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).
In September 2009, Lydon announced that the band would reform, including earlier members Bruce Smith and Lu Edmonds, for a number of Christmas shows in the UK. The One Drop Songfacts reports that Lydon financed the reunion using money he earned doing a UK television commercial for Country Life butter. This Is PiL, the band’s first album for 20 years was recorded at Steve Winwood’s studio, which is located in a barn, in the middle of the Cotswolds in southern England. It was released on May 28, 2012.
Francis Massacre
Public Image Ltd. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plead not guilty
Plead not guilty
Life
Sentenced for life
Go down for life Francis Moran
Mountjoy is fun
Go down for life
Mountjoy is fun
Francis Moran
Go down for life
Term
Francis Moran
Go down for life
Go down for life
Mountjoy is fun
Francis Moran
Sentenced for life
Go down for life
Mountjoy is firm
Francis Moran
Francis Moran
Go down
No goodbye
The lyrics to Public Image Ltd.'s song Francis Massacre are cryptic and difficult to interpret, yet there are a few possible meanings. The reference to Francis Moran points to the Irish Republican Army member who was executed in 1954 in Dublin's Mountjoy Prison after being convicted of the murder of a Garda Sergeant. The line "Mountjoy is fun" may suggest a morbid fascination with the prison where Moran was held, or the idea that the prison experience can be exhilarating or transformative. The line "Life/Sentenced for life/Term" is jarring and may allude to the punishment Moran received or the concept of life imprisonment.
The repetitive chorus "Go down for life" can suggest either an attitude of disregard towards the consequences of one's actions or a commentary on the predicament of someone who has been sentenced to prison for life. The phrase "no goodbye" seems to express resignation or defiance, perhaps implying that the singer or the subject of the song is prepared to face the inevitability of imprisonment or death without equivocation.
Overall, the song is a grim reflection on the nature of crime, punishment and the harsh realities of prison life.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't wanna go near there
I am afraid and don't want to be close to that place
Plead not guilty
I am declaring my innocence and denying the accusation against me
Life
I have been given a life sentence
Sentenced for life
I have been convicted and given a life sentence
Go down for life Francis Moran
Francis Moran has been given a life sentence for his actions
Mountjoy is fun
The singer is being sarcastic and implying that life imprisonment in Mountjoy prison is not fun at all
Term
I have been sentenced to a specific term of imprisonment
Go down for life
Someone has been given a life sentence for their actions
Francis Moran
The name of the individual who has been sentenced to life imprisonment
Mountjoy is firm
The artist is repeating their statement that life imprisonment in Mountjoy prison is harsh and unyielding
Go down
Someone is about to receive a harsh sentence
No goodbye
The artist is leaving or ending the conversation without a farewell
Contributed by Andrew L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.