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 ↴
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)
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
Claiming
Demanding ownership
Ending
Finalization of something
One life
A singular existence
One knife
A single instrument of harm
Contributed by Madison B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.