They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States. Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, was released six months before The Sex Pistols' debut, Never Mind The Bollocks.
The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian remaining the sole constant. They have incorporated many styles in their music, most notably garage rock, psychedelic music, the British theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and New Romantic.
In addition to serving as inspiration for many of the young bands who created hardcore punk in the US, The Damned are also generally regarded as one of the founders of goth music.
Original members Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) were all members of the semi-legendary Masters of the Backside which included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde.
Original guitarist Brian James (Brian Robertson) was a member of the early punk band London SS, a unit that never played live, but whose members later found fame in bands including The Clash and Generation X. Rat Scabies was also tried as the drummer for London SS, but was rejected.
Maintaining the goth connection, between 1996 and 2004 the bass guitarist of the Damned was one-time the Sisters of Mercy / the Sisterhood / Gun Club member Patricia Morrison. Morrison married Dave Vanian in 1996 but left the band after the birth of their daughter Emily. She originally joined the band after bassist Paul Grey was injured during a concert.
Discography:
Damned, Damned, Damned ā February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure ā November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette ā November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album ā October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries ā October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria ā July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything ā December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth ā November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder ā August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? ā October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits ā April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023
Devil in Disguise
The Damned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a serpent born of sin
One's out and the next one's in
I'm gonna make you hate again
Don't understate the state we're in
Don't misconstrue my sideways grin
'Cause you're the one that let me in
Don't use your charm to buy you time
Don't blame the victim blame the crime
You passed the torch you lit the fire lit the fire
As you build your walls
And Empires fall It seems the truth doesn't matter any more
'Cause I'm a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
Behind my lying eyes
'Cause I'm a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
A devil in disguise
Don't blame the master blame the plan
Don't join the shell game watch the scam
Don't play the cards without the hand
Without the hand
Can't fix the engine with no tools
Don't blame the teacher blame the school
Cause it ain't me who made the rules
Made the rules
Ones out -the next ones in
I'm gonna make you hate again (again)
'Cause I'm a Devil
I'm a Devil
I'm a Devil
I'm a Devil
A devil in disguise
'Cause I'm a Devil
A complicated Rebel
Behind my lying eyes
'Cause I'm a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
A devil in disguise
A devil in disguise
The Damned's "Devil In Disguise" is a powerful song that explores the theme of manipulation and deceit. The lyrics depict a character who is crawling out of their skin to reveal their true, demon-like nature. The character shows that they are capable of making others hate and expresses their intention to do so. They caution against underestimating their manipulative skills and charm, implying that they have already been allowed into their victim's life.
The character, labelled as a devil, blames the victim for their actions, asserting that they are not responsible for the consequences of their evil deeds, but rather the victim is. The lyrics also criticize societal structures that allow the truth to be ignored while promoting manipulation and dishonesty.
The song has an intense, driving rhythm and a pounding bass line that give it a sense of urgency and danger. It emphasizes the manipulative, predatory nature of the devil in disguise, making it a frightening and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm crawling out of my skin
Feeling restless and uncomfortable in my own body
Like a serpent born of sin
Feeling like an evil being, born out of sin and corruption
One's out and the next one's in
People come and go in my life, and I'm always ready to move on to the next one
I'm gonna make you hate again
I'm a manipulative person who likes to turn others against each other or against someone else
Don't understate the state we're in
Don't underestimate how bad things are
Don't misconstrue my sideways grin
Don't mistake my smile for sincerity
'Cause you're the one that let me in
Blaming others for my actions and influence over them
Let me in!
Demanding access to someone or something, even if it's harmful
Don't use your charm to buy you time
Don't try to manipulate others with your charm and charisma
Don't blame the victim blame the crime
Holding the perpetrator of a crime responsible, not the victim
You passed the torch you lit the fire lit the fire
Blaming others for creating problems that I'm now taking advantage of or worsening
As you build your walls
And Empires fall It seems the truth doesn't matter any more
As people create barriers to protect themselves, it becomes harder to discern truth from lies
'Cause I'm a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
Behind my lying eyes
Describing myself as a deceitful and rebellious figure
'Cause I'm a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
A devil in disguise
Stressing again that I'm not what I appear to be, but instead an evil presence hiding in plain sight
Don't blame the master blame the plan
Holding the planner of something responsible, not the executor
Don't join the shell game watch the scam
Critiquing the practice of deceiving people in order to get something from them
Don't play the cards without the hand
Advising people not to make decisions without proper information or resources
Can't fix the engine with no tools
Acknowledging that problems cannot be solved if one doesn't have the necessary tools or skills
Don't blame the teacher blame the school
Holding the institution responsible, not the individuals within it
Cause it ain't me who made the rules
Made the rules
Ones out -the next ones in
I'm gonna make you hate again (again)
Refusing to take responsibility for actions and instead blaming the system or others for corrupting me and perpetuating a cycle of hate and manipulation
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Patrick Michael Beers, Andrew Pinching
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tatehammontree2636
Dont @ me if you see this Aggie I'm trying to learn it
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Iām crawling out of my skin
Like a serpent born of sin
Oneās out and the next oneās in
Iām gonna make you hate again
Donāt understate the state weāre in
Donāt misconstrue my sideways grin
Cos youāre the one that let me in
Let me in!
Donāt use your charm to buy you time
Donāt blame the victim blame the crime
You passed the torch you lit the fire lit the fire
As you build your walls
And Empires fall It seems the truth doesnāt matter any more
[Chorus]
Cos Iām a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
Behind my lying eyes
Cos Iām a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
A devil in disguise
[Verse 2]
Donāt blame the master blame the plan
Donāt join the shell game watch the scam
Donāt play the cards without the hand
Without the hand
Canāt fix the engine with no tools
Donāt blame the teacher blame the school
Cos it ain't me who made the rules
Made the rules
As you build your walls
And Empires fall It seems the truth doesnāt matter any more
Ones out -the next ones in
Iām gonna make you hate again (again)
[Chorus]
Cos Iām a Devil
Iām a Devil
Iām a Devil
Iām a Devil
A devil in disguise
Cos Iām a Devil
A complicated Rebel
Behind my lying eyes
Cos Iām a Devil
A complicated Rebel
A dirty demon Devil
A devil in disguise
[Outro]
A devil in disguise
@user-du4bt8tw8n
Just beautiful enough said
@jigokuojisan994
brilliant as ever. Dave and Captain never let down
@jonhillman871
this album really is the best demonstration of monty's abilities we've seen so far. that guy really has a knack for great music.
@UltimaThule1968
Lol he's not exactly Dave Greenfield class huh
@sebastosaurio
I can't stop hear this song, damn!
@royjones1571
On repeat for me and my friends. Hall Of Fame!!!! NOW!
@kaosontour2251
I got this as my ringtone
@kirkvicar
Best band I have seen at Norwich UEA for a long time. New album is the dog's danglies! I know the Captain and Paul from back in day, but, that doesn't mean I'm singing their praises for that reason. They are so polished and tight it was a real pleasure to see and hear them.
@neiltaylor5175
this record just keeps getting better
@maxmordon7295
That's what I think about every album and song of theirs.