Pink Military - formed 1978, feat; Jayne Casey (vocals) (ex Big in Japan), … Read Full Bio ↴Pink Military - formed 1978, feat; Jayne Casey (vocals) (ex Big in Japan), Martin Dempsey (bass) (ex Yachts later of It's Immaterial), Nicky Cool (gtr), Charlie Gruff Griffiths (bass) (ex Next, later of Wah! Heat), Chris Joyce (drums) (ex The Durutti Column, later The Mothmen and Simply Red), Neil Innes (percussion). Released 2 singles: Blood & Lipstick (1979), Did You See Her (1980). An LP the same year 'Do Animals Believe in God'. Originally called 'Pink Military Stands Alone'.

Colm Redmond (ex Wah! Heat, Psycamesh) joined just as they were about to close down while Jayne had her baby, and played on what proved to be their final gigs - one at Brady's and one headlining at the Lyceum in London. There was then a series of recording sessions at SOS and Pennine, none of which was ever released. For these Chris Joyce (later of Simply Red), who played on the album, returned on drums; after Dave Baynton-Power (later James) had replaced him for their tour, Martin Dempsey had left by then and someone called Dave was playing bass.

Degenerated Man
Pink Military Lyrics

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Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Saw a man that once was me
No escaping, no escaping

Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Alone I climb his spiral mind

Screechin' scratchin' everywhere

Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Don't look now I might be crying
Don't look now I might be dying
I saw you I could not focus
I touched you I could not feel you

Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Alone I climb his spiral mind
Screechin' scratchin' everywhere

Degenerated man
Degenerated man
Don't look now I might be crying
Don't look now I might be dying
I saw you I could not focus
I touched you I could not feel you

Degenerated more than any form of human lives
Degenerated an animal being
Oh you're so, yes you're so

Degenerated, degenerated man
Degenerated, degenerated man

Overall Meaning

The song "Degenerated Man" by Pink Military is a gripping portrayal of someone who has become lost and disconnected from their former self. The repetition of the phrase "Degenerated man" creates a sense of hopelessness and despair, as if the singer is describing a state of being that is beyond redemption. The line "Saw a man that once was me" highlights the singer's vulnerability and sense of displacement. They are no longer recognizable to themselves, and the phrase "No escaping, no escaping" reinforces the idea that they are trapped in this state of degeneration.

As the song progresses, the singer seems to be struggling to connect with the world around them. They describe climbing "his spiral mind," which could be a metaphor for the confusion and chaos they are experiencing internally. The lines "Screechin' scratchin' everywhere" create a sense of frenzied desperation, as if the singer is clawing their way towards some semblance of understanding or clarity.

The final lines of the chorus, "Don't look now I might be crying / Don't look now I might be dying," suggest a sense of shame or embarrassment about the singer's emotional state. They are so distant and disconnected from themselves and others that the thought of being vulnerable is terrifying. The repetition of the phrase "Degenerated man" throughout the song emphasizes the sense of hopelessness and disconnection that the singer feels.

Line by Line Meaning

Degenerated man
The song is about a man who has become degraded and fallen from grace.

Saw a man that once was me
The singer saw his own reflection and realized that he has changed dramatically over time.

No escaping, no escaping
The singer feels trapped and unable to escape his own mind.

Alone I climb his spiral mind
The artist feels isolated and alone as he tries to navigate his own thoughts and emotions.

Screechin' scratchin' everywhere
The artist is overwhelmed by his own thoughts and feelings, which are chaotic and unsettling.

Don't look now I might be crying
The singer is emotional and vulnerable, but doesn't want others to see his weakness.

Don't look now I might be dying
The singer feels like he is slowly fading away and losing himself.

I saw you I could not focus
The artist is having trouble connecting with others and maintaining relationships.

I touched you I could not feel you
The artist is struggling with numbness and a lack of emotional connection to the people around him.

Degenerated more than any form of human lives
The artist feels like he has fallen farther than anyone else in the world, and is in a worse state than any other human.

Degenerated an animal being
The singer feels like he has become more animalistic and less human, losing the qualities that make him a person.

Oh you're so, yes you're so
The artist is addressing the audience and emphasizing the sad state of the degenerated man.

Degenerated, degenerated man
The singer repeats the title of the song to drive home the central theme of decline and degradation.

Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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