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.
The Bitter End
The Boomtown Rats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We go all the way
It isn't too far
It isn't too far
To the bitter end
With our wills of iron
Souls of coal
Hearts of gold
To the bitter end
Sit on a fence all day
Looking for change
Any spare change
To the bitter end
And on the side that wins
How can you lose?
We always do
To the bitter end
When the wind bites cold
Look at the rain
Engand in May
To the bitter end
We'll go all the way
It isn't too far
And it goes on....
The Boomtown Rats’ song “The Bitter End” paints a portrait of the ultimate journey of a disillusioned soul, characterized by a sense of determination matched with a poignant hopelessness. With a catchy guitar riff, Bob Geldof’s lyricism takes center stage, as he sings, “To the bitter end, we go all the way...” The lyrics evoke images of desperation and an intense yearning for survival. The mention of “souls of coal, hearts of gold” implies the sense of gritty determination in the face of adverse conditions. The refrain “looking for change, any spare change” is another expression of this desperation, where the singer seems to be looking for something, anything, to hold onto as he journeys through the bitter end.
The chorus of the song can be interpreted in different ways, where the singer speaks of going all the way to the bitter end with our wills of iron, the souls of coal, and the hearts of gold. There is a sense of tenacity evident in the lyrics, where the singer seems to be imploring the listener to embrace this defiance as well. The line “On the side that wins, how can you lose? We always do” is a commentary on the futility of the underdog mentality. Despite our will to survive and push through to the bitter end, there are always systemic barriers to success that can never be overcome. With a sense of resigned acceptance, Geldof’s lyrics drive home this reality.
Line by Line Meaning
To the bitter end
We are determined to see things through to the very end, no matter how difficult it may get.
We go all the way
We commit to giving our all and doing everything possible to achieve our goals.
It isn't too far
The distance we have to go to achieve our goals is not insurmountable.
With our wills of iron
Our determination to succeed is unbreakable and unwavering.
Souls of coal
We have been hardened by our struggles and have persevered through difficult times.
Hearts of gold
Despite our difficulties, we remain compassionate and empathetic towards others.
Sit on a fence all day
We are trying to make a decision but are having trouble committing to one side or the other.
Looking for change
We are hoping for a different outcome than what we've experienced in the past.
Any spare change
We are willing to accept even small victories or improvements to our situation.
And on the side that wins
We are hoping to choose the side that ultimately prevails.
How can you lose?
We are hoping that choosing the winning side means that we will always come out on top.
We always do
Despite our hopes, we have often experienced disappointment or loss in the past.
When the wind bites cold
During difficult times, when things are bitter and harsh.
Look at the rain
We must face the harsh realities of our situation and not shy away from difficulties.
Engand in May
The rain and harsh weather a metaphor for the tough times we are facing.
We'll go all the way
Our determination to succeed will ensure that we see things through until the end.
And it goes on....
There is no end in sight and our struggles may continue indefinitely.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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