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.
I'M A MAN
Sham 69 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you're a man or a boy
I sometimes wonder
But then again I don't really care
'cause I know what I am
That's the way I want to stay
I'm a man I'm a boy
I don't really give a damn
I don't care what I am
Looking in the mirror saying who are you
Looking in the mirror thinking what to do
What to do
What to do
I'm a man I'm a boy
I'm a man I'm a boy
I don't really give a damn
I don't care what I am
Everyone keeps saying who are you
Who am I who are you
Who am I
I am you
I'm a man I'm a boy
I'm a man I'm a boy
I don't really give a damn
I don't care what I am
Nobody really cares who you are
Nobody cares who you are
Who you are
Who you are
I'm a man I'm a boy
I'm a man I'm a boy
I don't really give a damn
I don't care what I am
I don't know what I am
The lyrics to Sham 69's "I'm A Man" are introspective and contemplative in nature, exploring the idea of one's identity and whether they identify as a man or a boy. The song opens with the singer asking the listener if they've ever wondered whether they're a man or a boy, suggesting that the question of one's identity is a universal one. However, the singer also admits that they don't really care about the answer, because they already know what they are and want to stay that way.
The repetition of the line "I'm a man, I'm a boy" throughout the song can be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be seen as the singer trying to reconcile their conflicting feelings of masculinity and immaturity, or perhaps as a way of asserting their identity in the face of societal expectations. The lines "Looking in the mirror saying who are you / Looking in the mirror thinking what to do" add to this sense of self-examination and uncertainty.
Despite the singer's initial apathy towards the question of their identity, the song ends on a somewhat existential note. The repeated line "Nobody really cares who you are" can be seen as a commentary on society's tendency to prioritize superficial qualities over genuine human connection. The final line, "I don't know what I am," further emphasizes the singer's introspection and self-doubt.
Overall, "I'm A Man" is a thought-provoking exploration of identity and self-doubt that encourages listeners to reflect on their own sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you ever wonder to yourself
Have you ever questioned your true identity?
If you're a man or a boy
Whether you are fully grown or still developing?
I sometimes wonder
Occasionally I ponder this.
But then again I don't really care
But in the end, I don't attach much importance to it.
'cause I know what I am
Because I am confident about myself.
That's the way I want to stay
And I intend to remain that way.
Looking in the mirror saying who are you
Gazing in the mirror questioning yourself.
Looking in the mirror thinking what to do
Contemplating a proper course of action.
What to do
How to proceed from here.
Everyone keeps saying who are you
People keep asking about your identity.
Who am I who are you
Who are we really?
I am you
We are all human and fundamentally the same.
Nobody really cares who you are
At the end of the day, nobody is really concerned about who you are.
Who you are
Your identity is not important.
I don't know what I am
I cannot fully define myself in concrete terms.
I'm a man I'm a boy
I am both mature and immature in different ways.
I don't really give a damn
I do not really care about social constructs defining me.
I don't care what I am
My identity is not as significant as my character and values.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sekten Tankesmedjan
GIVE US THE WHOLE ALBUM !! THE LIVE SIDE IS KILLING !!!!
ian whitehead
Great sham album, Studio side & a live side.
L. Salisbury
This was the ONLY Sham 69 LP to receive a USA release (Sire Records- the Ramones' label). It was not successful. Us Yanks just didn't get it! Too bad, since this prevented their other LPs from being released here except as imports. (Their 3rd, "Hersham Boys" is one of my favorite albums of the period.)
Hasio Sznup
Last time I heard this song in 1988. It's great. It's was my punky childhood.
Gasu Trías
😍
teriakamoto
you don't have to be anything but who you are,who you are.......do you care?
teriakamoto
i sometimes wonder,even at 47!
suuperdoopur
JANIE U GOT 810 VIEWS!!!
Ben Sherman
Okay MummY LU MummY
M. Jones
oh ya!