The Manics released their debut album Generation Terrorists in 1992. Their combination of androgynous glam punk imagery, outspoken invective and songs about "culture, alienation, boredom and despair" soon gained them a loyal following and cult status. The band's later albums retained a politicized and intellectual lyrical style, while adopting a broader alternative rock sound. Enigmatic lyricist Richey Edwards gained early notoriety by carving the words "4 REAL" into his arm with a razor blade (narrowly missing an artery and requiring seventeen stitches) in response to the suggestion that the band were less than authentic. The dark nature of 1994's The Holy Bible reflected the culmination of Edwards' instability.
Following Edwards' disappearance, Bradfield, Moore, and Wire persisted with the Manic Street Preachers and went on to gain critical and commercial success, becoming one of Britain's premier rock bands. They have had eight top ten albums and fifteen top ten singles. They have reached number one three times, with their 1998 album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours and the singles "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" (1998) and "The Masses Against The Classes" (2000). The Masses Against The Classes Songfacts reports that the latter was the first UK #1 of 2000. They have also won the Best British Album and Best British Group accolades at the BRIT Awards in 1997 and 1999, and were lauded by the NME for their lifetime achievements in 2008. Their ninth studio album, Journal For Plague Lovers, was released on 18th May 2009 and features lyrics Edwards had left behind to the band weeks before his disappearance.
They came together in 1986, when James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Sean Moore and rhythm guitarist Flicker formed Betty Blue in the small South Wales town of Blackwood. Two years later, Flicker had left and Nicky's friend Richey Edwards (previously the group's driver) joined in his place. Richey would later say in Vox magazine, "If you built a museum to represent Blackwood, all you could put in it would be shit. We used to meet by this opening called Pen-y-Fan. It was built when the mines closed down but now the water has turned green and slimy. They put 2,000 fish in it, but they died. There's a whirlpool in the middle where about two people die every year". A bleak image, then, but it provided the necessary fuel to drive the band.
Inspired by the passion of The Clash, and moved by Thatcher's suppression of the miners, the band's lyrics exploded with politicised anger. Their first single, the self-financed Suicide Alley, didn't make great waves, and the band moved to London. There, they found a sympathetic character in the form of Bob Stanley: later a member of St Etienne, but then a freelancer for the Melody Maker.
Stanley released a collection of their demos as the New Art Riot EP in June 1990. It caught the attention of Philip Hall, who became their publicist and co-manager.
In early 1991 Heavenly released Motown Junk, an inspired three-minute punk blast. Later that year it was followed by You Love Us, a swaggering, arrogant self-regarding slice of brilliance.
The Manics paved the way for a resurgence of guitar bands in Wales. In the press, they were forced to live with punning headlines referring to sheep, boyos and leeks - they got all the clichés out of the way so the bands of the so-called Cool Cymru would be taken more seriously.
Yet their image often overshadowed the music. On 15 May 1991 came a turning point for the Manics. Following a gig at Norwich Arts Centre, Steve Lamacq, then writing for the NME, argued with the band that they were a cartoon band - not real punks. The band refuted this, but still Lamacq persisted. Frustrated, Richey Edwards took a razor and calmly carved the words 4 REAL into his forearm. Lamacq was horrified; Richey needed 17 stitches. Six days later the Manics signed to Sony. Richey had suffered from depression for many years, and self-mutilation had become increasingly common for him. But the Norwich incident was the first time the guitarist had aired his emotional problems in public.
In February 1992 the debut album Generation Terrorists was released. Heavily influenced by Appetite For Destruction, Richey said of it, "We wanted to sign to the biggest record label in the world, put out a debut album that would sell 20 million, and then break up. Get massive and then just throw it all away". The album sold 250,000 copies worldwide. Predictably they didn't split up, but the album polarised opinion between those that saw them as the new saviours of rock and roll, and detractors who considered them contrived and insincere. Not that the Manics cared: they were off on their first American tour, shortly after the LA riots, and singles such as Slash 'N' Burn and Motorcycle Emptiness were climbing up the charts.
The second Manics album was released in June 1993. Gold Against The Soul was overproduced and less passionate, but did contain the classic songs La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) and From Despair To Where. However, they also chose to support Bon Jovi for a string of unwise live dates. The troubles continued with the death on 7 December 1993 of their mentor Philip Hall, who had been battling cancer for two years. Meanwhile, Richey's problems were worsening. Weighing less than six stone and subjecting his body to drinking and cutting binges, he was eventually admitted to the Priory in Roehampton.
Richey's despair was documented in what is now considered the Manics' masterpiece, 1994's 'The Holy Bible'. Unremittingly bleak, the opening song Yes contained the lines "I eat and I dress and I wash and I still can say thank you / Puking, shaking, sinking / Can't shout, can't scream, I hurt myself to get pain out". The song was about prostitution, but every line emanated from Richey's fragile state of mind. He rejoined the band for tours with Therapy? and Suede (and an early incarnation of Vitriol I.D.) in Europe, and a series of frantic shows at the London Astoria in December. The final night saw them destroying 10,000 worth of their equipment. "We'll never be that good again," said Nicky after the event. It was also their last live appearance as a four-piece.
Although they had never found transatlantic success, at the beginning of 1995 they were preparing to give America one last try. However, on 1 February Richey walked out of the Embassy hotel in London and never returned. His passport and money were found in his Cardiff Bay flat, and two weeks later his car was discovered beside the Severn Bridge - a notorious local suicide spot. The file on his disappearance remains open.
"We decided to carry on in April," said Nicky Wire in The Guardian, "after two months of waiting by the phone and feeling ill and exhausted. We thought we'd been so close, and in the end we couldn't do anything for him." September saw the band record a cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head for the War Child "Help" album, and by January 1996 the Manics were recording their comeback album 'Everything Must Go'. It was released on 20 May to critical acclaim, went double platinum and yielded four top ten singles: 'A Design For Life', the title track, 'Kevin Carter' and 'Australia'. The sound represents a cross between the heavy rock of 'Gold Against The Soul' and a new, less agressive, almost Britpop like sound.
Two Brit Awards later, they released the LP This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours which gave the band their first number one single in If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next, perhaps the only song that references the Spanish Civil War to ever appear on Top of the Pops.
On December 31st 1999 the band said goodbye to the 20th Century with a gig at Cardiff Millennium Stadium, attended by upwards of 50,000 people. This was followed by their second number one single, The Masses Against The Classes, which hit the top spot despite not having a video or marketing support from their record company.
Shortly afterwards, Nicky stated that "the fourth era of the Manics is beginning".
The fourth era, so far, has involved an audience with Fidel Castro in Cuba, the 2001 album Know Your Enemy, and continuing success. Their long awaited greatest hits collection, Forever Delayed, appeared in October 2002, followed in 2003 by Lipstick Traces, a two-disc collection of covers, B-sides, and outtakes including the last song recorded with Richey, 'Judge Yr'self'.
The Manics returned in November 2004 with the more reflective Lifeblood, which featured the singles The Love Of Richard Nixon and Empty Souls, both of which went straight in at number two in the charts.
Not to rest on their laurels, the band released a 10th anniversary edition of The Holy Bible in December 2004 which included a digitally remastered version of the original album, a never before heard U.S mix and a DVD of live performances and extras.
In April 2005 the Manics released a limited 3 track E.P. titled God Save The Manics as a free download but with hard copies distributed also without cost at the final date of their small, intimate 'Past Present and Future' tour at Hammersmith Apollo, London - their last show before a two year hiatus.
Later that year the band contributed the new track Leviathan to September's War Child charity album Help: A Day in the Life, becoming one of the few bands to contribute tracks to both albums.
2006 saw both James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire releasing solo albums, The Great Western and I Killed the Zeitgeist respectively. But both insisted that this in no way meant an end to the Manics and in December the band headlined XFM's Winter Wonderland gig in Manchester.
2007 sees the band enter yet another era with their 8th studio album, Send Away The Tigers, which was released on May 7th.
The album Journal For Plague Lovers was released in May 2009 and features lyrics left to the band by Richey before he disappeared. They released several different versions of the album, including a special edition, which has a book featuring copies of the original typed lyrics and pictures that went with them, and a bonus disc with all the original demos, recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, which they say is one of their favourite studios.
Their 10th studio album, Postcards from a Young Man, was released in September 2010. The album features several guest artists: Duff McKagan on A Billion Balconies Facing the Sun, John Cale on Auto-Intoxication and Ian McCulloch on Some Kind of Nothingness. A deluxe edition was also released containing a bonus disc with the original demos on it.
In 2011 the band released their second compilation National Treasures- The Complete Singles Collection, a release preceded by new single This Is The Day a cover of a ´¨The The song. The collection featured every single released since and including Motown Junk.
http://www.manicstreetpreachers.com
07 Little Baby Nothing
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your lack of ego offends male mentality
They need your innocence
To steal vacant love and to destroy
Your beauty and virginity used like toys
My mind is dead, everybody loves me
Wants a slice of me
Need to belong, oh the roads are scarey
So hold me in your arms
I want to be your only possession
Used, used, used by men
All they leave behind is money
Paper made out of broken twisted trees
Your pretty face offends
Because it's something real that I can't touch
Eyes, skin, bone, contour, language as a flower
No god reached me, faded films and loving books
Black and white TV
All the world does not exist for me
And if I'm starving, you can feed me lollipops
Your diet will crush me
My life just an old man's memory
Little baby nothing
Loveless slavery, lips kissing empty
Dress your life in loathing
Breaking your mind with Barbie Doll futility
Little baby nothing
Sexually free, made-up to breakup
Assassinated beauty
Moths broken up, quenched at last
The vermin allowed a thought to pass them by
You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair
You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair
The lyrics to Manic Street Preachers' "Little Baby Nothing" are a commentary on the objectification and exploitation of women by society, specifically by men. The first verse speaks directly to the person being addressed in the song, who is seen as an outcast because of her lack of conformity to traditional societal norms. The use of the word "ego" suggests that she is not fitting into society's expectations of what a woman should be, which is to be subservient to men. The second verse turns inward, with the singer admitting that they are "used by men," suggesting that they too have fallen prey to the same societal pressures.
The chorus, "little baby nothing," is a reference to the woman being addressed in the song. The phrase implies a loss of identity and a lack of agency, which is reinforced by the lyrics that follow. The notion of "loveless slavery" speaks to the idea that women are often objectified and used for their physical beauty, without being loved for who they are as individuals. The use of the word "Barbie Doll" further reinforces this idea, suggesting that the woman being addressed is seen as nothing more than an object to be played with and discarded.
The final verse of the song brings together the themes of culture, alienation, boredom and despair that have been running throughout the song. The line "we are the useless sluts that they mould" suggests that society has shaped both men and women to conform to certain stereotypes and expectations, and that this conformity leaves both sexes feeling empty and unfulfilled. The reference to rock 'n' roll as an "epiphany" suggests that music can provide an escape from these societal pressures, but it also speaks to the power of music to comment on and critique these same societal pressures.
Overall, "Little Baby Nothing" is a powerful critique of the ways in which women are exploited and objectified by society, and the impact that this has on both men and women.
Line by Line Meaning
No one likes looking at you
People don't like to look at you, maybe because of how you look or act.
Your lack of ego offends male mentality
The fact that you aren't full of yourself goes against what men believe they should be like and is offensive to them.
They need your innocence
They want to take advantage of your purity or inexperience.
To steal vacant love and to destroy
They want to take your love, which might not have anyone in it, and use it for their own gain. Their actions might have negative consequences on you.
Your beauty and virginity used like toys
They use your physical beauty and lack of sexual experience like playthings, not respecting your autonomy or consent.
My mind is dead, everybody loves me
I feel emotionally numb, yet many people pretend to like me for their own reasons.
Wants a slice of me
They want to benefit from my reputation, status or appearances.
Hopelessly passive and compatible
I'm too compliant and easy to get along with, which makes me vulnerable to manipulation.
Need to belong, oh the roads are scary
I have a strong desire to fit in somewhere, but life seems full of dangers and uncertainties.
So hold me in your arms
Please provide me with physical affection and safety.
I want to be your only possession
I want to be exclusively owned by you, so that I don't have to worry about other people taking advantage of me.
Used, used, used by men
Men have taken advantage of me repeatedly.
All they leave behind is money
All those men have given me is financial compensation, which can't heal the emotional harm they caused me.
Paper made out of broken twisted trees
The money they give me is made from harmful and destructive processes towards nature.
Your pretty face offends
Your natural beauty makes me realize my own shortcomings and the harshness of reality.
Because it's something real that I can't touch
I can't really possess your beauty or understand it, it's something beyond my reach.
Eyes, skin, bone, contour, language as a flower
Your physical aspects and way of communicating are like vivid and symbolic representations of life.
No god reached me, faded films and loving books
I have no spiritual enlightenment or guidance. The movies and books that brought me comfort and joy are now old and worn, leaving me with nostalgia.
Black and white TV
The only things that bring me solace are outdated and gray. There is no color or vibrancy left in my life.
All the world does not exist for me
I feel isolated, as if the world doesn't have anything to offer me anymore.
And if I'm starving, you can feed me lollipops
If I'm in desperate need of nourishment or support, I'll take whatever short-term relief I can get, even if it doesn't solve my problems.
Your diet will crush me
Your usual approach to life and the choices you make might end up hurting me or bring me down.
My life just an old man's memory
My life feels like it happened a long time ago, like someone's distant and forgotten reminiscences.
Little baby nothing
You're young and inexperienced, vulnerable to the harshness of the world.
Loveless slavery, lips kissing empty
You're in a state of captivity, unable to form genuine relationships or communicate your needs and desires effectively.
Dress your life in loathing
You have a negative relationship with yourself, and feel ashamed or undeserving of happiness.
Breaking your mind with Barbie Doll futility
You are being misled by society's standards of beauty and perfection, which are unrealistic and unattainable, leading to feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness.
Sexually free, made-up to breakup
You feel like your sexuality is your only way to find freedom or expression, but the relationships you form based on it don't last long.
Assassinated beauty
Your natural beauty is being systematically destroyed or devalued by the people around you.
Moths broken up, quenched at last
The people who are supposed to protect you have failed, leaving you feeling abandoned and hopeless.
The vermin allowed a thought to pass them by
The people who have hurt you may have had moments of empathy or guilt, but ultimately do nothing to change or improve the situation.
You are pure, you are snow
You are innocent and unspoiled, like the first snowfall.
We are the useless sluts that they mould
The rest of us have been coerced and controlled by society's expectations of what a woman should be, and fail to support and empower each other.
Rock 'n' roll is our epiphany
Music, specifically rock and roll, is one of the few things that we can connect with authentically, evoking strong emotions and providing temporary respite from our lives.
Culture, alienation, boredom and despair
We feel disconnected from the world and the people around us, leading to unfulfillment and despondency.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES BRADFIELD, NICHOLAS JONES, RICHARD EDWARDS, SEAN MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nazperalta1794
I've recently (re) fallen in love with the Manics. I first saw them live when I was 18 (Astoria, July 1992, with Richey) and at the time was the proud owner of the Generation Terrorists CD. I bought every album up until Postcards from a Young Man, then lost track a bit as family and kids got in the way. Working at home I recently spent a couple of days listening to all the albums back to back, and reconnecting with so many songs. I can't think of another band that has so many beautiful tracks, and as a group they have always stayed grounded and not blinded by success/the limelight. Definitely one of the bands I'd like to see again post lockdown.
@granto6738
Best wishes from Durham England ❤ 🇬🇧
@meekcheeks
This band is seriously up there with the most underrated bands of all time. I love all their music. But I'm glad they didn't get so recognised because they put out good music all the time.
@dmore
Didn’t get so recognised? Four No 1 singles, 11 NME Awards, 8 Q Awards, 4 Brit Awards & 2 Mercury Noms. They regularly headline festivals, have sold tens of millions of albums worldwide and have one of the most mysterious (and tragic) rock stories of all time… they are pretty recognised lol
@kyogofurahashi
I don't think they were underrated, they been adored by millions of fan globally, it's just that their type of music is not commercial enuff, just my opinion
@robbieporter1612
So agree with you mate
@MelD1404
@@dmoreHeadlining festivals? Especially these days when the festival line up (Glasto 23) looks like it's in alphabetical order ... anyway the only sure thing is the Manics have always made really good music 😘
@shonabeggs4640
We're you unwell when you wrote that?
@alexreid4131
Talent, insight, wisdom (beyond their years at the time), intelligence, crazy work ethic, empathy and big brass balls!!! The Manics might be one of the best bands of all time.
@johnbenson5154
lets give it up for Traci Lords fantastic vocals, she sells this song like no one else could have -
Rock n Roll is our epiphany !