Sham 69 released their first single, "Ulster", on Step Forward Records in August 1977, and its success in the independent charts prompted Polydor to sign the band. Their major label debut was "Borstal Breakout" in January 1978, followed by UK singles chart success with "Angels With Dirty Faces" (reaching number 19 in May 1978), "If The Kids Are United" (number 9 in July 1978), and "Hurry Up Harry" (number 10 in October 1978). The latter came from their second LP and first full studio album, That's Life.
They then started to move away from punk rock into a sound heavily influenced by classic British hard rock bands such as Mott The Hoople, The Who and The Faces, evidenced on their third album, The Adventures of the Hersham Boys. Sham 69 broke up after their fourth album. Pursey moved in a heavy metal direction after working with the remaining members of the Sex Pistols for a short time, under the name Sham Pistols. Dave Treganna joined the pioneering 1980s glam-punk-Gothic band, The Lords of the New Church, with Stiv Bators of The Dead Boys and Brian James of The Damned.
Pursey resurrected Sham 69 in the 1990s with a different line-up, but without major success. "If The Kids Are United" was used in a McDonald's advertising campaign, long after the rights to their songs had been sold. Pursey is a vegetarian, and appeared in the UK media condemning the use of one of his songs by what - he saw - as a multi-national animal and human abuser. The band gained further media attention when "If The Kids Are United" was played during UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's entrance at the 2005 Labour Party Conference. As a result of this, they were invited onto BBC TV's current affairs programme, Newsnight to sing a version of the song. Altered lyrics were sung, including "Mr. Blair / We know you care / So bring them home / Don't leave them there", referring to the troops remaining in Iraq after the the 2003 invasion.
In 2006, Virgin Radio listeners voted overwhelmingly for Jimmy Pursey to record a song to support England in the FIFA World Cup. The song was based on the Sham 69 hit, "Hurry Up Harry", and instead of the lyric being, "We're going down the pub", it was changed to, "We're going to win the cup!" The resulting single, "Hurry Up England" reached number 10 in the UK Top 40, becoming the band's first such hit for over 26 years.
In 2006 Jimmy Pursey left Sham 69, leaving guitarist Dave Parsons to carry on with a new singer. Sham 69 continues to tour in this new line up.
Borstal Breakout
Sham 69 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all I can think of is baby I think of you
Don't worry baby coming back for you
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
Well now I've got the chance I don't care about what I do
When I done them things I done them just for you
And now I'm getting out coming back for you
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
Well now I'm over the wall I'm nearly home
I'm coming through that door coming back for you
Now I'm nearly home nearly back for you
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
The lyrics of Sham 69's song Borstal Breakout are a tale of defiance and love. The singer is sitting in a cell for something he didn't do, but all he can think of is his love for his partner. He promises that he will be back for her, and this is where the chorus βthere's gonna be a borstal breakoutβ comes in. The singer is determined to break out of borstal and be reunited with his love.
In the second verse, the singer explains that he doesn't care about the consequences of his actions anymore. He confesses that everything he did, he did it for his love. The bridge of the song is the culmination of this love story, as the singer manages to escape and make it home to his love.
The song was inspired by Jimmy Pursey's own experiences in borstal as a young man. The borstal system was a type of youth detention center in the UK in the mid-20th century. The song's lyrics speak to the feelings of frustration and determination that young people in borstal must have felt. The song has become an anthem for working-class rebellion and has inspired generations of punk rockers.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting in this cell for something I didn't do
I'm falsely imprisoned and waiting in this cell for a crime I didn't commit, and it's all I can think about.
And all I can think of is baby I think of you
Despite my current situation, I am thinking about my loved one and longing to be with them.
Don't worry baby coming back for you
I want to reassure my loved one that I will return to them soon.
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
I am hopeful and confident that there will be an escape from this institution.
Well now I've got the chance I don't care about what I do
Since I have an opportunity to escape, my previous concerns about consequences no longer matter.
When I done them things I done them just for you
My actions that led to my imprisonment were motivated by my love for my significant other.
And now I'm getting out coming back for you
My escape from this institution is imminent, and I am determined to reunite with my loved one.
Well now I'm over the wall I'm nearly home
I have successfully escaped over the wall and am almost home to my loved one.
I'm coming through that door coming back for you
I am approaching my loved one's door and will soon be reuniting with them.
Now I'm nearly home nearly back for you
I am very close to being home and reuniting with my loved one now.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PARSONS PURSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@singgihberlan996
I'm sitting in this cell for something I didn't do
And all I can think of is baby I think of you
Don't worry baby coming back for you
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
Well now I've got the chance I don't care about what I do
When I done them things I done them just for you
And now I'm getting out coming back for you
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
Well now I'm over the wall I'm nearly home
I'm coming through that door coming back for you
Now I'm nearly home nearly back for you
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
There's gonna be a borstal breakout
@karenburman1
Still punk 62 years old and proud
@VillainMust
Hell yeah brother
@grim782
I didn't think it would happen either. Old sneaks up. Well fuck, it happens.
@tr7k39
Hate to be the one to tell you Karen but the Sham Never have been and Never will be Punk...try Skinhead. I should know as a former skin at Sham gigs 97% at the Sham gigs were...SKINHEADS.
@Aberg
64 now
@AndersPack
Still an Oi!-Boi myself at 55.
@wavydavy9816
I went out for a karaoke night for a mates birthday a few years back. Me and a mate went up to do a duet. He wanted to sing Hersham Boys, but I wanted to sing this. We'd had a bit to drink and it all got a bit feisty which led to arguement, namecalling, and eventually fighting.
We were then ALL asked to leave the establishment.
What a fucking great night!!
@leeneale8776
hahaha funny AF :))
@blagamuffin
Totally in keeping with the song!
@jonathandameron5587
2 of my fauvorite Sham songs, Shoulda just agreed to do both, but the drink don't make us smarter