The group was named for the squat where they lived together: 101 Walterton Road, Maida Vale, although it was for a time rumoured that they were named for "Room 101", the infamous torture room in George Orwell's novel 1984. The novel was later to become something of a manifesto for the political element of the punk rock movement.
The 101'ers were supported by the Sex Pistols at the Nashville Room on 3 April 1976, and this is when Strummer claimed he saw the light and got involved in the punk scene.
Joe Strummer commented on this event in the Don Letts documentary Westway to the World on the end of the 101'ers by saying "5 seconds into their (the Pistols') first song, I knew we were like yesterday's paper, we were over."
By the time their debut single was released in 1976, Joe Strummer was in The Clash and the band were no more. Clive Timperley later joined The Passions, Dan Kelleher went to The Derelicts and Richard Dudanski went on to work with The Raincoats and Public Image Limited. Tymon Dogg worked with Strummer briefly in The Clash (playing on one track on Sandinista!) and later, in The Mescaleros.
Their recorded output was initially limited to one single. However, by 1981, interest in The Clash was at its height and a second single and a compilation album Elgin Avenue Breakdown was released. Several of the tracks on the latter album were live recordings, and there is no evidence that the band ever conceived of these recordings as a full length album.
Before his death in 2002, Joe Strummer had been planning to re-release Elgin Avenue Breakdown, complete with previously unreleased tracks that would encompass everything the band ever recorded. The project was completed with the help of Strummer's widow Lucinda Tait and former drummer Richard Dudanski, and released in May, 2005 via Astralwerks in the US and EMI in Europe.
Band Line-Up
* John "Woody" Mellor (Joe Strummer) - Guitar, Vocals
* Clive "Evil C" Timperley - Lead Guitar
* Marwood Chesterton aka " Mole" - Bass (replaced Jan 76 by Dan Kelleher)
* Dan Kelleher - Bass, Additional Guitar Oct 75-Jan 76,
* Richard "Snakehips" Dudanski - Drums
* Simon Cassell (Big John) - Sax
* Alvaro Peña-Rojas - Sax
* Antonio Narvaez - Drums
* Julian Yewdall - Vocals, Harmonica
* Patrick Nother - Bass (1st gig)
* Martin Stone - Lead Guitar (final gig)
* Tymon Dogg -
Silent Telephone
The 101'ers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you used to lay me down
But the ragged wind blows me through the town
In and out the pubs with my cigarette,
My face don't receive me till my back gets wet
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
Now the city seems to be a hive of bees
I lost my chance dancing on my knees
The cops are making me look all around,
But my legs will always beat the ground
After we've packed up and the boys have all gone home,
My brain's still racing but my body's all alone.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone,
Me and baker lite all alone
Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you think I'm stepping out
But one look at my face will kill your doubts
Midnight on the clock and the door didn't knock,
The dawn begins to sing but my phone don't ring.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
In "Silent Telephone," The 101'ers sings about the feeling of loneliness that comes with being disconnected from a loved one. The lyrics detail the life of a man who feels lost and abandoned by his lover, Suzy. He used to live just for loving her but now, Suzy has disappeared, and he is left wandering around town, looking for something or someone to latch onto. He finds solace in the pubs, smoking cigarettes, and drinking baker lite, but even the buzz fades away, leaving him with nothing but the deafening silence of a silent telephone.
The singer realizes that his dreams might have come down to this; standing all alone by a silent telephone, waiting for a call that might never come. The song portrays the despair of dealing with the aftermath of an intense relationship and acknowledging that sometimes it is challenging to deal with the emptiness that follows. In the end, he reflects on the misconception that Suzy might have had about him stepping out, and he wishes he could convince her that he is still wholly committed to their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Suzy, where are you?
The singer is asking his lover where she is, indicating that he is missing her.
I was living just for loving just from you
The singer was living only to love his lover, Suzy.
Suzy, you used to lay me down
Suzy used to help the singer relax and ease his worries and problems.
But the ragged wind blows me through the town
The singer feels lost and directionless, symbolized by him being blown around town by the wind.
In and out the pubs with my cigarette,
My face don't receive me till my back gets wet
The singer drinks and smokes in pubs, but only when he is soaked from the rain does he feel his true emotions.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
The singer questions if everything he dreamt of has led to this moment of standing alone by the telephone.
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
The singer is alone with his thoughts while holding a cigarette lighter that has the brand name 'Baker Lite' on it. He is waiting for a call that never comes.
Now the city seems to be a hive of bees
The city is bustling and busy like a hive of bees.
I lost my chance dancing on my knees
Metaphorically, the singer tried his best but lost his chance to win Suzy's heart.
The cops are making me look all around,
But my legs will always beat the ground
The police are making the singer anxious, but he will always continue to move forward through his difficulties.
After we've packed up and the boys have all gone home,
My brain's still racing but my body's all alone.
Even after the party is over and everyone has left, the singer's mind races with thoughts and worries, but he is physically alone.
Suzy, you think I'm stepping out,
But one look at my face will kill your doubts
Suzy has doubts that the singer is cheating on her, but the singer's face will prove his innocence.
Midnight on the clock and the door didn't knock,
The dawn begins to sing but my phone don't ring.
It is midnight, and the singer expected someone to knock on his door, but nobody comes. The dawn begins, but his phone doesn't ring.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone,
Me and baker lite all alone
The singer is overwhelmed with disappointment and unanswered questions, waiting by a silent telephone holding the Baker Lite lighter alone, questioning the value of his dreams and aspirations.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIVE WILFRID MYLES TIMPERLEY, DANIEL JOSEPH KELLEHER, JOE STRUMMER, MARWOOD CHESTERTON, MICHAEL FOOTE, RICHARD NOTHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas William Music
Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you used to lay me down
But the ragged wind blows me through the town
In and out the pubs with my cigarette,
My face don't receive me till my back gets wet
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
Now the city seems to be a hive of bees
I lost my chance dancing on my knees
The cops are making me look all around,
But my legs will always beat the ground
After we've packed up and the boys have all gone home,
My brain's still racing but my body's all alone.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone,
Me and baker lite all alone
Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you think I'm stepping out
But one look at my face will kill your doubts
Midnight on the clock and the door didn't knock,
The dawn begins to sing but my phone don't ring.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
Robson Borba
Pela primeira vez eu escuto essa banda, maravilha!
Thomas William Music
Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you used to lay me down
But the ragged wind blows me through the town
In and out the pubs with my cigarette,
My face don't receive me till my back gets wet
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
Now the city seems to be a hive of bees
I lost my chance dancing on my knees
The cops are making me look all around,
But my legs will always beat the ground
After we've packed up and the boys have all gone home,
My brain's still racing but my body's all alone.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone,
Me and baker lite all alone
Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you think I'm stepping out
But one look at my face will kill your doubts
Midnight on the clock and the door didn't knock,
The dawn begins to sing but my phone don't ring.
Have all my dreams come down to this?
Standing by a silent telephone, me and baker lite all alone
Fr Lango
Thanks for that
memphistube
How the heck did you translate that!🙈😮💦 Well done you, full marks!👍
Fr Lango
@memphistube someone on a lyrics website. Bakerlite
D Turner
Great track, could have been re-recorded easily by The Clash!
John F
What a cool band.
WormTyrant
Thanks Andrea ! legendary. First heard this on the radio about two years ago
Fr Lango
TEXAS RADIO?
johnnybsteelriff
Brilliant stuff....