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

Youth
The Adicts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I never wanted to conform
I never wanted a uniform
Youth and me a perfect company
A smile or two will get us through
Youth and me perpetuity
A smile or two will get us through
All I wanna, All I wanna
All I want is youth

I wish I was forever young
(Daddy Look)
Can it be my time has come
(That's it)
Youth can be a future for me
The child will find his history
Youth and me eternity
Youth and me in perpetuity
Am I just a peter pan
Will I ever be a man
If I could be just sweet sixteen
Would I know what life could mean

Youth and me the perfect company
You and me in perpetuity

Overall Meaning

The Adicts's song Youth is a reflection on wanting to stay young and never conforming to societal norms that come with adulthood. The lyrics convey a longing for eternal youth, and the company of youth. The song opens with the lines, "I never wanted to conform, I never wanted a uniform," which lays out the idea that conformity and structure are not for everyone. The singer then goes on to state that their perfect company is youth, and a smile or two will get them through. They see youth as eternity - perpetuity - that they wish they could hold onto.

Throughout the song, the singer explores the idea of never growing old and remaining young. "Am I just a Peter Pan, Will I ever be a man, If I could be just sweet sixteen, Would I know what life could mean," are lyrics that express the uncertainty and longing for something that may not be achievable. The song ends with "Youth and me the perfect company, You and me in perpetuity," which echoes the sentiment expressed throughout the entire song.

Overall, the lyrics to Youth speak to a universal theme of wanting to stay young and carefree. The nostalgia, longing for simpler times, and desire for eternal youth is something many people can relate to, and The Adicts's song captures it perfectly.

Line by Line Meaning

I never wanted to conform
I have always resisted pressure to comply with societal norms.

I never wanted a uniform
I have always rejected the idea of adopting a standard style of dress or behavior.

Youth and me a perfect company
I feel a strong connection to my youthful self, and I feel most at home in the company of other young people.

A smile or two will get us through
Simple pleasures like smiling and laughing are enough to sustain me and my fellow young people through challenging times.

Youth and me perpetuity
I feel that my youthful spirit will never truly fade, and that the joy and energy of youth will always be a part of me.

All I wanna, All I wanna
My deepest desire is just one thing, and that is...

All I want is youth
...to remain young forever, with all the joy and freedom that comes with youthfulness.

I wish I was forever young
I long to escape the inevitable process of aging and mortality by remaining in a state of eternal youthfulness.

(Daddy Look)
(A sudden exclamation or outburst, perhaps drawing attention to a specific moment or experience.)

Can it be my time has come
I am struck by the realization that I am getting older, and must eventually face the challenges and responsibilities of adulthood.

(That's it)
(A further exclamation or statement of acceptance or resignation to the inevitability of growing older.)

Youth can be a future for me
I see the potential for a bright and vibrant future in the energy and creativity of youthfulness.

The child will find his history
Children naturally seek to explore and understand their past and cultural heritage, even as they grow and mature.

Youth and me eternity
I believe that my youthful spirit will live on within me forever, and that youthfulness itself represents an eternal state of being.

Am I just a peter pan
I wonder if I am merely clinging to youth as a way of avoiding the responsibilities and challenges of adulthood.

Will I ever be a man
I am unsure if I am capable of living up to the expectations and demands of adult society.

If I could be just sweet sixteen
I long to go back to a time when I had fewer responsibilities, greater energy, and a more carefree spirit.

Would I know what life could mean
I wonder if the wisdom and experience that come with age are truly worth the loss of youthful vitality and spontaneity.

Youth and me the perfect company
Above all, I feel most at ease and connected to myself and others when I embrace the energy and freedom of youthfulness.

You and me in perpetuity
I believe that my youthful spirit will live on within me and my peers forever, as we continue to experience the world and create new memories together.

Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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