Initially the band had trouble getting a permanent drummer and it wasn't until August 1980 that an advert in the local paper resulted in Andy Orr joining the band. From that point on the band were ready to start doing some live work. With a set consisting of originals such as "Memories", "Gangland Warfare", "Last resort" and a smattering of covers the band played their first gig at the ford Social Club on a Sunday afternoon in November 1980. The audience was made up mainly of "flatcap" Sunday drinkers and a few Mods from Collier row that John had met up with at an 'Upset' gig at the Marquee the week before. The band got a good reaction but had to compromise their set by playing "Nights in white Satin" in order to keep the grannies happy!
At the start of 1981 the band began to attract quite a large following. Although mainly made up of mods the bands raw energy also attracted a diverse non-mod audience. Several residences at the Seabright Arms, Greyhound, Clarendon Hotel and Hope and Anchor further increased the band's popularity. One memorable gig was at the Seabright Arms, when the pub was packed to the rafters. there were three bands on that night, with Small World headlining supported by 007 and Distant Echo.
During 1981 the band headlined at several Mod All-dayer events and played numerous gigs around the country with bands such as Long Tall Shorty and The Purple Hearts. The band also started their own fan club, run by John's sister, Jacquie. The fan club reached a membership count of over 600 at its peak and was an ideal outlet for some of the early demo tapes.
1982 saw the release of the bands first single "Love Is Dead/Liberty" on Ed Ball & Dan Treacy's Whaam record label. Although the recording had a murky production. "Love Is Dead" became a popular mainstay of the Small World set. Only 1.000 copies of the single were pressed.
At the end of 1982, Andy Orr decided to leave the band (he subsequently went onto join The Scene). The band had to draft in Derwent from Long Tall Shorty in order to fulfil confirmed bookings at the Marquee and Dingwalls and a headline at the Burnley Cat's Whiskers.
In January 1983 the band recruited Paul Guidotti on drums. Paul's previous bands inclued The Staceys and The Stripes, who incidentally supported Small world at one of the early Gryhound gigs. With Paul on drums, the band's performances had a much tighter feel. During the next two years the band's popularitygrew and they played numerous gigs up and down the country, including a jaunt to Italy to play in Rome.
By the latter part of 1984, at the height of their popularity, the band split, playing a farewell gig on October 15th at the Hope and Anchor. Pissed off with the lack of major record company interes, John and Chris decided that the band had gone as far as it could go, and looked to pastures new. The combine was born. Mick went on and joined several bands including The Rage. Just prior to the split of Small World a second single was released on the band's own 'Valid' Records. 3first Impressions/Stupidity Street/Tomorrow Never Comes", recorded in 1984, had a much more professional feel than "Love Is Dead" and is a good representative of the band's 1983-1984 sound.
In September 1987, Small World reformed for a "one-off" reunion gig at the Rotherham Assembly Rooms. The gig went down a storm and the "one-off" gig turned to be a string of "one-off" gigs running betwenn 1987 and 1993.
Hollywood
Small World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underground hip-hop yo (*foreign singing*)
This one's a gangsta tune, whassup fosha?
I'mma send this one out to all the refugee gangs around the world
Signal, signal, y'all need to chill with the drive-by's
It was the fourth of July I heard the cherry bomb bang
Stay in the house that's the sound of the gangs, clef
By the time we figured out what happened
Don't wear your colors here, that cemetery gear
I got my gun and nine, killing's my appetite
(but that ain't right y'all)
Don't wear your colors here!
That cemetery gear (california, california)
I got my gun and nine from hollywood, to your neck of the hood
True, true, yo hollywood got a lot of kids twisted
Jumpin' in and out of limo's thinkin' is his ass really gifted
The only gift y'all possess is workin' with the triple six's
Y'all disguise yourself with bandanas and diamond necklaces
Mosta y'all can't even go back to the hood where y'all grew up
Actin like y'all drink alcohol and all y'all do is throw up
Talk about when y'all blow up y'all gonna visit the project floors
But the last time they saw y'all was 1984
Now y'all wonder, why they got on hoodies screamin' "freeze"
Get out the navigator, godfather iii in the dvd
They hop in, they take your car for a spin
It's cold outside so all you feel is the wind
There's no cell-y phone, so you can't phone home
Oh lord, here come those criminals maleek & jerome
("yo, who you know here, you got family over here?")
He a rap artist
("I don't care, he got the wrong colors over here, no fear")
Now you look shook like that mobb deep song
I'm surprised, cause on all y'all records you was al capone
And come to find out that you never held a chrome
And you escaped the draft and never bust a shot in vietnam
Now you standin' in the form amongst the children of the corn
Like the son of man stood with a crown made of thorns
The only difference is for you there'll be no resurrection
Cause it's a traffic jam, they got you locked up in a intersection
Don't wear your colors here, that cemetery gear
I got my gun and nine, killing's my appetite
(but that ain't right y'all)
Don't wear your colors here! (colors)
That cemetery gear (chicago, chicago)
I got my gun and nine from hollywood, to your neck of the hood
Yo, hollywood has half-man be hollow to you
How could you have slipped through
While I was detecting the trick that's in you
Pretending you pitbull, when really your candy-ass is poodle
We wouldn't of hit you, hammers have already been
Cocked and cleaned, yo, it was who?
It's click-up, click-up, north cackus, commence to stick up
That's what's within us, cack and lack, clap, buck killers quicker
Stick up the forest misters then head up to chickens with 'em
Adrenaline's givin', when I riff with the fifth to your chin-in
You never knew bout how we play these innings
But you about to play the commission
Waves are spinning, I'm out the glaze I'm sh...ing
The real is missing but the fraud is evident
Ever so clear, but you got the nerd to come around here with pounds of fear
Your colors wrong you must rock edible dons with that huh?
Damn paul, what's that huh?
Let me get that, with the quick snatch
If it's a little man in you then I better put the trick back
And if it's anything killers is fearing, I know my clit stacked for realer
Don't wear your colors here, that cemetery gear
I got my gun and nine, killing's my appetite
(but that ain't right y'all)
Don't wear your colors here! (colors)
That cemetery gear (detroit, detroit)
I got my gun and nine from hollywood, to your neck of the hood
Tell the fbi that I won't be home tonight
Tell the secret service I won't be home tonight
Colors, put away your colors whoa, colors
The song "Hollywood" by Small World addresses the gang violence that affects the streets of Hollywood. Highlighting the need for refuge and protection for the refugee gangs around the world, the lyrics warn against the dangers of gang activity and the consequences of wearing gang colors to the wrong area. The song mentions the Fourth of July shooting where the singer was injured, and how Hollywood has a way of twisting the minds of young people with its lavish lifestyle. The lyrics suggest that Hollywood only breeds false personas and hiding that with bandanas and diamond necklaces. The song also addresses the fake gangsters who glamorize violence and gang culture when, in reality, they have never held a weapon or gone to war.
The song also mentions different cities throughout the US, such as Chicago and Detroit, and discusses the consequences of wearing gang colors in those cities. It emphasizes the idea that the consequences of wearing gang colors are much more severe than they may seem. There are also references to law enforcement, with lyrics that suggest the singer is aware of being under FBI and Secret Service surveillance.
This song is a powerful commentary on the dangers of gang life and the consequences of wearing gang colors in the wrong environment. It highlights the need for refugees and protection for the gangs while warning against the perils of the lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, let's get back to the hardcore right now
The artist wants to return to the roots of underground hip-hop
Underground hip-hop yo (*foreign singing*)
Continuation of the artist's call to return to the roots of hip-hop
This one's a gangsta tune, whassup fosha?
The artist introduces 'Hollywood' as a gangsta rap song
I'mma send this one out to all the refugee gangs around the world
The artist dedicates the song to all the gangs worldwide who have been displaced
Signal, signal, y'all need to chill with the drive-by's
The artist urges gangs to stop senseless violence with drive-by shootings
It was the fourth of July I heard the cherry bomb bang
The artist reminisces an event in which they heard an explosion on the Fourth of July
Stay in the house that's the sound of the gangs, clef
The artist recognizes that the loud noises outside are from gangs outside of their house
By the time we figured out what happened
The artist and their cousin were injured by the gangs outside their house and didn't realize what really happened
I was in an ambulance tellin' my cousin keep breathing
The artist is in an ambulance with their cousin and urging them to keep breathing during their ride to the hospital
Don't wear your colors here, that cemetery gear
The artist warns gangs not to wear their gang colors in dangerous areas
I got my gun and nine, killing's my appetite
The artist admits to carrying a gun and wanting to kill
(but that ain't right y'all)
The artist acknowledges that their thoughts of killing aren't morally correct
Don't wear your colors here!
Reiterating the earlier warning that wearing gang colors in dangerous areas is not safe
That cemetery gear (california, california)
Referring to the gang colors/death that come with California gangs
I got my gun and nine from hollywood, to your neck of the hood
The artist declares that they have a gun from Hollywood and will use it in other dangerous areas as well
True, true, yo hollywood got a lot of kids twisted
Acknowledging that Hollywood has a negative influence on kids
Jumpin' in and out of limo's thinkin' is his ass really gifted
Referencing the American Dream and fame making people think they're talented
The only gift y'all possess is workin' with the triple six's
Hollywood celebrities are only skilled at working with the devil
Y'all disguise yourself with bandanas and diamond necklaces
Hollywood celebrities try to look like gangsters by wearing gang attire
Mosta y'all can't even go back to the hood where y'all grew up
Celebrities have become too famous and successful to go back to where they came from
Actin like y'all drink alcohol and all y'all do is throw up
Distrusting of celebrities who pretend to be rowdy and bad
Talk about when y'all blow up y'all gonna visit the project floors
Celebrities make promises to visit low-income areas when they become famous but don't actually follow through
But the last time they saw y'all was 1984
Celebrities haven't been back to their old neighborhoods since they became famous
Now y'all wonder, why they got on hoodies screamin' "freeze"
People living in the hood are afraid of fame and don't like celebrities coming back to their old neighborhoods
Get out the navigator, godfather iii in the dvd
Celebrities coming back to their old neighborhoods try to act gangster with their fancy cars and movies
They hop in, they take your car for a spin
People in the hood steal the celebrities' cars
It's cold outside so all you feel is the wind
The celebrities feel the cold air blowing through the windows of their stolen car
There's no cell-y phone, so you can't phone home
The celebrities can't call for help because their phones were stolen too
Oh lord, here come those criminals maleek & jerome
More criminals come to take advantage of the helpless celebrities
("yo, who you know here, you got family over here?")
The new criminals ask the celebrities if they have family in the area
He a rap artist
The celebrities try to convince the criminals that they're famous rap artists
("I don't care, he got the wrong colors over here, no fear")
The criminals don't care about the celebrities' fame and attack them
Now you look shook like that mobb deep song
The celebrities are scared like in the song "Shook Ones" by rap group, Mobb Deep
I'm surprised, cause on all y'all records you was al capone
Celebrities who portrayed themselves as gangsters on their records are now revealed as not actually gangsters
And come to find out that you never held a chrome
Celebrities who claimed to have guns and fought with them were actually lying
And you escaped the draft and never bust a shot in vietnam
Celebrities who dodged the draft were never involved in war
Now you standin' in the form amongst the children of the corn
Celebrities are now standing amongst the impoverished children in the corn fields
Like the son of man stood with a crown made of thorns
Referencing Jesus and how he stood with a crown of thorns before his execution
The only difference is for you there'll be no resurrection
Contrasting Jesus's resurrection to the celebrities not having any chance of a resurrection in this situation
Cause it's a traffic jam, they got you locked up in a intersection
Celebrities are trapped and unable to do anything because of the traffic jam caused by their stolen car
Yo, hollywood has half-man be hollow to you
Hollywood celebrities are becoming more fake and hollow to the artist
How could you have slipped through
The artist questions how the fake celebrities managed to become so famous
While I was detecting the trick that's in you
The artist was able to see through the celebrities' facades
Pretending you pitbull, when really your candy-ass is poodle
Celebrities portray themselves as tough gangsters but are really weak and cowardly
We wouldn't of hit you, hammers have already been
The artist and their crew wouldn't need to attack the celebrities because someone else has already done it
Cocked and cleaned, yo, it was who?
Asking rhetorically who attacked the celebrities
It's click-up, click-up, north cackus, commence to stick up
A different gang called click-up is now in control and robbing others
That's what's within us, cack and lack, clap, buck killers quicker
The gang is full of murderers that aren't afraid to pull the trigger
Stick up the forest misters then head up to chickens with 'em
Robbing the wealthy then heading to poor areas to rob from there as well
Adrenaline's givin', when I riff with the fifth to your chin-in
The gang feels excitement and power when attacking and brandishing a gun
You never knew bout how we play these innings
The celebrities never knew about the dangers of street life
But you about to play the commission
The celebrities are now going to play with the big players in the streets
Waves are spinning, I'm out the glaze I'm sh...ing
The artist is feeling overwhelmed and confused with everything happening
The real is missing but the fraud is evident
There's a lack of authenticity in the streets and the falsehoods are more apparent
Ever so clear, but you got the nerd to come around here with pounds of fear
The celebrities think they're tough but are actually afraid and have no place to go
Your colors wrong you must rock edible dons with that huh?
The artist thinks those who wear gang colors are foolish and should just wear regular clothing
Damn paul, what's that huh?
Asking the impostor celebrity what they're really trying to prove
Let me get that, with the quick snatch
The artist is threatening violence and wants to take something from the fake celebrity
If it's a little man in you then I better put the trick back
The artist thinks the fake celebrity is actually weak, so they shouldn't try to put up a fight
And if it's anything killers is fearing, I know my clit stacked for realer
The artist has done things to make gangsters afraid of them
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind