The Buggles' sound was characterised by a deliberately synthetic quality in keeping with the technological subject matter of their songs. The group had a smash hit with the first single from their debut album The Age of Plastic. Song Video Killed The Radio star famously provided the 1st music video ever played on MTV (on August 1, 1981).
The novelty value of their most popular song has led to the Buggles being perceived as being a one-hit-wonder. They did release three further singles, but none came close to emulating the success of their debut track. Specifically, "The Age of Plastic" reached #16 in the UK, "Clean Clean" stalled at #38, and "Elstree" failed to enter the top 40. Still, they've been well received by the later cult audience of new wave revival devotees.
After joining progressive rock group Yes for their 1980 Drama album and tour and then recording the second Buggles album Adventures in Modern Recording, in 1981, The Buggles members parted ways to explore other projects. Horn has been a highly successful record producer (working with ABC's The Look of Love, Yes' Owner of a Lonely Heart, Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax, Rod Stewart's Down Town Train, Pet Shop Boys' Always On My Mind, Seal's Kiss From A Rose, LeAnne Rimes' Can't Fight The Moonlight and many more) while Downes has served as a key member of the supergroup Asia. Both of them have revisited their Buggles material to enthusiastic audiences.
Clean
The Buggles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aimin' for the floorboards but they picked me up instead
Through the ringing of the night before
Said, 'the engines running gotta pay a call'
Johnny drove the halftrack
'Cause we could not find the jeep
Wake me in the morning gotta get some sleep
Got in the ribs every time he changed gear
I'm gonna take a ride, gonna pick up the team
Gonna go where we've never been
I'm gonna, take a ride gonna pick up the team
(Pickin' up, pickin' up the team)
God you know how it's hard to keep the fighting clean
Clean clean
Clean clean
Clean clean
Pogo Johnny gonna fight the war
Chaplain in the morning at the local liquor store
Pogo coughin' bad from diesel fumes
Johnny tell the chaplain go and polish his tombs
Lying on the wasteground with a blanket on his face
Indicating that he's left the human race
Helmet open where the world came in
Gotta keep your head if you wanna win
I'm gonna take a ride, gonna pick up the team
Gonna go where we've never been
I'm gonna, take a ride gonna pick up the team
(picking up, pickin' up the team)
God you know it's hard to keep the fighting clean
clean clean
clean clean
clean clean
clean clean
Squad, quick march! Squad Dis-miss!
Clean clean
Clean clean
Clean clean
Clean clean
Clean clean
Lost a million in our very first attack
Clean clean
Don't you worry cause you know we'll get them back
Clean clean
Lost a million in our very first attack
Clean clean
Don't you worry cause you know we'll get them back
The Buggles’ hit song Clean Clean is a thought-provoking narrative of the struggles, both physical and mental, that soldiers go through during wartime. The lyrics consist of a conversation between two unidentified soldiers, Pogo Johnny and the singer, who have just arrived on the battlefield. The song starts with the singer saying that Pogo Johnny kicked him in the head and the ringing from the night before is still present. The conversation then continues with stories of sleep deprivation, driving all night, and avoiding the consequences of lost battles. The song seems to be commenting on the toll that war takes on soldiers and the difficulty of keeping a clear conscience when fighting.
Through the lyrics, the song discusses the struggles that soldiers experience on the battlefield, such as the constant fear of being killed, the exhaustion from extended periods of travel, and the unethical actions taken during war. The song’s narrator realizes the need to pick up the team, go where the soldiers have never been before, and preserve the fighting spirit while keeping the fighting clean. Pogo Johnny, the other soldier, is depicted as someone who has given up on his will to fight, coughing from diesel fumes and asking the chaplain to polish his tombs.
Clean Clean by The Buggles may be interpreted as a critique of war, how it corrupts the mind and heart, and how soldiers need to stick together if they want to win the battle. The song tries to leave a lasting message in the listener's mind – that war should always be avoided and the struggles associated with war must be acknowledged and addressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Pogo Johnny kicked me in the head,
Pogo Johnny physically harmed me by targeting my head
Aimin' for the floorboards but they picked me up instead
Johnny's intention was to harm me by making me hit the floor, but instead, those floorboards saved me
Through the ringing of the night before
Amid the noises and echoes of the previous night
Said, 'the engines running gotta pay a call'
Someone said that the vehicle is running, and they need to make a quick stop
Johnny drove the halftrack
Johnny was the one driving the halftrack vehicle
'Cause we could not find the jeep
The original plan was to drive a jeep, but they couldn't find one, hence the halftrack
Wake me in the morning gotta get some sleep
Remind me in the morning to get some rest
Driving all night out of fear
They were driving through the night due to being scared
Got in the ribs every time he changed gear
The constant gear shifts were causing pain in the artist's ribcage
I'm gonna take a ride, gonna pick up the team
The artist plans to drive somewhere to pick up their team
Gonna go where we've never been
They plan to go to a new, unexplored location
God you know how it's hard to keep the fighting clean
The artist acknowledges how difficult it is to maintain a moral and ethical fighting style in war
Clean clean
Emphasizing the importance of keeping the fighting fair and just
Pogo Johnny gonna fight the war
Johnny is prepared to engage in the war
Chaplain in the morning at the local liquor store
The chaplain is expected to stop by a nearby liquor store in the morning
Pogo coughin' bad from diesel fumes
Pogo is experiencing severe coughing due to inhaling diesel fumes
Johnny tell the chaplain go and polish his tombs
Johnny instructs the chaplain to prepare for the possibility of death in battle
Lying on the wasteground with a blanket on his face
Someone is lying motionless on the ground under a blanket
Indicating that he's left the human race
This person is no longer part of the living world
Helmet open where the world came in
This person's helmet is open, and they died from a wound to the head
Gotta keep your head if you wanna win
To succeed in battle, one must remain focused and sharp
Squad, quick march! Squad Dis-miss!
Military marching commands
Lost a million in our very first attack
Their side suffered a significant loss in their initial assault
Don't you worry cause you know we'll get them back
Despite the setback, they remain confident in their ability to retaliate successfully
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE WOOLLEY, GEOFFREY DOWNES, TREVOR CHARLES HORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thrasher66613
It’s too bad they only released two albums before joining other legendary bands. The Buggles were unique and both guys are multitalented.
@AdamBHarrisHarpist
Great quote from Trevor Horn, "we were pop stars that became rock stars'
@classicguitarfan8
Their 2nd album was actually released after Drama (and it was mostly a TH project)
@RubUOutC
Have a listen to the Suburban Ghosts album by DBA - a Downes project. It’s magic all the way through
@Thomasmemoryscentral
Say David, can you hear this music resembling a prototype of the sound Billy Idol got with Rebel Yell? The prechorus I believe especially with Geoffrey Downes doing the work it out backing vocals resembles Rebel Yell
@laurence.MusicAndSights
@Thomasmemoryscentral yep you are ride, as I am a Billy Idol subscriber ..not a copycat of Trevor Horn prophetic talents. BTW my favourite album of Billy Idol is CYBER PUNK, so underrated but visionnary...ugly reality now. Greetings from France
@rabbitsrefuse
Trevor horn is the reason why I put a bunch of stickers up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that just say, “The Buggles we’re an underrated band.”
This is the hill I am willing to die upon.
@Danimal1577
Trevor Horn is a genius. Everyone who loves music needs to know about this man
@aebhosor4835
Yeah, he's an awesome producer and musician
@michaelkaram9930
Equally as important Geoff Downes check out his extensive work with Asia