Skrewdriver was originally an apolitical punk rock band that upon their sec… Read Full Bio ↴Skrewdriver was originally an apolitical punk rock band that upon their second release took a turn into white power skinhead centered music. They formed in Poulton-le-Fylde, England in 1976 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Ian Stuart Donaldson. They became one of the first nationalist rock bands, playing a leading role in the third position rock against communism (rac) movement. Ian's death in September 1993 ended the group.

=>Beginning History
Ian Stuart Donaldson, formerly of The Rolling Stones cover band Tumbling Dice, formed Skrewdriver after seeing the Sex Pistols in Manchester. Skrewdriver at first had a punk appearance, but they changed their image into a skinhead look in 1977. They also temporarily had a rocker/biker look, around the time they released the EP Built Up Knocked Down. In 1978, Donaldson moved to Salford, where he recruited guitarist Glenn Jones and drummer Martin Smith. This lineup toured extensively, but many venues were reluctant to book the band because of their reputation as a violent skinhead band attracting audience fights.

Performing largely for a skinhead fan-base, the first versions of the band released one album and two singles on the Chiswick label. This version of the band split up in January 1979 after a concert in Warrington, but Donaldson resurrected the name Skrewdriver in 1982 using new musicians. Several past individuals associated with the group, many of them politically left-wing or centrist, have condemned the latter third position incarnation.

=>Band Musicians And More History
As mentioned, Skrewdriver inherited its first line-up from it’s predecessor, the band Tumbling Dice, which Donaldson had formed in 1975. They felt influenced by contemporary hard rock as well as seminal punk contemporaries such as the Ramones and The Clash. They were Ian Stuart Donaldson, Kev McKay, John Grinton and Phil Walmsley. When the band changed from punk to skinhead, Walmsley bowed out and was substituted with skinhead Ron Hartley. The 1977 release All Skrewed Up managed to give the group considerable underground success, and it's been regarded since as an early punk classic. However, by 1978, the band disbanded.

Both moving to Salford’s Cheetham Hill, McKay and Donaldson reformed the band in 1979 with local Manchester talents Glenn Jones and Martin Smith. Skrewdriver became a regular act at the Mayflower club in Belle Vue and toured local gig venues around Greater Manchester. The version of the band was to be short-lived and, after an ill-fated concert in Warrington in 1980, the band fell apart again.

This time, Donaldson left all the others behind and moved on his own down to London. By 1981, Skrewdriver had reformed for the 3rd time, still with Ian Stuart Donaldson of course. The new additions were Mark Neeson, Mark French and Geoff Williams. French and Williams had previously played with The Elite.

It was this line-up that released the 12” EP 'Back With A Bang' on Last Resort Records in 1982. External pressure on the band took its toll, and, by 1984, all three had left the band. Donaldson recruited Mark Sutherland, Adam Douglas, and Murray Holmes. Holmes, an Australian, had previously played with the band Quick And The Dead. Skrewdriver soon released their LP Invasion on the newly-signed West German label Rock-o-Rama Records, which would stay faithful to the band until the tragic end. The line-up was strengthened with Steve Roda coming in the following year.

Touring extensively once again, by 1987 the line-up is described on artwork as Ian Stuart (Donaldson), Mark Sutherland, Martin Cross, Ross McGarry, Merv Shields, and John Burnley who was the brother of No Remorse’s Paul Burnley. Steve Calladine, better known as Stigger, joined Skrewdriver in late 1987. Donaldson also launched a solo career as Ian Stuart with the release of solo material backed by a group known as 'Strikeforce', which essentially was the remaining band. Skrewdriver as a band continued, however, in parallel with Donaldson’s solo career.

In 1990, the sprawling line-up was added to with John Hickson. Over the 80s, the group released a variety of albums, many of them striking a chord with disillusioned British youths unhappy with both Thatcherism and the Labour alternative, much to the alarm of the mainstream press. Skrewdriver concerts were, although planned in advance, highly secretive, and Donaldson faced many attempts on his life. Releases at this time prominently included the albums Boots & Braces, Blood & Honour, and Hail The New Dawn.

On the 24th of September 1993, Ian Stuart Donaldson died from the injuries sustained in a car-crash the previous evening and with him the band Skrewdriver ceased. Although subject to a large variety of conspiracy theories, most fans have agreed that the death was a surprising, sudden accident. Since then, countless benefit and remembrance gigs has been played in his and the band’s honour, with virtually every rock against communism band worth their salt, producing a Skrewdriver cover.

=>Labels
During their 17-year career, Skrewdriver were signed by five labels:

1977 - Chiswick Records
1979 - TJM Manchester
1982 - Last Resort Sounds
1982 - White Noise Records
1984 - Rock-O-Rama Records
(This list does not include compilations and spin-off work)

=>Members List
(Initial Band)
Ian Stuart Donaldson - Vocals & Guitar
Phil Walmsley - Guitar
Ron Hartley - Guitar
Kev McKay - Bass
John "Grinny" Grinton - Drums

(Other Members)
Glenn Jones
Martin Cross
Dave Cording
Bradley Napier
Mark French
Geoff Williams
Mark Neeson
Joseph Smith
Adam Douglas
Merv Shields
Murray Holmes
Dave Wane
Paul Swain
Stiv "Iena" Roda
Stigger
John Burnley
Colin Smith
Mushy
Mike French
Mark Radcliffe
Andrew Skinner
Ford Freemantle

Poland
Skrewdriver Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You over-run my country, with your blood and steel
Never thought to ask us, how it made us feel
Cutting down our people, we never had no hope
We stood against your bullets, but we could never cope

[Chorus]
You can't understand and you won't understand our land
I said you can't understand and you won't understand our land

You tried to take our manhood, you tried to steal our pride
You made our people suffer, you took us for a ride
We got ourselves a union, to try to air our voice
When it started speaking, you smashed it like a toy

[Chorus]

Don't understand our culture, don't understand our lives
Don't understand our suffering, don't understand our strife

[Chorus]

I said we don't want you here, with your tanks and your fear, get out
Why don't you leave, and let out country breathe, right now

Poland, Reds out of Poland
Poland, Reds out of Poland
Poland, Reds out of Poland

Poland, Reds out of Poland
Poland

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Skrewdriver's song "Poland" is a clear expression of nationalism, specifically depicting the thoughts and emotions of the Polish people towards the Soviet Union's invasion, occupation and cruelty towards the country. The opening lines of the song, "You over-run my country, with your blood and steel, never thought to ask us, how it made us feel" speaks about the invasion and the disregard of the Russians towards the feelings of the Polish locals. The lyrics also mention how the Russian forces took power and control over the native people, "Cutting down our people, we never had no hope, we stood against your bullets, but we could never cope", illustrating the struggles and resistance of the Polish people who had to face oppression and violence.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "You can't understand and you won't understand our land", emphasizing the differences between the invading Russians and the Polish locals, conveying that the latter cannot seem to find any common ground with the forces that have caused so much pain and destruction. The song goes on to mention the attempts of the Polish people to regain their dignity and sovereignty, "We got ourselves a union, to try to air our voice, When it started speaking, you smashed it like a toy" highlighting the suppression of the free will and self-expression of the Polish people by the Soviet Union.

Overall, the lyrics express the frustration and anger of the Polish people towards the Soviet Union's attempts to control their land and culture.

Line by Line Meaning

You over-run my country, with your blood and steel
You invaded my country by force and violence.

Never thought to ask us, how it made us feel
You didn't care about our feelings or opinions.

Cutting down our people, we never had no hope
You killed our people and left us with no hope.

We stood against your bullets, but we could never cope
We tried to fight back but we were not strong enough.

[Chorus] You can't understand and you won't understand our land I said you can't understand and you won't understand our land
You will never understand our country and our way of life.

You tried to take our manhood, you tried to steal our pride
You wanted to emasculate us and take away our sense of self-respect.

You made our people suffer, you took us for a ride
You made our people go through pain and suffering and used us for your own benefit.

We got ourselves a union, to try to air our voice
We formed a union to represent ourselves and try to make our voices heard.

When it started speaking, you smashed it like a toy
When our union started to gain momentum, you destroyed it like it was meaningless.

[Chorus] Don't understand our culture, don't understand our lives Don't understand our suffering, don't understand our strife
You don't comprehend our cultural practices, our daily struggles, and hardships.

[Chorus] I said we don't want you here, with your tanks and your fear, get out Why don't you leave, and let our country breathe, right now
We want you to leave our country and stop imposing your power and fear on us.

Poland, Reds out of Poland Poland, Reds out of Poland Poland, Reds out of Poland Poland
Poland belongs to Poles, not to the communists. Get out of our country.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS