Nostalgic Pushead
Manic Street Preachers Lyrics

One two three four five six seven eight
A count-in to the song, setting the rhythm and pace.

I am the raping sunglass gaze
The singer is a spectator, a voyeur, observing the world around him.

Of sweating man and escort agencies
He is watching a seedy world of sex and exploitation.

60's Alienation the anthem of care
Looking back at the counter-culture of the 1960s, it was not just about peace and love, but also about feeling alienated from the mainstream.

Now a knife constantly slashing eyelids
The singer is critical of contemporary culture and sees it as violent and painful.

Slavery to the beat
People are addicted to the music, it controls them.

Slavery to the chord
This line echoes the previous line, highlighting the repetitive nature of popular music.

Slavery to the pleasure
People are slaves to their own desires and need for instant gratification.

Slavery to the God
Perhaps a comment on how people make music, fashion, or celebrity idols their gods.

They dig the new scene and their parties
The ones who embrace contemporary culture are seen as shallow and only interested in superficial pleasures.

Where Stonehenge is worshiped and drugs a deity
The new scene is seen as a worship of ancient symbols and drugs.

Vicarious thrills re-run their youth
People try to relive their youth through nostalgia and imitation.

We follow we have no voice the dead
The singer feels powerless and voiceless in contemporary culture.

Radio nostalgia is radio death
Nostalgia on the radio is seen as sterile and dead.

I want to cover diamonds on my wife
The singer aspires to material wealth and status symbols.

Hardrock nostalgia the Stones on CD
Nostalgia for rock music is seen as a commercialized product.

Tranquilized icons for the sweet paralyzed
People are dulled and passive, accepting the icons of popular culture.

So cool the new sound of the decade
The singer is dismissive of contemporary music, seeing it as shallow and trendy.

Thinks it's so fresh not a post Elvis still
Despite the claims of originality, contemporary music is seen as derivative of past trends.

All taste is nothing old pictures blowdried
People have no discernment, they just follow the crowd and the trends.

Rebellion it always sells at a profit
The singer is cynical about how rebellion is turned into a commodity.

I am a face of fashion in Soho Square
The singer is commenting on his own status as part of the fashion industry and its shallowness.

My tie is Paul Smith or Gaultier
The singer is name-dropping luxury brands to signal his wealth and status.

My cheeks blood red as my favorite port
The singer is indulging in luxury and excess.

But hey cocaine keeps cholesterol at bay
The singer is mocking the absurdities of the rich and shallow, taking cocaine to keep healthy.

Slavery to the beat
The repetition of this line at the end reinforces the idea that people are slaves to popular culture.

Slavery to the chord
The same goes for this line, underscoring the monotony and predictability of contemporary music.

Slavery to the pleasure
And this line, emphasizing how people are trapped by their own desires.

Slavery to the God
Finally, this line suggests that people have become enslaved to their own images, idols, and superficial desires.