'We were at rehearsal and it was really awful. Probably our first or second one. We just got Jim in the band so we had a group then. We're playing away and nothing's happening. It's going really bad. Somehow we all managed to get onto something. Wobble was going da-da-da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da-da (the bass line for the song) and Jim was playing along. All I did was play the B chord all the way through. I went 'STOP! Right, check this out. Wobble, do that bass line.' So he did and I played that solo over it. I told John that he'd come in after we did it four times. Then I did the A and B (chords). As soon as I heard that guitar line, I had it. We never quite had it together. Even when we recorded it, we didn't have it exactly the way we wanted until we edited about 2 inches out of a 24 track. It was a bold edit and it worked. Then that was it. I didn't have to it again- I just took a bit out of the tape and that was the way it went.' -- Interview with Keith Levene, May 2001.
Public Image
Public Image Ltd. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.
You never listen to word that I said
You only seen me
For the clothes that I wear
Or did the interest go so much deeper
It must have been
The colour of my hair.
Public image.
What you wanted was never made clear
Behind the image was ignorance and fear
You hide behind his public machine
Still follow the same old scheme.
Public image.
Two sides to every story
Somebody had to stop me
I'm not the same as when I began
I will not be treated as property.
Public image.
Two sides to every story
Somebody had to stop me
I'm not the same as when I began
It's not a game of Monopoly.
Public image.
Public image you got what you wanted
The Public Image belongs to me
It's my entrance
My own creation
My grand finale
My goodbye
Public image.
Public image.
Goodbye.
In the song Public Image by Public Image Ltd., the lyrics are speaking to the idea of being seen only for a certain image or persona, rather than for who one truly is. The repeated hello's and ha's can be seen as sarcastic and mocking, as if to say that despite all of the attention and recognition they are receiving, they are still not being truly seen or heard. The lyrics suggest that the interest in this public image is only surface-deep, with the only things noticed being the clothes and the hair color.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that behind this public image is ignorance and fear, suggesting that the people who are attracted to this image are not seeing the whole picture. The singer goes on to point out that they will not be treated as property, highlighting the idea that people are using these images for their own purposes without understanding the real person underneath. The final lines of the song emphasize the importance of the singer's individuality and creativity, with the image and persona belonging to them rather than being owned by anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello.
Repetition of greeting to grab attention
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.
Laughing sarcastically at the listener for not listening
You never listen to word that I said
Claiming that the listener ignores the singer
You only seen me
For the clothes that I wear
Or did the interest go so much deeper
It must have been
The colour of my hair.
Suspecting that the listener judges the artist by appearance
Public image.
What you wanted was never made clear
Behind the image was ignorance and fear
You hide behind his public machine
Still follow the same old scheme.
Public image is a facade, not revealing true intentions, just playing safe
Two sides to every story
Somebody had to stop me
I'm not the same as when I began
I will not be treated as property.
The singer has evolved, gained perspective and control and will not be controlled
Public image.
Public image you got what you wanted
The Public Image belongs to me
It's my entrance
My own creation
My grand finale
My goodbye
Public image.
Public image.
Goodbye.
Public image is a myth that the singer created and will now discard, sarcastically bidding farewell to it and the listeners
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAMES WALKER, JOHN LYDON, JOHN WARDLE, KEITH LEVENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@butnut3455
RIP Keith Levene who passed yesterday. He had such a ground breaking unique style and sound. Such a great song, amazing band. When Seattle came out (my first taste of PIL) I couldn't believe all the guitar sounds I was hearing. I knew of JR from the Sex Pistols, but this PIL band just took it to another level. Unlike any band I heard before. I'll be diving into all their music today. An amazing musician gone too soon.
@ludwigfeuerbach
I love Happy? (the album w Seattle), and it might be my favourite PiL record. But Levene is not on it.
@raymyslewski9494
@@ludwigfeuerbach Keith Levine. Largely unrecognized. Not by some of us. His use of the Prophet 5 was impactful.
@Neurozumim
I didn't know him by name (RIP Keith Levene) but it is true that this guitar sound chronologically doesn't seem to exist before this release.
@philipswain4122
A crushing blow. Another part of my youth gone.
@psychoholiday-ju1cp
@@ludwigfeuerbach Incidentally that's my favorite album from this band too. "Seattle" and etc are completely awesome!
@JClaus1221
the bass, the beat, Johnny's repeated "hello" and suddenly the guitar from another world. A masterpiece..
@cquilty1
JClaus1221 Not to mention the maniacal hyena like laugh at the beginning....
@victormorgado5318
"the guitar from another world"
@caligulapontifex5759
And the swagger bro. Johnny's swagger when he steps up to the microphone. Just brilliant!