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 1980ās/early 1990ās period saw a more conventional sound to the musical aspect, but still retaining Lydonās 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 PiLās 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
PiL Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What goes up must come down
Character
Is lost and found
On unfamilliar playing ground
Get out of my
World
Shoeboxed around the rifle range
Have all
Your functions rearranged
Your mind and body gagged and bound
On a new
Familliar playing ground
The ordinary will ignore
Whatever they cannot
Explain
As if - nothing ever happened
And evreything 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 yopur
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
PiL's song Seattle captures the feelings of displacement and discontent in a new environment. The first stanza introduces the singer's negative opinion of the town, stating that character is lost and found in unfamiliar playing grounds. The singer then commands someone to get out of their world and asks what in the world is happening. The second stanza paints a picture of someone feeling confined and controlled in their new environment, with their mind and body bound and gagged on this new playing ground. The singer highlights the ignorance of the ordinary and their tendency to explain away anything outside their comprehension. The chorus repeats, the singer demanding that they get out of their world.
The third stanza describes secret signs and knowing looks, something reserved only for those familiar with the area. The singer speaks of the happy acceptance of misery life can bring and does not like the look of this new town. The song ends by repeating the chorus and adding chants of "palaces, barricades, threats, and promises."
Line by Line Meaning
Don't like the look of this old town
I do not like the appearance of this old town
What goes up must come down
Things that rise will eventually fall
Character
Is lost and found
On unfamilliar playing ground
One's character can change in unfamiliar surroundings
Get out of my
World
What in the world
Leave my world alone, what is going on?
Shoeboxed around the rifle range
Have all
Your functions rearranged
Your mind and body gagged and bound
On a new
Familliar playing ground
You are trapped in a new environment which has altered your mind and body
The ordinary will ignore
Whatever they cannot
Explain
As if - nothing ever happened
And evreything remained the same
Again
People ignore things they cannot comprehend or explain, pretending it never happened and continuing as before
Open yopur
Mouth now
Speak up 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
There are signs of something happening, but people are ignorant. Life can be miserable, but some are willing to endure it
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
Repetitive phrases emphasizing the presence of barricades and threats meeting promises, suggesting societal and political issues
Lyrics Ā© EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN LYDON, JOHN MCGEOGH, ALAN DIAS, BRUCE NEAL SMITH, LU EDMONDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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
Johnnyās vocals at his best and John McGeoghās guitar is flawless. Brilliant tune.
@muppetrowlf1473
One of Britainās 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.