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.
Seventeen
Sex Pistols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a lot to learn
But when your mummy dies
She will not return
We like noise it's our choice
It's what we want to do
We don't care about long hair
See my face not a trace
No reality
Oh I don't work, I just speed
That's all I need
I'm a lazy sod
I'm a lazy sod
I'm a lazy sod
I'm so lazy
I'm a lazy sod
I'm a lazy sod
I'm a lazy sod
I'm so lazy
I can't even be bothered
Lazy, lazy
The lyrics to Sex Pistols' song Seventeen tell a story of a rebellious youth who rejects conformity and societal norms. The first two lines, "You're only twenty-nine, got a lot to learn, but when your mummy dies she will not return," suggest that the singer knows more than the people around him and refuses to conform to their expectations. He is confident in his own way of life and is not concerned with what others believe to be important.
The chorus of the song is an expression of rebellion against authority and expectations. The character is unapologetic about his lifestyle and loves making noise. The line, "We don't care about long hair, I don't wear flares," shows that the character is not interested in what others consider to be fashionable or stylish. He is not willing to compromise his beliefs or values for the sake of fitting in with the crowd.
The verses of the song continue to express the character's disdain for the expectations of others. He is not interested in conforming to society's standards of what it means to be a responsible and productive member of society. He expresses his laziness in clean and repetitive lines of the chorus. The repetition of the phrase "I'm a lazy sod" emphasizes the character's lack of motivation and willingness to conform. Overall, the song is a call to rebellion against expectations and conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
You're only twenty-nine
You're still young and have plenty of time to learn.
Got a lot to learn
You have a lot of things to learn in this world.
But when your mummy dies
When your mother dies, she won't come back.
She will not return
She'll be gone forever, which is something you can't change.
We like noise it's our choice
We enjoy loud music because it's what we choose to listen to.
It's what we want to do
It's our personal preference, and we don't care what others think.
We don't care about long hair
We don't judge people by their hair length.
I don't wear flares
I choose not to wear flared pants.
See my face not a trace
You can't tell my emotions from my expression.
No reality
I don't believe in reality as others define it.
Oh I don't work, I just speed
I don't work a regular job, but I move quickly in life.
That's all I need
I don't need much to be content in life.
I'm a lazy sod
I'm a lazy person.
I'm so lazy
I'm extremely lazy.
I can't even be bothered
I'm too lazy to make an effort.
Lazy, lazy
I'm just really, really lazy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glen Matlock, Paul Thomas Cook, Steve Jones, John Lydon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind