Early years
Prior to becoming Stiff Little Fingers, Jake Burns, vocals and guitar, Henry Cluney, guitar, Gordon Blair, bass, and Brian Faloon, drums, were playing in a rock music cover band, Highway Star, in Belfast. Upon the departure of Gordon Blair (who went on to play with another Belfast group, Rudi), Ali McMordie took over on bass. Cluney had by this time discovered punk, and introduced the rest of the band to it. They decided that Highway Star wasn't a punk enough name, and after a brief flirtation with the name "The Fast", decided to call themselves Stiff Little Fingers, after the Vibrators song of the same name.
It was while they were doing a gig at the Glenmachan Hotel that they met up with Gordon Ogilvie, who was a Marxist journalist with the Daily Express newspaper, invited along for the evening by Colin McClelland, another journalist, with whom Jake had been corresponding.
Ogilvie suggested they play material based upon their experience of the Troubles. McClelland arranged to get the band some recording time at a local radio station, and in the studio normally used to record jingles, they recorded "Suspect Device". The single was packaged in the form of a cassette, with a cover depicting a cassette bomb, apparently causing great hilarity in the group, when one record company phoned them and asked for another copy, as they'd thrown the first one in a bucket of water for fear that it was a real bomb.
A copy of the single was sent to John Peel. He played it repeatedly leading to a distribution deal through Rough Trade. The single was released on the band's own Rigid Digits label and sold over 30,000 copies. Peel would later do the same with the first single by another famous Northern Irish band, The Undertones. There were a number of well-publicised arguments between the two bands; the Undertones accused Stiff Little Fingers of sensationalising the Northern Ireland conflict, while they retorted that The Undertones ignored it.
The lyrics of many Stiff Little Fingers' songs concerning the troubles are extremely critical of the paramilitary organisations and governments involved, showing them to be exploititative of ordinary people (particularly the young) and all as bad as each other. Their second single, "Alternative Ulster", was originally intended to be given away free with the fanzine of the same name.
Inflammable Material
In the second half of 1978, they toured with the Tom Robinson Band, and in 1979, they released their first album, Inflammable Material. The band agreed a contract with Island Records, but it fell through, leaving the band to release the album on their own label. Despite the album's independent release, it reached number 14 in the UK Albums Chart and reached Silver status, selling over 50,000 copies. Inflammable Material was the first album distributed Rough Trade records, and the first independent album to chart in the UK. This inspired their move to London, which led to the departure of Brian Faloon and Colin McClelland (who along with Gordon Ogilvie had been joint manager of the band up until that point).
Jim Reilly became their drummer in time for the "Gotta Gettaway" single, and played in the Rock Against Racism tour.
Nobody's Heroes and Go for It
In mid-1979, Stiff Little Fingers signed their Rigid Digits label to Chrysalis Records, and in 1980 released their second album, Nobody's Heroes. 1981's Go for It followed. Soon after the Go for It tour, Jim Reilly left the band. His place was taken by Brian 'Dolphin' Taylor, who Jake remembered from Taylor's days with the Tom Robinson Band.
Breakup
Now Then...
In 1982 came a 4 song EP called £1.10 or Less and then their fourth studio album, Now Then... (although their fifth album, as they had released a live LP, Hanx, between Nobody's Heroes and Go for It). By this time they had diversified musically, and Now Then had an almost pop feel about it in places. This led some of their more hardcore fans to feel alienated, and in the face of low sales and concert attendances, they broke up in 1983, when Burns said: "Our last LP Now Then was to my mind the best album we have made. But it is also unfortunately the best I think we will ever make. So I have decided to call it a day." The band later revealed the original split had been somewhat acrimonious, with bandmembers apparently having fistfights rather than talking through their differences.
Reformation
They reformed in 1987; according to Burns, because they were "skint and wanted to make a bit of cash to get back to Ireland for Christmas". They released some live albums and did short tours towards the end of the 1980s, and by 1990 were thinking of reforming permanently.
Flags and Emblems
Ali McMordie decided he could not commit the time to tour full-time or record, and so left, being replaced by Bruce Foxton (previously bass guitarist in The Jam) in time to record 1991's Flags and Emblems. In Britain, the single from this album, "Beirut Moon", was withdrawn from sale on the first day of release, allegedly because it criticised the government for not acting to free hostage John McCarthy, who had been held in the Lebanon.
In 1993 Burns made what he described as one of the hardest decisions of his life and asked Henry Cluney to leave the band, and the trio of Jake Burns, Bruce Foxton and Dolphin Taylor continued for the next four years, joined on live shows by either Dave Sharp or Ian McCallum.
Get a Life
In 1994 they released Get a Life in the UK, releasing it in the U.S. in 1996. By the end of 1996 Taylor left due to family commitments. Burns called in Steve Grantley who had played drums for Jake Burns and the Big Wheel in the late 1980s.
Tinderbox - Guitar and Drum
The trio of Burns, Foxton and Grantley recorded 1997's Tinderbox album, with help from Ian McCallum who joined as a full time member for 1999's and best of all...Hope Street . This same line-up recorded 2003's Guitar and Drum.
Lineup change
On 18 January 2006, the following announcement appeared on the SLF Website. Bruce Foxton has announced that he is to leave Stiff Little Fingers with immediate effect. After 15 years of writing, recording and touring with SLF Bruce says it is time to move on and concentrate on other projects. "The situation is amicable" says Foxton. "I have enjoyed my time with Jake, Ian and Steve and will miss them. Naturally I wish them all continued success and hope to catch up with the boys during their spring tour."
Obviously, we as well wish Bruce every success in everything he goes on to do in the future. He has been a fantastic asset to the band and we'll miss him as well.
Jake, Steve, Ian.
On 23 January 2006, it was announced that original bass guitarist Ali McMordie was to rejoin the band for the duration of their upcoming March tour. The tour was a success, with many fans writing into SLF's message board saying how much they enjoyed it, and how fired up the band seemed to be. After much discussion regarding the status of McMordie within the band after the tour, on 21 April 2006, Burns posted the following on the message board.
"For the time being Mr. McMordie is happy to continue as long as his busy schedule allows. It may be that occasionally we have to bring on a "substitute", if he is up to his eyes and we need to do something, but hopefully we can avoid that.
Cheers,
Jake."
New album
On 9 March 2007, Jake Burns announced that Stiff Little Fingers would be recording a new album which would hopefully be completed by the end of 2007. They have previewed a track from the new album, "Liars Club", at live concerts. The track is named after a bar Jake drove past on his way home whilst listening to a press report about Tony Blair, George W. Bush and the Iraq War. As of February 2009, the new album is still unreleased. This is mainly due to the fact that Burns had more or less completed writing, when he decided on a change of direction, and scrapped most of the songs.
Safe as Houses
Stiff Little Fingers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About the things she might have done
She keeps her eyes firm on the ground
To set her own life
Makes up her face and not her mind
To be a wife
There was a time away back then
But then through dolls and schoolyard games
Like ma before her
She learned girls play the family way
Don't look for more
She's just playing
Playing safe
Playing houses
Safe as houses
Here on this street when they were kids
He built his dreams with coloured bricks
But comes the time for him to prove
That he's a man now
He gets a wife and he makes his move
To three doors down
He's playing
Playing safe
Playing houses
Safe as houses
For there was no-one there to say
It didn't have to be that way
You never get the best of you
When you do what they expect you to
You've heard it all
How you're no use
You're born to fail
So follow suit
But if you feel and got a dream
Don't dare ignore it
'cause that is what you've got to be
You must got for it
Don't play it
Play it safe
A plague on houses
Safe as houses
The song Safe as Houses by Stiff Little Fingers speaks about the societal expectations of women to be wives and mothers and men to be providers, even if it means sacrificing their dreams and desires. The song portrays a woman who has settled for a life as a wife and mother and has accepted the limitations put on her by society. She has learned to keep her eyes on the ground and her opinions to herself to maintain a safe and comfortable life. Her husband, who was once a dreamer, has also settled for a life that society has expected of him. He has also played it safe and become the man of the house. The song urges people not to follow societal expectations blindly and pursue their dreams instead of settling for a life that is safe as houses.
Line by Line Meaning
She makes a home and she stays mum
She dedicates herself to creating a home and silently avoids speaking about any possible alternative life paths.
About the things she might have done
She refrains from mentioning her unexplored curiosities or ambitions.
She keeps her eyes firm on the ground
She focuses on her mundane task list without seeking outside inspiration or adventure.
To set her own life
To follow her own plan of how her life should be.
Makes up her face and not her mind
She puts on a positive facade rather than examining her own true desires.
To be a wife
She chooses to accept the traditional societal role of a wife.
There was a time away back then
In the past, there was a moment where she could have taken a divergent path.
She might have thought to think again
She may have reconsidered her choices.
But then through dolls and schoolyard games
However, she learned at a young age through structured play and early socialization that girls are expected to conform to traditional gender roles.
Like ma before her
Her behavior was modeled after her mother's.
She learned girls play the family way
She was taught from a young age that her life vision should center on the concept of family.
Don't look for more
She was instructed that dreaming outside of the domestic sphere is fruitless.
She's just playing
She's merely participating without taking any real risks or making deliberate choices.
Playing safe
She is choosing the path of least resistance instead of truly seeking fulfillment.
Playing houses
She participates in cliched domesticity instead of exploring possibilities for herself.
Safe as houses
She is prioritizing creating a sense of security and comfort over seeking personal growth.
Here on this street when they were kids
A flashback to a time period when the roles of the male and female protagonist were set in their social environment.
He built his dreams with coloured bricks
The male protagonist had vivid hopes and aspirations in his own reality.
But comes the time for him to prove
Once he reaches adulthood, he is presented with an opportunity to prove his worth as a man.
That he's a man now
An implicit societal presumption that until he has a wife and family he is not wholly mature.
He gets a wife and he makes his move
He chooses to marry and follow the established socially prescribed progression toward fulfilling his gender identity.
To three doors down
He accepts the popular belief that this is the only way to truly belong in his society.
For there was no-one there to say
There weren't any role models or dissenters to demonstrate alternative life paths.
It didn't have to be that way
Without the rigid societal expectations of traditional roles, life could have been very different.
You never get the best of you
You'll never reach your full potential.
When you do what they expect you to
When you simply follow established societal and cultural scripts.
You've heard it all
You've been told repeatedly.
How you're no use
You've been told you will never amount to anything.
You're born to fail
You are programmed for failure due to your intrinsic qualities.
So follow suit
Adhere to societal standards without asking questions.
But if you feel and got a dream
If you have feelings and aspirations that defy cultural scripts.
Don't dare ignore it
Acknowledge it and take it seriously.
'Cause that is what you've got to be
Pursue your true self despite the societal pressure to conform.
You must got for it
The only way to find personal fulfillment is by striving for your true aspirations.
Don't play it
Don't settle for standard scripts.
Play it safe
Playing it safe will prevent you from realizing your potential.
A plague on houses
A rejection of traditional household norms that stifle alternative paths.
Safe as houses
A sarcastic reference to the idea that safe, traditional, and pre-determined life paths provide happiness and fulfillment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAKE BURNS, GORDON OGILVIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind