The band was formed by Roger Miller (guitar), Clint Conley (bass), Peter Prescott (drums) and Martin Swope (tape manipulator/sound engineer). Miller, Conley and Prescott share singing and songwriting duties. Like many of their post-punk contemporaries, Mission of Burma's efforts are largely concerned with extending punk's original vocabulary without losing its essential rebellious spirit. Using rapid shifts in dynamics, unconventional time signatures and chord progressions along with tape effects, Mission of Burma challenges the prevailing idioms of punk while attempting to retain its power and immediacy.
In early years the band's audience was limited to the Boston area, with all their recordings released on the small Boston-based record label Ace of Hearts. Despite initial success, Mission of Burma disbanded in 1983 due to Miller's development of tinnitus caused by the volume of the band's live performances. The band released only one album in its original form, Vs.. Mission of Burma reformed in 2002, with Bob Weston replacing Swope, and has since recorded two more albums, ONoffON and The Obliterati.
Their wall-of-noise musical sound extended the vocabulary of punk while continuing to hold clear its sense of power and abandon. They used a number of tape effects, different chord progressions, and time shifts to highlight their formal training in music. Not only that but they are seen now as a highly influential band to both post-punk and experimental music to come after; many bands cite Burma as an inspiration, including Nirvana, Superchunk, Creed, The Grifters, R.E.M. (who regularly covered "Academy Fight Song" on their Green tour), Sonic Youth, Throwing Muses, Yo La Tengo, Soul Asylum, Pixies, Sugar, Catherine Wheel, Guided by Voices, Graham Coxon and Moby - the last two of which have covered ""That's When I Reach For My Revolver."
The band were due to tour in 1980 with Joy Division but the suicide of Ian Curtis, Joy Division's singer, canceled the tour. In 1983, after releasing their only full-length studio record Vs., the group disbanded due to Miller's worsening tinnitus.
The band found increasing relevance throughout the 90s, culminating in the publication of Michael Azzerad's essays Our Band Could Be Your Life which featured Mission of Burma. In 2002, they reunited and began playing reunion shows with Bob Weston of Shellac (and formerly Prescott's Volcano Suns bandmate) replacing Swope at the mixing board and tape manipulation. In an interview Miller relates that "when we approached Bob Weston to fill Martin's position, we told him he could use current digital technology which accomplishes Martin's antics in an easier fashion. However, Bob opted for maintaining the original integrity, and uses a tape deck."
A new album, ONoffON, was produced in 2004 by Weston with Rick Harte and the band, and released by Matador Records.
In 2009 the band recorded 14 tracks for their fourth full-length studio album, The Sound The Speed The Light. Matador released a two non-album songs on a 7″ single in August and the full album in October of that year.
In 2012 Mission of Burma parted ways with Matador and recorded their fifth full-length album, "Unsound", for Fire Records. The album saw release in July 2012, preceded by the single "Dust Devil".
In a 2019 Facebook post, it was revealed that the band has no plans to make further albums. As of June 2020, the band was officially finished.
See also:
Birdsongs of the Mesozoic
Volcano Suns
Kustomized
The Peer Group
Consonant
New Nails
Mission of Burma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It got changed by fascist crooks
(Save me please for I am weak)
There were once some great ideas
Now they're watered down too thin
(Save me please for I am weak)
(Save me please for I'm a sheep)
But when he said
"Don't make an idol of me"
"Don't make an idol of me"
"Don't make an idol of me"
The Roman Empire never died
(Save me I am not a goat)
Just changed it to the Catholic Church
(Dionysus has?)
The Roman Empire never died
(Have a?)
(Save me I am not a goat)
(laughing)
But when he said
"Don't make an idol of me"
"Don't make an idol of me"
"Don't make an idol of me"
Plastic idols of me
Plaster idols of me
"Don't make an idol of me"
Well when I walk the shores of Galilee
Where only the spirit can talk to me
Well I walk the shores of Galilee
Desert, sand, no one can touch me
Don't touch me!
No!
Oh no!
Oh no!
Oh no!
Oh no!
Oh no!
What's this?
What's this?
All these crimes
committed in my name?
Oh well
The song 'New Nails' by Mission of Burma is a protest song that talks about how great ideas and culture have been stripped down by fascist beliefs. The song begins with the introduction of a special book that got altered by fascist crooks, leading to the dilution of great ideas. The chorus of the song "Save me please for I am weak" emphasizes the helplessness of the people who had to face the atrocities of the greedy regimes.
The song continues to speak about the Roman Empire, showcasing how it never died, but transformed into the Catholic Church. The song urges people to not idolize others because it will lead to their downfall. The line "Plastic idols of me, Plaster idols of me" represents how people idolize celebrities and politicians for their power and fame without knowing their true nature.
The song ends with the line "All these crimes committed in my name" highlights the exploitation of people for personal gain. The song appeals to individuals to be vigilant and stay away from making false idols.
Line by Line Meaning
There was once a special book
There used to be a valuable book
It got changed by fascist crooks
Fascist rulers altered the content of the book
(Save me please for I am weak)
Asking for help or support as one feels powerless
There were once some great ideas
Earlier, there were some excellent concepts
Now they're watered down too thin
Currently, the ideas have lost their effectiveness and impact
(Save me please for I am weak)
Reiterating the feeling of helplessness and requesting aid
(Save me please for I'm a sheep)
Comparing oneself to a passive follower who needs guidance and protection
Well I suppose it's human nature
Acknowledging that human behavior can be quite predictable
But when he said
Referring to an alternate opinion
"Don't make an idol of me"
Stating not to worship or revere someone too much
"Don't make an idol of me"
Repeating the warning for emphasis
"Don't make an idol of me"
Once again, advising not to put someone on a pedestal
The Roman Empire never died
Comparing the continuity of Roman Empire to that of the Church
(Save me I am not a goat)
Suggesting to not be misled like a goat or a sheep
Just changed it to the Catholic Church
The Roman Empire evolved into the Catholic Church
(Dionysus has?)
A strange question which demands an answer or explanation
The Roman Empire never died
Reiterating the idea that the Roman Empire is still alive
(Have a?)
Another mysterious query that requires clarification
(Save me I am not a goat)
Asking not to be misguided or exploited
(laughing)
The author is now laughing for some reason
But when he said
Returning to the previous point again
"Don't make an idol of me"
One more reminder to not idolize anyone
"Don't make an idol of me"
Repeating the warning a fifth time
"Don't make an idol of me"
The last declaration to not venerate someone excessively
Plastic idols of me
Suggesting that the endless repetition of ideals lead to artificial replicas
Plaster idols of me
Indicating that the repetition of the same ideas in various forms becomes stale
"Don't make an idol of me"
One last warning to not idolize anyone
Well when I walk the shores of Galilee
Recalling a spiritual place for the author
Where only the spirit can talk to me
Emphasizing the spiritual aspect of the place
Well I walk the shores of Galilee
Repeating the earlier reference to the spiritual place
Desert, sand, no one can touch me
The author feels most secure and aware in solitude
Don't touch me!
A warning not to interfere with his inner world
No!
Indicating a strong negation or a refusal to comply with something
Oh no!
An exclamation of dismay, surprise or disbelief
Oh no!
Another instance of surprise, alarm or uncertainty
Oh no!
An additional declaration of consternation or opposition
Oh no!
Fifth instance of expressing anxiety, disapproval or concern
Oh no!
Feeling of disillusionment, anger or apprehension
What's this?
Asking inquisitively for more information or explanation
What's this?
Requiring additional details or clarification
All these crimes
Referring to nefarious deeds committed in the name of religion or ideology
Committed in my name?
Showing dissatisfaction with such actions and asking if it is true
Oh well
Resignation to a situation or an acceptance of something unpleasant
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nymetsrock
had this song stuck in my head all day
jackson2578
Cornershop isn't weird, they just play their music with their own cultural spin on it. Their great.
murphygp
"Guitar was so fucking loud in my headphones I couldn't tell whether I had the fuzztone on or not".
fedagfsdgads
THE ROMAN EMPIRE NEVER DIED
Brightest Angel
THE ROMAN EMPIRE NEVER DIED!!!!!
ZRN959
it's cool!
vi }:)
Head banging at 6am? Always:)
jackson2578
It's freaking weird!
jackson2578
LISTEN TO IT THEN!
jackson2578
Yea. Once again, on the CD I gave you.