Originally, they used the moniker 'The Nightlife Thugs'. The name "The Boomtown Rats" comes from a gang of down-and-outs from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, which the folk artist titled 'Bound for Glory'. The guys gained fame due to their often cynical tunes, having several notable singles, yet their record is overshadowed by the charity work on behalf of famine relief of their lead singer. Geldof, being nicknamed 'Bob The Gob' by the media for his big mouth, attained international fame after spearheading efforts such as 'Live Aid'.
The Boomtown Rats itself scored several Top Ten hits in the UK charts during their commercial peak, from 1978 to 79, and their most famous songs, still to this day, are "Rat Trap" (a U.K. #1) and "I Don't Like Mondays" (another U.K. #1), the latter being their biggest hit and achieving international notoriety. The track was written on a tour of the US in 1979 when Bob Geldof heard a telex machine spouting the story of Californian schoolgirl Brenda Ann Spencer, a girl that went on wild shooting spree at a San Diego high school with what seemed like no provocation before or remorse afterward. She justified her killing spree with the excuse "I don't like Mondays".
Bob Geldof has been gifted with the art of story-telling through songs. Lyrics are mostly in third person, have clever double entendre meanings, often relating some story or incident, eg "Dave". Geldof's charity work has been centred around the issue of famine relief, and includes being the organiser for the Band Aid single, for which he brought a superstar pop lineup together to record a song to aid famine relief (at the time was the fastest selling single in Britain of all time) and organizing the LiveAid concerts, a 2-continent superstar live concert that raised over 100 million dollars for famine relief.
Guitarist Gerry Cott left the band in 1981 and the band became a quintet. They disbanded in 1986 following a charity concert in Ireland. Most of the band members have now moved on to solo projects or new bands.
The Boomtown Rats reformed in 2013 going on tour again and released a new best of album Back to Boomtown : Classic Rats Hits which includes two new recorded songs.
Someone's Looking At You
The Boomtown Rats Lyrics
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You come over to my place screaming blue murder, needing someplace to hide.
Well, I wish you'd keep quiet,
Imaginations run riot,
In these paper-thin walls.
And when the place comes ablaze with a thousand dropped names
I don't know who to call.
But I got a friend over there in the government block
I think I'll call him up now
Put him on the spot, tonight.
They saw me there in the square when I was shooting my mouth off
About saving some fish.
Now could that be construed as some radical's views or some liberals' wish.
And it's so hot outside,
And the air is so sweet,
And when the pressure drop is heavy I don't wanna hear you speak.
You know most killing is committed at 90 degrees.
When it's too hot to breathe
And it's too hot to think.
There's always someone looking at you.
S-s-s-s-someone.
They're looking at you.
And I wish you'd stop whispering.
Don't flatter yourself, nobody's listening.
Still it makes me nervous, those things you say.
You may as well
Shout it from the roof
Scream it from your lungs
Spit it from you mouth
There's a spy in the sky
There's a noise on the wire
There's a tap on the line
And for every paranoid's desire...
There's always Somone looking at you.
S-s-s-s-someone looking at you...
They're always looking at you.
The Boomtown Rats's song "Someone's Looking at You" is a highly political and socially conscious song that critiques the government's oppressive surveillance tactics on citizens. It opens with the singer talking about how he deserves to be kissed and the irony of having to deal with a loud, panicked visitor in his house at the same time. The lyrics then delve into the paranoia and fear of having no privacy, with mentions of thin walls that allow imagination to run wild and the impossibility of calling someone when beset with a thousand names.
The second verse takes a look at the restrictions of free speech and the fear of being monitored for any and every opinion expressed. When it comes to speaking out about important issues, there is always the risk of being seen as radical or liberal, which in turn can be judged as a threat by the government. The reference to 90 degrees shows that the government's power increases as the pressure rises and situations get heated. The chorus repeats the phrase "There's always someone looking at you" as a reminder that there is no escaping the intrusive eye of the state.
The song sheds light on the dehumanizing effects of government surveillance and the feeling of always being watched. It also critiques the lack of privacy and the negative consequences it can have on personal liberties. The Boomtown Rats's "Someone's Looking at You" can be seen as a warning to society to take action before the issue of surveillance goes too far.
Line by Line Meaning
On a night like this I deserve to get kissed at least once or twice
I am hoping to receive some affection on this particular evening.
You come over to my place screaming blue murder, needing someplace to hide.
You arrived at my home yelling and in distress, seeking refuge.
Well, I wish you'd keep quiet,
I would prefer if you remained silent.
Imaginations run riot,
Our minds are racing with wild thoughts.
In these paper-thin walls.
The walls around us are thin and inadequate.
And when the place comes ablaze with a thousand dropped names
When the room is filled with numerous notable individuals.
I don't know who to call.
I am uncertain of who to reach out to in this situation.
But I got a friend over there in the government block
Fortunately, I have a friend in the government sector.
And he knows the situation and he's taking stock,
He is aware of the current scenario and is evaluating it closely.
I think I'll call him up now
I believe it is time to contact him.
Put him on the spot, tonight.
Requesting that he take action and address the issue immediately.
They saw me there in the square when I was shooting my mouth off
During a public gathering, I was speaking openly and indiscreetly.
About saving some fish.
Specifically, I was discussing the act of preserving aquatic life.
Now could that be construed as some radical's views or some liberals' wish.
Perhaps my statements could be perceived as extremist beliefs or progressive ideals.
And it's so hot outside,
The temperature in the environment is quite high.
And the air is so sweet,
Despite the heat, the atmosphere is very pleasant.
And when the pressure drop is heavy I don't wanna hear you speak.
During times of great stress and tension, I prefer silence from you.
You know most killing is committed at 90 degrees.
Notably, a large number of homicides occur when the temperature is particularly high.
When it's too hot to breathe
When it is so warm that breathing becomes difficult.
And it's too hot to think.
Additionally, when the climate is so oppressive that concentration is a challenge.
There's always someone looking at you.
It's a popular belief that someone is constantly watching or observing you.
S-s-s-s-someone.
This person may remain unidentified and unknown.
They're looking at you.
This individual is specifically paying close attention to your actions and behaviors.
And I wish you'd stop whispering.
Your quiet speech is causing me stress and anxiety.
Don't flatter yourself, nobody's listening.
Despite your concerns, it is unlikely that anyone is actually eavesdropping on our conversation.
Still it makes me nervous, those things you say.
Your words are worrying me and increasing my apprehension.
You may as well
You should have no issue if you choose to
Shout it from the roof
Broadcast your thoughts and feelings from a high place so that all can hear.
Scream it from your lungs
Alternatively, loudly vocalize your ideas and opinions.
Spit it from you mouth.
Express yourself with a level of passion and emotion that some may even find repulsive.
There's a spy in the sky
This world is full of spying mechanisms which operate from above us (like drones).
There's a noise on the wire
The communication channel through which we communicate is being monitored.
There's a tap on the line
Someone has installed a wiretap to monitor communications on the telecommunications network.
And for every paranoid's desire...
These are scenarios that paranoid individuals often imagine and desire to be true.
There's always Someone looking at you.
Once again, it is always possible that someone is observing you.
S-s-s-s-someone looking at you...
This presence remains a mystery, but it is certainly existent.
They're always looking at you.
Therefore, it remains likely that someone is constantly observing your activities.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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