The Blow Monkeys is a British pop and blue eyed soul group that is best kno… Read Full Bio ↴The Blow Monkeys is a British pop and blue eyed soul group that is best known for its 80s work, particularly the international top 20 pop hit "Digging Your Scene". With their snappy dress sense and androgynous image, the band drew comparisons to new wave and art rock contemporaries such as The Style Council and Roxy Music. Fronted by lead singer and songwriter Dr. Robert (born Bruce Robert Howard, in Haddington, Scotland, on 2 May 1961), the group formed in 1981 upon Howard's return to the U.K. after spending his teen years in Australia. The group gets its unusual name from an offensive term used in Australia, referring to Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo.

In 1984, they released their debut album, 'Limping For A Generation', which took on issues such as the Cold War and the AIDS epidemic, unusually for a pop band. Their first hit was in 1986 with "Digging Your Scene" from their second album, 'Animal Magic'. The single peaked at number 14 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart listing and number 7 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. To the band's delight, the parent album also hit number 35 on the Billboard 200,

In January 1987, 'She Was Only A Grocer's Daughter' was released. The album's biggest hit, "It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way", reached the top 10 in the U.K., although it never charted in the U.S. The band called it quits in late 1990 as the musical scene shifted away from them. Lead singer Dr. Robert then went solo. The band reformed in 2007 and has sporadically toured.

Atomic Lullaby
The Blow Monkeys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sitting here canting my heartbeat
Isn't much fun
So I'll keep a date with my dream
And stick to my guns
I don't need a bullet in the head
Misplaced public sympathy
A missile and a submarine to take away
No sun today

I don't need a bullet in the head
I don't need a gun held to my head

Oh, I don't want to have to say goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Overall Meaning

The Blow Monkeys' song "Atomic Lullaby" is a commentary on the dangers of nuclear war and the misguided idea of "mutually assured destruction" often associated with it. The lyrics speak of the singer's desire to escape the constant threat of war and to seek solace in their dreams. They reject the idea of violence as a means of resolving conflict and express a longing for peace and safety. The phrase "atomic lullaby" implies that the threat of nuclear war has become so commonplace that it has become a kind of background noise or lullaby, something to be endured rather than resolved.

The repetition of the phrase "I don't need a bullet in the head" emphasizes the futility of violence and the ultimate uselessness of conflict. The singer recognizes that there can be no winners in a nuclear war and that the only solution is to work towards peace. The line "misplaced public sympathy" suggests that the public has been misled into thinking that nuclear weapons provide security or that war is an acceptable means of achieving one's goals. The reference to a "missile and a submarine" reinforces the idea that nuclear war is not just an abstract threat but a very real possibility.

Overall, "Atomic Lullaby" is a powerful anti-war song that urges listeners to reject violence and work towards creating a more peaceful world. It is a poignant reminder of the dangers of nuclear weapons and the importance of finding peaceful solutions to conflict.

Line by Line Meaning

Sitting here canting my heartbeat
Sitting here, feeling anxious, and trying to calm myself down.

Isn't much fun
Being anxious is not enjoyable at all.

So I'll keep a date with my dream
To alleviate my anxiety, I'll focus on my aspirations and goals.

And stick to my guns
I'll stay committed to my beliefs and choices to maintain my happiness.

I don't need a bullet in the head
I don't need any harm or danger in my life.

Misplaced public sympathy
People being sympathetic in ways that are not helpful or necessary.

A missile and a submarine to take away
Weapons of mass destruction used to remove problems, but cause more harm than resolution.

No sun today
A metaphor for bad times or hardships.

Oh, I don't want to have to say goodbye
I don't want to experience loss or separation.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Reinforcing the previous line, expressing the desire to avoid goodbyes or endings.

Contributed by Nora D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.