Farren was the singer with the proto-punk English band The Deviants between 1967 and 1969, releasing three albums. In 1970 he released the solo album Mona – The Carnivorous Circus which also featured Steve Peregrin Took, John Gustafson and Paul Buckmaster, before leaving the music business to concentrate on his writing.
In the mid-1970s, he briefly returned to music releasing the EP Screwed Up, album Vampires Stole My Lunch Money and single "Broken Statue". The album featured fellow NME journalist Chrissie Hynde and Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson.
He has sporadically returned to music, collaborating with Wayne Kramer on Who Shot You Dutch? and Death Tongue, Jack Lancaster on The Deathray Tapes and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums Eating Jello With a Heated Fork and Dr. Crow.
Aside from his own work, he has provided lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He has collaborated with Lemmy, co-writing "Lost Johnny" for Hawkwind, and "Keep Us on the Road" and "Damage Case" for Motörhead. With Larry Wallis, he co-wrote "When's the Fun Begin?" for the Pink Fairies and several tracks on Wallis' solo album Death in a Guitar Afternoon. He provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single "Get Some" in the mid-1970s, and continued to work with and for him during the 1990s.
In the early 1970s he contributed to the UK Underground press such as the International Times, also establishing Nasty Tales which he successfully defended from an obscenity charge. He went on to write for the main stream New Musical Express, where he wrote the article The Titanic Sails At Dawn, an analysis of what he saw as the malaise afflicting then-contemporary rock music which described the conditions that subsequently gave rise to punk.[1]
To date he has written 23 novels, including the Victor Renquist novels and the DNA Cowboys sequence. His prophetic 1989 novel The Armageddon Crazy deals with a post-2000 United States which is dominated by fundamentalists who dismantle the Constitution.
Farren has written 11 works of non-fiction, a number of biographical (including four on Elvis Presley), autobiographical and culture books (such as The Black Leather Jacket) and a plethora of poetry.
Since 2003, he has been a columnist for the weekly Los Angeles CityBeat.
Summertime Blues
Mick Farren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna raise a holler
'Bout workin' all summer
Just to try to earn a dollar
Well, I went to the boss man
Tried to get a break
But the boss said 'No dice, son,
You gotta work late'
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Well, my Mom and Poppa told me
Son, you gotta earn some money
If you want to use the care
To go riding next Sunday
Well, I wouldn't go to work
I told the boss I was sick
He said 'You can't use the car
'Cause you didn't work a lick'
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Gonna take two weeks
Gonna have a fine vacation
Gonna take my problem
To the United Nations
Well' I went to my congressman
He said 'quote'
'I'd like to help you son,
But you're too young to vote'
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Mick Farren's song Summertime Blues addresses the plight of a young person trying to make a living during the summer months where there is work to be done but little to no break in sight. The singer is frustrated by the fact that they have to work all summer just to earn a meager amount of money. The song's lyrics create a lively back and forth between the youth and their boss, as they try to negotiate a break to ease the burden of working all summer. The youth's parents and government officials also weigh in, highlighting the broader social issues that the young person is facing.
The song's message is one of rebellion against the system that deprives young people of their summers by forcing them to work long hours for little pay. The lyrics also take a dig at the government and their inability to address the plight of young workers. The young person in the song is determined to find a cure for the summertime blues, even if it means taking the matter to the United Nations.
Overall, Summertime Blues aims to capture the generational divide between young people and employers, as well as the systemic problems that young people face in the workforce. The lyrics' lively tone serves to create a fun and catchy song while still addressing critical social issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm gonna raise a fuss
I am going to make a big deal out of this situation.
I'm gonna raise a holler
I am going to make a loud protest about this.
'Bout workin' all summer
This is about working consistently throughout the entire summer season.
Just to try to earn a dollar
All this labor is just an attempt to make some money.
Well, I went to the boss man
I spoke to my employer about my grievances.
Tried to get a break
I attempted to negotiate for some time off.
But the boss said 'No dice, son,
Unfortunately, my employer declined my request outright.
You gotta work late'
Instead of taking time off, I have to work even more hours.
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
I often think about possible solutions to my problems.
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Unfortunately, there is no fix for the struggles of working hard throughout the summer.
Well, my Mom and Poppa told me
My parents gave me some advice about earning money.
Son, you gotta earn some money
They stressed the importance of making a living.
If you want to use the care
In order to use the car, I need to have the means to afford it.
To go riding next Sunday
I want to have the freedom to go out and have fun on the weekend.
Well, I wouldn't go to work
I refused to go to work that day.
I told the boss I was sick
I lied to my employer about my condition to avoid working.
He said 'You can't use the car
My boss denied me access to the car because I didn't work.
'Cause you didn't work a lick'
My employer was angry because I didn't work at all that day.
Gonna take two weeks
I am planning on taking a 14-day vacation.
Gonna have a fine vacation
I want to relax and have a great time during my time off.
Gonna take my problem
I want to solve my work-related issues.
To the United Nations
I am figuratively planning on taking my problems to the highest power to get them resolved.
Well' I went to my congressman
I sought the help of my representative in government.
He said 'quote'
My representative spoke to me directly.
'I'd like to help you son,
My representative expressed empathy for my struggles.
But you're too young to vote'
Unfortunately, because of my age, there isn't much my representative can do to help me.
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
I am still thinking about potential solutions to my problems.
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Unfortunately, my problems persist and there is no easy solution.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDDIE COCHRAN, JERRY NEAL CAPEHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kim Grant
Twink played drums!
Chris Harten
Man I'd love to hear an audiobook of the book 'the long orbit...
ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ
Nice version.
Lester Stickings
Cool as effin feck!