The Adicts are an English Punk rock band from Ipswich, Suffolk. They began … Read Full Bio ↴The Adicts are an English Punk rock band from Ipswich, Suffolk. They began life as the Afterbirth & The Pinz, in their hometown of Ipswich in late 1975. Popular in the 1980s, they were often in the indie charts at that time.
They soon changed their name to The Adicts and became known for their distinctive Clockwork Orange 'Droog' image, which, along with their urgent, uptempo music and light-hearted lyrics, helped set them very much apart from the rest of the genre. Temporary 1980s name changes to ADX and FUN ADICTS, for a children's TV appearance, also occurred.

Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.

The band still has all its original members, uncommon for a band with such longevity.

The music of The Adicts proves that punk music is a very broad genre, often featuring extra instruments and sound clips such as carousel music (How Sad), violin played by Derick Cook (Joker in the Pack), gongs and keyboard percussion by Anthony Boyd (Chinese Takeaway), and even completely different songs like the switch to Gain To Lose's Tune #24 at the end of G.I.R.L..

The look of the majority of the bandmates is that of the Droogs from the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange based on the book by Anthony Burgess. All white with black combat boots and black bowler hats. The band says that the look appealed to them because of the teenage angst associated with A Clockwork Orange. Singer "Monkey" wears full joker make-up and his clothes are wild, patterned suits, flared trousers, colorful dress shirts, and other such things. His favorites seem to be checkerboard patterns, or polkadots. And of course, there's the obligatory bowler hat and gloves. Along with the look come stage antics involving streamers, confetti, playing cards, joker hats, toy instruments, and glitter just to name a few things.

members:
Keith 'Monkey' Warren - Vocals.
Mel (Spider)Ellis - Bass
Pete Dee Davison - Guitar
Michael 'Kid Dee' Davison - Drums
John 'Scruff' Ellis (Mel’s brother) - Guitar
Dan Gratziani - Violin,Piano,Mandolin

Eyes in the Back of Your Head
The Adicts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everything is alright, everything is fine
All you got is money and all I got is time
Everybody's happy
Everyone's relaxed
Everybody's dreaming
but someone's gotta attack

You better be alert

cause you're gonna hurt
and you better beware
'cause no one will care
so you better beware
Eyes front eyes left

Eyes front eyes right
You need eyes in the back of your head

Overall Meaning

The Adicts's song "Eyes in the Back of Your Head" is a commentary on the superficial nature of society in which money is valued over time. The opening lines "everything is alright, everything is fine, all you got is money and all I got is time" suggest that the singer is envious of those who have wealth but recognizes the value of time, which cannot be bought. The idea that "everybody's happy, everyone's relaxed, everybody's dreaming" seems to juxtapose the reality that "someone's gotta attack." The tone of the lyrics then shifts to a warning, as the singer urges the listener to be alert because they will inevitably hurt, and to beware because no one will care. The chorus line "you need eyes in the back of your head" implies that the world is not always what it seems and that one must be vigilant at all times.

The song can be seen as a critique of capitalist society, which values money over human life and experience. The lyrics reflect the notion that some people are willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead in life, even if it means causing harm to others. The song also points out that those who are privileged enough to have money are not necessarily happy, as they may not have the time or the freedom to enjoy their lives. Finally, the chorus line "eyes in the back of your head" is a metaphor for the need to be aware of one's surroundings and to be prepared for unexpected events.

Line by Line Meaning

Everything is alright, everything is fine
The surface seems calm and peaceful.

All you got is money and all I got is time
While one person is financially stable, the other is not and prioritizes time over money.

Everybody's happy
People around seem to be content.

Everyone's relaxed
People around appear to be at ease.

Everybody's dreaming
People are hopeful and imagining a better future for themselves.

but someone's gotta attack
Despite the illusion of peace and happiness, there may be danger lurking around.

You better be alert
It is essential to stay cautious.

cause you're gonna hurt
If not careful, someone might get hurt.

and you better beware
One must be vigilant and watchful of their surroundings.

'cause no one will care
In case of danger, no one may come to their rescue.

so you better beware
It's crucial to look out for yourself.