The band is comprised of vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook, and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock left the band in 1977 and was replaced by Sid Vicious, who remained until the band's initial 1978 breakup. Matlock rejoined the band for their 1996 reunion and has remained with them throughout most subsequent reunions, including the most recent, in 2008.
Sex Pistols were managed by the infamous Malcolm McLaren, after he saw Johnny Rotten sporting a Pink Floyd shirt with "I hate" scribbled on. Impressed by Johnny Rotten's attitude, McLaren brought Rotten to audition for frontman of The Strand, the band that would later become the Sex Pistols. The Sex Pistols have been described by the BBC as "the definitive English punk rock band" and are widely credited with initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and creating the first generation gap within rock and roll.
Sex Pistols emerged as a response to what was perceived to be the increasingly safe and bloated progressive rock and manufactured pop music of the mid-1970s. The band created various controversies during their brief career, which captivated England but often eclipsed their music. Their shows and tours repeatedly faced difficulties from authorities, and public appearances often ended in disaster and riot. Their 1977 single, God Save the Queen, released during the build up to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, was widely regarded as an attack on the British monarchy and British Nationalism.
The group broke up in 1978 amid a turbulent tour of the United States, but reunited in 1996 for the "Filthy Lucre" tour, and have staged subsequent reunion tours in 2002 and 2003. On 24 February 2006, The Sex Pistols were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but refused to attend the induction, calling the museum a "piss stain".
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, The Sex Pistols reunited for 7 live shows. They played 5 nights at the Brixton Academy in London between 8 November and 14 November, 1 night at the MEN Arena in Manchester, and 1 night at the SECC in Glasgow. The band last performed live in 2008 are are currently on hiatus as John Lydon tours with Public Image Ltd., which reunited in 2009.
Don't Give Me No Lip Child
Sex Pistols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
You're trying to make your mark in society
Your using all the tricks that you used on me.
I read about you baby in those magazines
The clothes you're wearin' girl are makin' scenes.
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
Not your stepping stone,
Not your stepping stone.
When I first met you girl you had no shoes
Now you're walking ' like you're front page news.
You've been un-faithful about the friends you choose
You won't find me in your book of Who's.
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
Not your stepping stone,
Not your stepping stone.
Im not a steppin stone
Im not your stone again
Im not a crock
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
I I I I I'm Not a stepping stone,
You're tryin to make your mark in society
Your usin' all the tricks that ya used on me
I read about ya baby in those magazines
The shit your wearin is torn at the seams
I I I I I'm not your steppin stone
I I I I I'm not your steppin stone
I I I I I'm not your stone
The Sex Pistols’ song “Don’t Give Me No Lip Child” seems to be addressing a love interest who is pushing their boundaries with a snappy attitude. The lyrics demand respect and threaten violence if the “lip child” continues to talk back. The line “If you wanna love true, true lovin’,” indicates that the singer wants a sincere and genuine connection with the love interest. However, due to the confrontational nature of the situation, it seems unlikely that the love can survive without significant changes.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you give me no lip child
Do not talk back to me in a disrespectful manner, young person.
Don't you talk back to me
Do not answer me back rudely.
You're no lip child
You are not entitled to speak in a backchatting or insolent tone.
That ain't the way it's gonna be
This kind of behavior will not be tolerated. You must show respect.
If you wanna love true, true lovin'
If you want a genuine love relationship,
You'd better stop
Then you need to cease
Pushin' and a-shovin',
Pushing and shoving me around physically,
Don't you give me no lip child
Again, I am warning you not to be disrespectful.
And I mean what I say
I am quite serious about this.
Or you'll be someone dead
If you continue with this attitude, you might end up putting your life in danger.
Breakin' outta my lovin'
If you disregard my boundaries or cross a limit that I have set for my affection,
You'd better stop
You need to stop immediately.
Pushin' and a-shovin'
There will be no more shoving or pushing.
No more lip
I want no more trash talk from you.
No lip child
You are forbidden from speaking back to me with a bad attitude.
Don't you talk back to me
I don't want any excuses for you to talk back to me.
You'll be sorry
There will be negative consequences of your actions.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: B. RICHARDS, D. THOMAS, J. THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jerrycrowe62
Glen is a proper old school rock and roll bassist.
@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.
Absolute fucking killer riff from Jonesy. My favourite pistols song for the raw power of it
@maxextz
Loved this when I was a teenager and still do now
@Redline748
I wish they would have recorded some more with john singing like this, I love his voice on this track so much
@MCshlthead
i don't care if the sex pistols supposedly couldn't play, this song is still a masterpiece.
@chetcskes329
they could play.....there's a YouTube video of Jones demonstrating the chords and solos etc to the songs in an interview, and how he used to practice for hours on end....on speed !
@maltelauridsbrigge3776
@@chetcskes329 yeah, Syd was the only hopeless one. The rest were all great. Killer singer and killer guitarist to start.
@WarthDader74
@@maltelauridsbrigge3776 Syd? Syd Barrett?
@maltelauridsbrigge3776
@@WarthDader74 haha whaaaa? Ok I see now. Thank you, sir :) But to play the thought out, that would be "The Syd Pistols", I guess, where one guy plays a 12 min song with his back to the audience while the other guys play 4 songs up front. Hmmm haha
@Robcatist
Malte Laurids Brigge correct!Sid looked the part sadly that’s where is musical credentials ended.