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

Shangri-La
The Adicts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Last night last week
A million years ago
Today or tomorrow
Freaky future show

Someone Somewhere
People near and far
All men all mankind

Look for Shangri-la

Looking for Shangri-la
Old man young girl little
Baby child
Can you remember the words

Of Oscar Wilde
Down in the gutter,
Looking at the stars

All men all mankind
Look for Shangri-la

Overall Meaning

The Adicts' song "Shangri-la" presents the concept of escapism from the world's harshness in search of a utopia where everything's possible. The chorus repeatedly calls for "looking for Shangri-la," which represents a paradise that's distant in time, memory, or escape from reality. The lyrics start with "last night last week, a million years ago, today, or tomorrow," indicating that the utopian paradise is an ever-present concept that people desire to reach. The second verse talks about how age, gender, and social status don't define the search for Shangri-la, as "all men, all mankind look for Shangri-la." It's a universal feeling to want to escape reality and seek a better tomorrow, regardless of who we are, where we're from or what capacities we hold.

The Adicts also add historical references like Oscar Wilde, indicating that past figures also searched for Shangri-la, and even when we're down, like "down in the gutter, looking at the stars," we have the common desire to escape the mundane and seek a better tomorrow. The tone of the song is hopeful, as it presents the idea that even though we may not know what Shangri-la is, it offers hope and the possibility of escape from life's difficulties.

Line by Line Meaning

Last night last week
Whether it was yesterday, last week, or any moment in time, this song applies to everyone, everywhere.

A million years ago
The idea of Shangri-la is so ancient, it feels like it's been around for millions of years.

Today or tomorrow
Regardless of when you hear this song, the search for Shangri-la is ongoing.

Freaky future show
Perhaps the idea of Shangri-la will remain a mystery and continue to fascinate people for ages to come.

Someone Somewhere
There are people all over the world who are in search of something, perhaps even a utopia like Shangri-la.

People near and far
The search for Shangri-la is not limited to one specific location, but rather a universal quest.

All men all mankind
Everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background, has the urge to pursue a better world.

Look for Shangri-la
This line is a call to action, encouraging listeners to embark on their own journey to find their own personal Shangri-la.

Looking for Shangri-la
This repetition reinforces the idea that the ongoing search for Shangri-la is a recurring theme throughout history.

Old man young girl little
The idea of Shangri-la is not limited to a particular age group, but is a universal concept that appeals to people of all ages.

Baby child
Even infants may experience a sense of wonder and delight when imagining a world like Shangri-la.

Can you remember the words
This question encourages introspection and reflection, challenging listeners to ask themselves what Shangri-la means to them.

Of Oscar Wilde
Referencing Oscar Wilde adds a literary and intellectual component to the song, suggesting that the concept of Shangri-la has deep cultural roots.

Down in the gutter,
The juxtaposition of the idea of Shangri-la with the image of being down in the gutter serves to highlight the desire to escape from unpleasant circumstances.

Looking at the stars
The stars may represent the hope and possibility of something greater than our current reality, like Shangri-la.

Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JEROME LAWRENCE, ROBERT E. LEE, HARRY WARREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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