As the years progressed, the PiL line-up would change, adding renowned drummer Martin Atkins in 1979 as the direction of the band evolved. Compared to their first three albums, the later 1980’s/early 1990’s period saw a more conventional sound to the musical aspect, but still retaining Lydon’s biting lyrics. The album Compact Disc (aka Album or Cassette, depending on what format you have it on), recorded by Lydon with a slate of studio musicians organized by producer Bill Laswell, is considered the artistic highpoint of this period of PiL’s evolution. PiL reached their commercial zenith with their aptly titled ninth album, 9, during 1989/1990.
PiL kept going as a Lydon project until 1993, when Lydon disbanded the group. Their final lineup consisted of Lydon, Ted Chau (guitar, keyboards), Mike Joyce of The Smiths (drums), John McGeoch of Magazine and Siouxsie and the Banshees (guitar), and Russel Webb (bass).
seattle
P.I.L. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What goes up must come down
Character is lost and found
On unfamiliar playing ground
Get out of my world
What in the world
Have all your functions rearranged
Your mind and body gagged and bound
On a new familiar playing ground
The ordinary will ignore
Whatever they cannot explain
As if - nothing ever happened
And everything remained the same again
What in the world
What in the world
What in the world
Get out of my world
Get out of my world
Get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Get up, get out, get out of my world
Open your mouth now
Secret signs and knowing looks
These sunny days will cook the books
Happy to take the misery
This mortal life can bring to me
Don't like the look of this town
What goes up must come down
Character is lost and found on unfamilliar playing ground
What in the world
What in the world
What in the world
What in, get out, get out, get out of my world
What in the world
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
The lyrics to P.I.L.'s song Seattle are full of imagery and social commentary. The song is a commentary on the state of Seattle, which is presented as a tired, worn-out town that is losing its character. John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) sings about how everything that goes up must come down, and how character is lost and found on unfamiliar playing grounds. He indicates that the city is changing in unfamiliar ways, and that he doesn't like what he sees.
Lydon also touches on the idea of people being "shoeboxed" around the rifle range, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for how people are controlled and restricted by society. He then speaks to the idea of the "ordinary" ignoring what they cannot explain, and how people are happy to take the misery that life can bring. He talks about how happy the people of Seattle are to take the misery that life can bring, despite the city being in decline.
The lyrics then move into a refrain of "what in the world, get out of my world." Lydon is frustrated with the state of the world, and he urges people to take action to change it. He speaks to the idea of secret signs and knowing looks, indicating that there is a lot going on beneath the surface of society that most people do not see.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't like the look of this old town
I'm not fond of the appearance of this town
What goes up must come down
Everything that rises must eventually fall
Character is lost and found
Individual traits can be obscured or rediscovered
On unfamiliar playing ground
In a new and unaccustomed location
Get out of my world
Leave my life and existence
What in the world
What is happening or why is this occurring
Shoeboxed around the rifle range
Confined and constricted near an area where firearms are used
Have all your functions rearranged
Be greatly modified and changed in your operation
Your mind and body gagged and bound
Your thoughts and physical movement are restrained and suppressed
On a new familiar playing ground
In an unfamiliar but potentially recognizable setting
The ordinary will ignore
Commonplace things will be disregarded
Whatever they cannot explain
Anything they are unable to comprehend or rationalize
As if - nothing ever happened
As though nothing noteworthy or extraordinary occurred
And everything remained the same again
And all proceeded as it had previously
Open your mouth now
Speak up and express yourself immediately
Secret signs and knowing looks
Covert signals and significant glances
These sunny days will cook the books
These pleasant times will expose the deceptions and lies
Happy to take the misery
Content to accept the suffering
This mortal life can bring to me
That can be brought upon me in this brief existence
Palaces, palaces, barricades, barricades, threats, threats, meet promises, meet promises
Repeating a series of contrasting concepts, perhaps indicating a sense of chaos or instability
Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@richardmuir694
"The ordinary will ignore whatever they cannot explain" love it
@mortifiedpenguin3258
Still Relevant sir.
@isaiasbv87
Pretty much today 2022
@unbroken1010
And they did mental gymnastics for pronouns
@MrShaunsk
'And if nothing happens, then everything remains the same again"
@culwin
@@unbroken1010 Having lost their hate campaign against every other group, race, religion, and sexuality, Conservatives turned their hatred to transgender people. GFY fash.
@seanflynn9450
Johnny’s vocals at his best and John McGeogh’s guitar is flawless. Brilliant tune.
@muppetrowlf1473
One of Britain’s great guitarists. And it must be true because Budgie said so.
@ravingmavis5801
He was fabulous
@mariomesenarias4218
One of the best, we surely miss old Mcgeogh a truly inspirational person.