There were two bands named The Beat, both active at the same time in the la… Read Full Bio ↴There were two bands named The Beat, both active at the same time in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Both bands mutually decided to use different names while operating different parts of the world:

1) The English two-tone ska band The Beat known as The English Beat in North America and The British Beat in Australia.

2) The American power-pop band became known as Paul Collins' Beat in Europe.

1. The Beat are a band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.
The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (1930 – 2017) (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off, She's Mine" and "All Out to Get You".[3]
Although the group’s main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country’s college radio.

After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.

Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as “Free Nelson Mandela”. In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.

Ranking Roger’s son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys’ single “Boys Will Be Boys”. In 2003, The Beat’s original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).

The Beat’s lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Saxa died on 3 May 2017, Ranking Roger died on 26 March 2019.

2. The Beat (known in Europe as The Paul Collins Beat or Paul Collins' Beat), were an American rock and power pop group from Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1970s. The Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material as Paul Collins' Beat. Frontman Paul Collins has released several projects with his alternative country group The Paul Collins Band, who play Americana music inspired by country rock and folk rock.

All Out to Get You
The Beat Lyrics

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Don't attempt to explain this incredible strain
now confusion's become far too simple a word for it
is what you make
that's the usual mistake
if you're happy with pain you can take it from me

that they're all out to get you
they're painting your life in a permanent grey

they're all out to get you
it takes more than tears to get rid of the stains
sometimes

you're scared you might slip when you're holding a knife
lose your fingers or more in a lathe on the nightshift
you're scared that your babies
get born with no legs
you're so scared of death
you don't know what life is

so they're. . .
all out to get you, all over nothing
they're painting your life in a permanent way
they're all out to get you, but all out forgetting
it takes more than tears to get rid of the stains sometimes

until you accept that you're just like the others
you're a boy or a girl
then a man or a woman
and your clothes never fit
and your skin's the wrong colour
so you make do with fear
you get more than you need.

yes they're all out to get you, all over nothing
they're painting your life in a permanent grey
they're all out to get you, but all out for getting
it takes more than tears to get rid of the stains
sometimes

it takes more than tears
it takes more than tears

it takes more than tears
to get rid of the stains.

Overall Meaning

The Beat's song "All Out to Get You" is a poignant commentary on paranoia and fear in modern society that is expressed through musings about death, disfigurement, and discrimination. The lyrics suggest that the world is conspiring against the listener, painting their life in a permanent grey, and it takes more than just tears to get rid of the stains. The opening lines of the song warn the listener not to attempt to explain the incredible strain of modern society and that now confusion has become far too simple a word for it. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a somber reflection on the state of the world.

The second verse of the song takes a darker turn as it describes the listener's fears about losing fingers in a lathe or having babies born without legs. These thoughts are juxtaposed with the statement that the listener is so scared of death that they don't even know what life is. This verse is a powerful commentary on the pervasive anxiety that grips people in the modern world and how it can affect their outlook on life.

The third verse encourages the listener to accept that they are just like everyone else and that their fears arise from the fact that their clothes never fit and their skin is the wrong color. The lyrics suggest that these feelings of inadequacy and difference fuel the listener's paranoia and that they get more than they need from their fears. This verse encourages the listener to overcome their fears and to accept themselves for who they are.

Overall, "All Out to Get You" is a powerful statement on the state of modern society and the anxiety that it produces. The lyrics are a reflection on the world's darker aspects and the human tendency to focus on the negative. The song encourages listeners to accept themselves and to overcome their fears, recognizing that life is not always easy, but it is worth living nonetheless.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't attempt to explain this incredible strain
Don't try to explain the intense pressure and stress that you're feeling because it's indescribable.

now confusion's become far too simple a word for it
The confusion and complexity of the situation is beyond anything that can be described with words.

is what you make
Your life is determined by your actions and decisions.

that's the usual mistake
Many people make the mistake of thinking that their lives are determined by outside forces rather than their own choices.

if you're happy with pain you can take it from me
If you're willing to accept pain and suffering as a part of life, then you don't need anyone's sympathy or help.

that they're all out to get you
Many people are actively working against you.

they're painting your life in a permanent grey
They are making your life dull and lifeless with their negativity and pessimism.

it takes more than tears to get rid of the stains
It takes more than just crying and feeling sorry for yourself to overcome the challenges and difficulties in life.

sometimes
Occasionally or on certain occasions.

you're scared you might slip when you're holding a knife
You're afraid of making a mistake or hurting yourself.

lose your fingers or more in a lathe on the nightshift
You're afraid of getting hurt or injured while working at night.

you're scared that your babies
You are afraid of something bad happening to your children.

get born with no legs
Your children might be born with a physical disability.

you're so scared of death
You are afraid of dying and what comes after.

you don't know what life is
You are uncertain about the meaning and purpose of life.

until you accept that you're just like the others
You should accept that you are not fundamentally different from other people.

you're a boy or a girl
Your gender is a defining characteristic of who you are.

then a man or a woman
As you grow and develop, your identity and place in society changes.

and your clothes never fit
You never feel like you belong or are comfortable in your own skin.

and your skin's the wrong colour
Your race or ethnicity is a factor that influences your life experiences.

so you make do with fear
You cope with your fears and anxieties because you feel trapped by your circumstances.

you get more than you need
You receive more negative energy and criticism from others than you can handle.

it takes more than tears
Overcoming adversity requires more than just emotional expression.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER CHARLERY, ANDREW COX, ANDY COX, EVERETT MORTON, DAVID STEELE, DAVID WAKELING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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