The group released their debut single "Keen" in 1985 which immediately severed all musical links with the Undertones with its darker more edgy sound. Indeed That Petrol Emotion themselves were also far more political and outspoken than the Undertones. This statement of intent in the guise of Keen was followed by their debut album "Manic Pop Thrill", released in 1986 on Demon Records and charting at number 1 in the UK Indie Chart. It was received with rave reviews from the critics, especially by Undertones champion John Peel. Around this time That Petrol Emotion were also quickly making their name as a devastating live act of tight musicianship and intense playing. Indeed they were described by Rolling Stone magazine as "The Clash crossed with Creedence", and the New York Times described them in 1987 as "a youthful Rolling Stones" mixed with a "revved-up Television".
Their second album (and major label debut) Babble released in 1987 on Polydor broke into the UK Top 40 album chart and won universal acclaim; just some of the accolades being that it was voted as one of the albums of the year by Rolling Stone magazine critics and receiving an A- 'grade' from the legendary Robert Christgau. In the UK, the single "Big Decision" was released in 1987 which narrowly missed a place in the coveted Top 40, charting at number 42. Whether this was to do with the fact that the back sleeve contained text decrying the use of plastic bullets by the British Army in Northern Ireland remains to be seen. Either way the band unfortunately never gained a higher chart position than on this first hit. Suspiciously enough their next single, "Genius Move" (also 1987) was banned from being aired by the BBC.
On the eve of the recording sessions for their third album "End of the Millenium Psychosis Blues" (Virgin records, 1988), John O'Neill announced his imminent departure from the band. The resulting sessions were thus fraught with tension and foreboding and the album itself upon release was greeted with confusion by critics and fans alike. It was meant to emulate the eclectic mixtapes the band listened to and loved on their tourbus but this dance and sample experimentation ("Groove Check", "Here it is...Take it!", "Tension") mixed with heavy alt rock ("Under the Sky"), celtic balladeering ("Cellophane") and good old indie ("Sooner or Later", "Every Little Bit") proved too disjointed and diverse to break into the mainstream at the time. However, reappraisal of this album whilst seeing many critics and fans admitting that this diversity in style did alienate people in the contemporary scene, also sees in retrospect that That Petrol Emotion were very much before their time and trailblazers for the Britpop and Madchester indie-dance scene due to their early experiments mixing up indie with funk and dance. Indeed they were posthumously described as having perfected "the art of the scuzzed up alternative pop song" during the 80s.
After John O'Neill left the band, a re-shuffle took place in That Petrol Emotion. Drummer Ciaran McLaughlin and guitarist Raymond Gorman picked up major songwriting duties; blossoming as writers in the process whilst new bassist John Marchini joined to allow Damian O'Neill to take up the guitar alongside Gorman. This new dynamic of musicians and songsmiths led to the 1990 album Chemicrazy, again for Virgin records. "Chemicrazy" had a more alt rock style than before; hinted at on the final track of the previous album "Under the Sky". However whilst being more intense than before, "Chemicrazy" also maintained a pure pop heart, exemplified by singles "Sensitize", "Tingle" and "Hey Venus". Frustratingly for the band however the massive predicted sales for "Chemicrazy" never came.
Dropped from Virgin, That Petrol Emotion's fifth and final album "Fireproof" (1993), released on their own label, Koogat, saw Marchini leave and Belfast born Brendan Kelly take up the bass in his place. Kelly's tight and heavy playing pushed That Petrol Emotion towards their heaviest, most riff-laden album to date which, just like their first album, reached number 1 in the UK Indie Chart.
However, despite the great press and the loyal fan base they garnered over the ten years and five albums of their career, That Petrol Emotion never attained the level of commercial success or fame enjoyed by their contemporaries (e.g. My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth). As a result the band amicably split in 1994.
Still, their body of work remains to be critically acclaimed within the music press and it is widely agreed that whilst being very underrated, That Petrol Emotion greatly influenced the Britpop movement and bands such as The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Manic Street Preachers, Blur and Radiohead.
That Petrol Emotion reformed in 2008 and continue to play sporadically. Updates can be found at their official site http://www.thatpetrolemotion.com.
Big Decision
That Petrol Emotion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's desolate but where she likes to meet
Economies gets weaker
Reactionaries stronger
As they get satisfaction on their knees
You rather sail the ocean
Than make
Decision
I won't function anymore
Plastic bullets shoot headlines in store
Business men get richer
Individual stronger
Bells won't ring when scum boot down the door
You rather sail the ocean
Than make
A big
Decision
What you've gotta do
In this day and age
You gotta agitate
Educate
Organize
Take the time to live
Take the time to give
You gotta agitate
Educate
Organize
See my honey in the street
It's desolate but where she likes to meet
I'd like to keep her
Make her even sweeter
For anyone who cares to be with me
You rather sail the ocean
Than make
A big
Decision
You rather sail the ocean
Than make
A big
Decision
What you've gotta do
In this day and age
You gotta agitate
Educate
Organize
Take the time to live
Take the time to give
You gotta agitate
Educate
Organize
The lyrics to "Big Decision" by That Petrol Emotion are a commentary on the societal and political climate of the time. The singer of the song sees their partner in the desolate streets and recognizes the impact of the weakening economy and the rise of reactionaries. They note that those in power get satisfaction from seeing others on their knees. The singer also recognizes their own inability to function in this environment, feeling as though they are being shot with plastic bullets and seeing business men getting richer. The contrast between the individual getting stronger and the bells not ringing for those who are oppressed is striking.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "You rather sail the ocean than make a big decision" multiple times, suggesting a sense of helplessness or apathy in the face of difficult choices. However, the song does not leave it at that. The second verse offers a call to action. The singer insists that in this day and age, people must agitate, educate, and organize. They suggest that taking time to live and give is important, but action is necessary to effect change. The song ends with a message of hope, that the singer wants to work on making their partner even sweeter and that anyone who cares to be with them is welcome.
Line by Line Meaning
See my honey in the streets
The singer sees someone they care about in a lonely and forgotten part of town.
It's desolate but where she likes to meet
This place might not be ideal, but it holds special meaning for the person the singer cares about.
Economies gets weaker
The economy is declining, becoming weaker and less stable.
Reactionaries stronger
People who want to maintain the status quo, rather than make changes, are becoming more influential and powerful.
As they get satisfaction on their knees
These people are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain their power, even if it means submitting to someone else.
You rather sail the ocean
You prefer to avoid difficult choices or situations, instead choosing to wander aimlessly.
Than make
A big
Decision
Confronting difficult choices or making major life changes is too daunting for you, so you avoid them.
I won't function anymore
The singer is struggling to keep going, as the world around them seems to be falling apart.
Plastic bullets shoot headlines in store
Even the media is becoming violent and dangerous, with sensationalized stories that manipulate people's emotions.
Business men get richer
As the economy declines, those who already have power and money are able to make even more of it.
Individual stronger
People are becoming more self-centered and focused on their own needs, rather than on the needs of the community or society as a whole.
Bells won't ring when scum boot down the door
When bad things happen, there won't be anyone there to help or intervene. Society is becoming increasingly divided and unresponsive.
What you've gotta do
To survive and thrive in this world, there are certain things you must do.
In this day and age
Given the current state of the world and society, there are certain challenges and risks we must confront.
You gotta agitate
You must resist the forces that are trying to maintain the status quo, and push for change and progress.
Educate
To make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of modern society, you must educate yourself and stay informed.
Organize
Working together with others is essential to making real change and progress happen.
Take the time to live
Even in our busy and chaotic world, it's important to slow down and enjoy life, and not just focus on work and productivity.
Take the time to give
Helping and supporting others is an important part of being a responsible and engaged member of society.
See my honey in the street
The singer emphasizes again how important this person is to them, even in the face of all the chaos and uncertainty in the world.
It's desolate but where she likes to meet
This place represents a refuge and a safe haven for the person the singer cares about.
I'd like to keep her
The singer is committed to protecting and supporting this person, no matter what happens in the world around them.
Make her even sweeter
The singer wants to make this person's life happier and more fulfilling.
For anyone who cares to be with me
The singer wants to attract and connect with other people who share their values and goals for a better world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SEAN O'NEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind