The first of these albums, The Fake Sound of Progress, was originally recorded for the meager sum of £6000 and intended as a glorified demo, but after catching the ears of several major labels, the band re-recorded and re-released the album on a much wider scale through Columbia Records. This resulted in a backlash against the band that was exacerbated by the four-year gap between their first and second albums. When the second album, Start Something, was finally released, the band achieved even greater success, entering the UK album chart at number five, and earning the band international popularity, most notably in the United States. Their third album entitled Liberation Transmission was released on the 26th of June 2006 in the UK and entered the UK album chart at number one.
In April 2007 Lostprophets began the Final Transmission - the last round of touring of their current album with Aiden and Taking Back Sunday as the confirmed support. The bands played at huge venues such as Wembley Arena. The end the tour, on Saturday 26 May 2007, lostprophets performed at The Full Ponty festival at Pontypridd's Ynysangharad Park. Pontypridd is also the hometown of most of the current band members and so the festival was advertised as "lostprophets homecoming". Other bands at the festival included Reel Big Fish, The Automatic, The Blackout, Gallows and Kids In Glass Houses .Following the tour, the band hit the studio to record their fourth album which Ian Watkins is describing as a return to their roots with heavier punk influences. Watkins says "It will be a lot darker and a lot more intense. It'll have a completely different vibe to it ... but it won't be like Converge or nuthin".
Their 4th studio album "The Betrayed" was released on 19 January 2010.
On 20 December 2012, lead singer Ian Watkins was charged with a host of offences involving sexual activity with minors. The band disbanded in October 2013. Watkins was later convicted and sentenced to twenty-nine years in prison, with six more on extended licence.
Current lineup
Ian Watkins — Vocals
Lee Gaze — Lead Guitar
Mike Lewis — Rhythm Guitar
Stuart Richardson — Bass
Jamie Oliver — Keyboards, Back-up vocals, Turntables
Luke Johnson — Drums
Former members
DJ Stepzak — Turntables
Mike Chiplin — Drums
Ilan Rubin — Drums
For He's a Jolly Good Felon
Lostprophets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause we know where your from,
You get along by taking things that don't belong to you.
So can you feel it?
Oh when you steel it!
All that adrenalin, living in sin,
And you can sell it off for half the price!
Oh what would your mother say?
We take to get along,
We're holding on, we're holding on,
And all these estates we're on,
Everyone's singing!
Mikey, oh where'd you get those Nike's?
'Cause I know you ain't got, the notes to drop.
Left alone you'd take the fucking lot!
Not succeeding, nothing to believe in.
Cause it will all go wrong, everything's gone.
Now your future is on the roll of a dice,
And that's the price that you pay!
We take to get along,
We're holding on, we're holding on,
And all these estates we're on,
Everyone's singing!
We don't need anyone!
We're holding on, we're holding on,
All the police are wrong,
So we're still singing.
7 days a week, patrolling all these streets.
I try to stop, but I can't help it.
I know you call me weak, my future is oblique.
I take to get along, cause I still need it.
We take to get along,
We're holding on, we're holding on,
And all these estates we're on,
Everyone's still singing!
We take to get along,
We're holding on, we're holding on,
And all these estates we're on,
Everyone's singing!
We don't need anyone!
We're holding on, we're holding on!
We don't need anyone!
Everyone's singing.
We don't need anyone!
We're holding on, we're holding on!
We don't need anyone!
'Cause we're still singing.
The lyrics to Lostprophets' "For He's A Jolly Good Felon" discuss the experience of living in a lower-income area and the desperation that can come with it. The song addresses two characters, Simon and Mikeys, who are involved in theft and other criminal activities. The singer notes that they "take to get along" and that they have "nothing to believe in" except for the rush they get from their illegal activities. The singer also references the fact that these activities come with consequences and that the characters are gambling with their future. Despite this, they continue to sing and hold on to their way of life.
The chorus of the song, "We take to get along, We're holding on, we're holding on, And all these estates we're on, Everyone's singing!", speaks to the communal experience of living in poverty. The characters are relying on each other to get by and find solace in the shared experience. The phrase "everyone's singing" suggests a sense of solidarity and community, even in the face of difficult circumstances.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the the complexities of living in poverty and the choices that are made out of necessity. It highlights the difficult decisions that people in low-income areas can face and the sense of community that can emerge from shared struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
Simon, don't stop with all the lying.
Simon, don't stop lying and deceiving, because we know your true motives.
'Cause we know where your from,
We are aware of your background and where you come from.
You get along by taking things that don't belong to you.
You survive by stealing things that do not belong to you.
So can you feel it?
Can you feel the rush of adrenaline that comes with stealing?
Oh when you steel it!
Oh, the feeling of excitement when you steal something!
All that adrenalin, living in sin,
The thrill of living an unlawful life, full of adrenaline.
And you can sell it off for half the price!
And you can sell the stolen items for a lower price than the original one.
Oh what would your mother say?
What would your mother think if she found out what you're doing?
We take to get along,
We steal to survive and fit in.
We're holding on, we're holding on,
We're barely staying alive.
And all these estates we're on,
We live in these rundown neighborhoods.
Everyone's singing!
Everyone is participating in this lifestyle!
Mikey, oh where'd you get those Nike's?
Mikey, where did you get those expensive Nike shoes?
'Cause I know you ain't got, the notes to drop.
I know you don't have the money to buy them.
Left alone you'd take the fucking lot!
If left alone, you would steal everything.
Not succeeding, nothing to believe in.
As you fail, you lose faith in yourself and your future.
Cause it will all go wrong, everything's gone.
Because everything is going downhill and is about to collapse.
Now your future is on the roll of a dice,
Your future is now uncertain and depends on luck.
And that's the price that you pay!
That's the consequence of this lifestyle!
All the police are wrong,
We don't trust or respect the police.
7 days a week, patrolling all these streets.
The police patrol these streets seven days a week.
I try to stop, but I can't help it.
I want to stop this lifestyle, but I can't.
I know you call me weak, my future is oblique.
I know you see me as weak and my future is uncertain.
We don't need anyone!
We don't need anyone's help.
Everyone's still singing!
Everyone is still participating in this lifestyle!
'Cause we're still singing.
Because we're still participating in this lifestyle!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind