Public Image Ltd. (aka PiL), are an experimental band which formed in 1978 … Read Full Bio ↴Public Image Ltd. (aka PiL), are an experimental band which formed in 1978 in London, England. Its original lineup was John Lydon (vocals) (formerly of the Sex Pistols), Keith Levene (guitar) and Jah Wobble (bass), although by 1983, the band's lineup would become a fluctuating one, revolving around Lydon. PiL are often cited as one of the most challenging and innovative bands of the post-punk period; John Lydon is quoted as saying he wanted to form an anti-rock band. They were influenced by a wide range of artists, especially esoteric artists like Can, Captain Beefheart, Tim Buckley & various dub artists.

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.

The Order Of Death
Public Image Ltd. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Lydon/Levene/Atkins)

This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get (repeat)

Here now
Night light
Windows
Waiting
Weakness
Waiting
Silent

This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get (repeat)

This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get (repeat)

Guilty
Haunting
Calling
Claiming

This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get (repeat)

Here now
Ending
One life
One knife

This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get (repeat)

This is what you want
This is what you get
This is what you want
This is what you get

This is what you want
This is what you get (repeat)

Overall Meaning

One possible interpretation of Public Image Ltd.'s "The Order of Death" is that it portrays a bleak vision of modern society, full of emptiness, deception, and violence. The repeated refrain "This is what you want, this is what you get" can be seen as a cynical commentary on consumerism and conformity, suggesting that people are trapped in a cycle of desire and disappointment, always craving more but never satisfied. The list of words and phrases that follow, such as "Night light, windows, waiting, weakness, silent" and "guilty, haunting, calling, claiming" are fragments of sensation and emotion that imply a sense of isolation and helplessness. The final lines, "Here now, ending, one life, one knife", could be interpreted as a fatalistic statement about the inevitability of death and the futility of resistance.

Another way to interpret "The Order of Death" is that it is a kind of existential meditation on the human condition, exploring the themes of identity, purpose, and mortality. The repeated refrain could be seen as a kind of mantra, challenging the listener to question their assumptions and desires, and to reflect on the gap between what they want and what they actually get. The fragmented phrases that follow suggest a kind of stream-of-consciousness reflection on the nature of experience, as the singer oscillates between moments of clarity and confusion, fear and resignation. The final lines, "Here now, ending, one life, one knife" can be seen as a stark reminder that life is fleeting, and that all we have is the present moment, with all its joys and sorrows.

Line by Line Meaning

This is what you want
You are actively seeking out this reality

This is what you get
This is the reality that you will receive

Here now
Presently in this moment

Night light
Dimly lit surroundings

Windows
Transparent barriers

Waiting
Expectant of something to happen

Weakness
Vulnerable state of being

Silent
Quiet and without noise

Guilty
Feeling responsible for wrongdoing

Haunting
Something that is persistently in your mind

Calling
A beckoning to come forth