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.
Red London
Sham 69 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no democracy
I remember yesterday
We were all free
What are you gonna do
What are you gonna do
Free yourself from this
Tell me have they taken you
Put you in a cell
Will they let you free again
Or will you rot in hell
Kids all born into a life
They never know what's real
If we carry on this way
Then we will be the same
Sham 69's song Red London paints a picture of a city in crisis. The opening lyrics suggest a growing sense of unease and unrest as the streets of London turn red. The metaphor of red suggests a blood-soaked, violent city where people are being oppressed and freedom is being stripped away. The lack of democracy is clearly a source of frustration for the songwriter, who remembers a time when they were free.
The repeated refrain of "What are you gonna do" suggests a call to action. The songwriter is urging listeners to free themselves from the tyranny of an oppressive system where individuals rule. The lyrics go on to suggest that this system has already imprisoned many people and taken away their freedom. The use of the phrase "rot in hell" suggests a deep sense of anger and frustration over the situation.
The final verse of the song suggests that young people are especially vulnerable in this oppressive system. The lyrics suggest that children are born into a world where they are shielded from reality and don't know what to believe. This final stanza is a stark warning that if things don't change, the next generation will be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
London's streets are turning red
The streets of London are becoming violent and bloody.
There's no democracy
There is a lack of democracy and individual liberty in society.
I remember yesterday
The singer nostalgically recalls a time when freedom and democracy were more prevalent.
We were all free
In the past, individuals experienced greater freedom and autonomy.
What are you gonna do
The artist implores the listener to take action and stand up for their rights and freedoms.
Free yourself from this
The singer encourages the listener to liberate themselves from oppressive societal forces.
Individuals rule
The singer advocates for individual autonomy, rather than oppressive social hierarchies.
Tell me have they taken you
The artist questions whether the listener has been subjected to repression or imprisonment by the state.
Put you in a cell
The artist references the potential for imprisonment and loss of freedom.
Will they let you free again
The artist questions whether the listener will regain their freedom or continue to be oppressed by society.
Or will you rot in hell
The singer fears that the listener will suffer irreparable harm as a result of societal oppression.
Kids all born into a life
The artist laments the societal forces that shape children's lives and limit their potential.
They never know what's real
The singer suggests that children are deprived of a true understanding of the world by societal indoctrination.
If we carry on this way
The singer suggests that society is on a downward trajectory and that change is necessary.
Then we will be the same
If society does not change, it will continue to be oppressive and limiting.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HeadHunteR1988
Exactly! Let's go for class struggle! Until liberation from capital and state!
@ralphchunksoup4234
No struggle ....how bout a fight ?
@bushcraftbeginner9246
Vintage excellence!
@iPheezy
My philosophy teacher listen to that!
@l.salisbury1253
Produced by ex-Velvet John Cale... who also produced the debuts of Iggy, Johnathan Richmond, Patti Smith and Squeeze...!
@dereklaidlaw4401
Shamster justa punk
@michaelmarifern9541
Punkrock
@francorocha850
oq o sham 69 tem haver com skrewdriver?
@woody5831
Nothing at all
@AssdMusicChannel
@@woody5831 sounds like govt action