The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments. Not as a joke, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember. They love folk instruments. It works. They do songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others, even Kraftwerk! Alright, they're not all punk, but they come from roughly the same era. The songs are mostly given a kind of Celtic feel, with the odd reel and jig stuck here and there. But occassionally they just thrash! They've always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk live in the 70s!
Other musicians recording and appearing with the Bad Shapherds include Carol Dawson (fiddle), Eimear Bradley (fiddle), Keith Angel (percussion), Mark Woolley (percussion), Martin Allcock (bass), Brad Lang (bass) and Tim Harries (bass).
Their albums include:
Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (2008)
By Hook or By Crook (2010)
Panic
The Bad Shepherds Lyrics
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Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again ?
The Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmere
But listen pal you're safe here
To the safety of the town
But there's Panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco
Hang the DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE
Hang the DJ
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
Or provincial towns you jog 'round
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
The Bad Shepherds's song "Panic" narrates the chaotic state of British society in the late 1970s and early 1980s, marked by racial tension, economic recession, and political turmoil. The lyrics describe the spread of panic from one city to another, as people feel increasingly isolated and desperate. The song's title is a reference to a panic that occurred during a show by The Smiths at the Mayflower club in Manchester in 1986, when some fans were crushed against the stage, and Morrissey had to stop the show. The song's chorus "Hang the DJ" is seen as a protest against the state of British pop music, which was dominated by corporate labels and radio stations. The Bad Shepherds's version of the song, released in 2009, is a punk-folk cover that adds a new dimension of irony to the track.
The opening lines of the song, "Panic on the streets of London, Panic on the streets of Birmingham," are based on headlines from the Daily Mail about riots and disturbances which happened in Britain during the early 1980s. The song mentions several other British cities, such as Carlisle, Leeds, Dublin, Dundee, and Humberside, to illustrate the extent of the crisis. The line "I wonder to myself, Could life ever be sane again?" expresses a sense of disillusionment with the status quo.
The second half of the song focuses on the role of music in British culture, and criticizes the DJ's and the discotheque scene. The line "Burn down the disco, hang the DJ" is a metaphor for destroying the superficial culture that was pervasive at the time. The song's final verse "Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ" reinforces this message, and the repetition of the phrase acts as a call to action.
The Bad Shepherds's rendition of "Panic" combines punk and folk elements, featuring electric guitar riffs, fiddle solos, and a raucous sing-along chorus. The band's version is faster and more upbeat than The Smiths's original, and this energetic rendition brings a new level of urgency to the song's lyrics. The track was released on the album "By Hook or by Crook" in 2009, and received critical acclaim for its fresh take on a classic protest song.
Line by Line Meaning
Panic on the streets of London
The people in London are feeling scared and overwhelmed
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
The people in Birmingham are also feeling scared and overwhelmed
I wonder to myself
The singer is pondering the possibility of life returning to normal again
Could life ever be sane again?
The singer wonders if things will ever be normal again
The Leeds side-streets that you slip down
Some of the quieter and more secluded streets in Leeds, where unspoken issues might manifest
Hopes may rise on the Grasmere
The singer believes that things could improve in the area of Grasmere
But listen pal you're safe here
Despite the panic in other areas, the singer believes that the listener is safe
So you run down to the safety of the town
The singer advises the listener to go to the safety of the town where there is less panic
But there's Panic on the streets of Carlisle
Unfortunately, there is panic in Carlisle too
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
Other areas such as Dublin, Dundee, and Humberside are also experiencing panic
Burn down the disco
The singer is calling for an end to the disco culture
Hang the DJ
The singer believes the DJ is at fault for perpetuating the meaningless music
Because the music that they constantly play
The music played by the DJ is repetitive and meaningless
IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE
The singer feels that the music played does not reflect his own experiences or struggles
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
The singer reaffirms that even the Leeds side-streets can be difficult to navigate when dealing with inner turmoil
Or provincial towns you jog 'round
Even in smaller, less significant towns, the issues that cause panic can still arise
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
The chorus reinforces that the DJ should be held responsible for the meaningless music they play
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
The repetition of the chorus further emphasizes the singer's point
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
The chorus continues to call for the DJ's removal
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
The chorus again reinforces the desire to hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
The final repetition of the chorus solidifies the singer's frustration with the DJ
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.