wife in mink and furs.
The artist has gained wealth, status, and a well-dressed wife.
Places that he used to know
Before he broke the ties
Are all multi-storey car parks
And he can't believe his eyes.
The singer discovers that the areas where he once had memories have been transformed into large parking lots, and he is astounded.
People don't want changes
To keep up with the times.
Individuals resist adapting to newer ways of life to remain old-fashioned.
Secure in their surroundings
And leading quiet lives.
People enjoy their safe, stable environment and peaceful lifestyles.
And then the man from London town
Decides to rearrange
And the place that they remember
Will just never be the same.
A person from London disrupts the peaceful atmosphere by reshaping the area, eradicating its previous distinctive features.
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