Initially the band members had known each other from football, or from following bands such as Sham 69 and Menace. Most of the original four band members were or had been skinheads, thus the double meaning of the band's name.[3] However, Steve Pear had a rockabilly style, and Hoxton Tom McCourt — who was a suedehead — was one of the leading participants of the mod revival.[4][5] Prior to the release of the band's debut single, "One Law for Them", The 4-Skins contributed songs to the first three Oi! compilation albums, alongside bands such as Cockney Rejects, Cock Sparrer, The Business and Angelic Upstarts.[6] The 4-Skins went through many personnel changes during their five-year existence, with only bassist/songwriter 'Hoxton' Tom McCourt being present in every line-up of the band.[3] Other former members include Roi Pearce, who was also the frontman of The Last Resort, and Paul Swain, a guitarist who later joined the white power rock band Skrewdriver.[7]
In 2007, the band reformed with two original members — lead singer Gary Hodges and bassist Steve 'H' Harmer, plus guitarist Mick Geggus and drummer Andy Russell of Cockney Rejects. This line-up recorded two songs, "Chaos 2007" and "Glory Days" for the compilation album Kings of Streetpunk,[8] released by the independent record label G&R London.
In 2008, Hodges formed a new version of the band under the name Gary Hodges' 4-Skins. This line-up played three shows – one in Berlin at the Punk and Disorderly festival, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the East Coast Oi Fest[9][10] and as the headlining act on the final day of the Blackpool Rebellion punk festival in August 2008.[11] Two newly recorded tracks were also released for free on The 4-Skins' official web page. Both were covers of Slade songs – "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Thanks for the Memories". Following this, the band decided to continue recording and touring. On 4 April 2010, they released a studio album, The Return, on German label, Randale Records
Chaos
The 4-Skins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seeing all the skinheads standing in a line
Foaming at the mouth, Waiting for a fight
High boots, cropped hair, what a fucking sight
Come back of the skinhead
Come back of the boot
People that we don't beat up
We are the new breed, we will have our say
We are the new breed, we ain't gonna die
Trouble east London
Trouble in the street
On the street corners
Where the gang still meets
Talking about the weekend
What they're gonna do?
If you ain't careful
They are gonna do you!
Come back of the skinhead
Come back of the boot
People that we don't beat up
We're gonna fucking shoot
We are the new breed, we will have our say
We are the new breed, we ain't gonna die
Chaos in the city
Civil war now
Skinheads taking over
Like skinheads know how
Skinhead with his boots on
Nobody's fool
Skinheads taking over
Chaos is the rule!
Chaos, chaos, chaos, don't give a toss
Chaos, chaos, chaos, don't give a toss!
Do you remember in 1969?
Seeing all the skinheads standing in a line
Foaming at the mouth, Waiting for a fight
High boots, cropped hair, what a fucking sight
Come back of the skinhead
Come back of the boot
People that we don't beat up
We're gonna fucking shoot
We are the new breed, we will have our say
We are the new breed, we ain't gonna die
Chaos, chaos, chaos, don't give a toss
Chaos, chaos, chaos, don't give a toss!
The 4-Skins's song "Chaos" is a punk rock ode to the emergence of the skinhead subculture in London in the late 1960s. The lyrics open with a reference to the birth of the movement, as the singer recalls seeing skinheads "foaming at the mouth" and "waiting for a fight" in 1969. The song then moves into a call to arms, as the skinheads of the present day assert themselves as the "new breed" ready to establish their own power and authority.
Throughout the song, the lyrics paint a picture of a movement that is both violent and deeply committed to a sense of group identity. The repeated refrain of "Come back of the skinhead / Come back of the boot," for instance, suggests a nostalgia for an earlier, more authentically rebellious era of punk rock, when the sense of shared values and purpose was more intense. At the same time, lyrics like "People that we don't beat up / We're gonna fucking shoot" suggest a willingness to use more extreme methods to get their message across.
It's clear that "Chaos" is a song that celebrates the skinhead movement as a whole--but it also acknowledges the darker elements of the subculture, particularly the violence and bigotry that has been associated with skinheads at various points in time. Yet despite this acknowledgement, the song is still an anthem of sorts, a rallying cry for a group of people searching for a way to assert their identity and make their voices heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember in 1969?
Do you recall the year 1969?
Seeing all the skinheads standing in a line
Witnessing a group of skinheads standing in a row
Foaming at the mouth, Waiting for a fight
Experiencing visible aggression from these skinheads and anticipating conflict
High boots, cropped hair, what a fucking sight
Observing their distinctive appearance characterized by boots and short hair
Come back of the skinhead
Return of the skinhead subculture
Come back of the boot
Resurgence of the skinhead fashion style marked by their boots
People that we don't beat up
Those we do not physically harm
We're gonna fucking shoot
We will resort to violence and use firearms to assert power
We are the new breed, we will have our say
Self-proclamation as a distinct subculture that demands recognition and a voice
We are the new breed, we ain't gonna die
Asserting their longevity as a subculture
Trouble east London
The presence of unrest in the eastern part of London
Trouble in the street
Violence and disorder in public spaces
On the street corners
Specifically, at corners where street gangs often gather
Where the gang still meets
Implies that these gangs continue to actively exist
Talking about the weekend
Discussing upcoming plans for the weekend
What they're gonna do?
What actions they plan on taking
If you ain't careful
If one does not exercise caution
They are gonna do you!
They will inflict harm on you
Chaos in the city
Disorder and tumultuousness in the urban area
Civil war now
Imagery of a conflict between groups within a society
Skinheads taking over
A statement of power and dominance by the skinhead subculture
Like skinheads know how
Proudly claiming that they have a unique skill set for control and domination
Skinhead with his boots on
Describing the image of an empowered skinhead with their boots as a symbol of their movement
Nobody's fool
Asserting that their group is savvy and intelligent
Chaos is the rule!
Embracing chaos and disorder as their modus operandi
Chaos, chaos, chaos, don't give a toss
Repeating the word 'chaos' as a mantra to emphasize their detachment and disregard for conventional rules and order
Chaos, chaos, chaos, don't give a toss!
Repeating the phrase to further drive home their attitude of apathy towards societal norms
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VOLKER GRUENER, FOUR SKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind