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 – February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure – November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette – November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album – October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries – October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria – July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything – December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth – November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder – August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? – October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits – April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023
She
The Damned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She knows - what blackness lurks in our souls
She parts her lips and gives me a literary quip
Sharper and sweeter than any cat-o-nine tails whip
She makes me feel like a king
She is the reasoning that makes life swing
She says - don't yeild to it's atmospheric hue
She's got the power to make things turn out right
Even in the darkest hour of the very blackest night
She makes me feel like a king
She is the reasoning that makes life swing
Eyes limped and pools of passion
Lips of deepest darkest damson
Fingers probing show white skin
Like a leather disciplinary
Looking rather predatory
Like an emissary of sin
She knows - we've got nothing more to prove
She knows - we're dancing in a dead mans shoes
She says let's check out of this haunted hotel
Where all the corridors and doorways are leading straight to hell
She makes me feel like a king
She is the reasoning that makes life swing
She makes me feel like a king
She is the reasoning that makes life swing
She drags my world awake
The Damned’s song “She” is a tribute to a woman who has a deep understanding of the darkness that exists in the world and in the human soul. The singer describes her as someone who can articulate this knowledge with words that are sharper and sweeter than any punishment. She has the power to make him feel like a king and to make life feel worthwhile. She is his reason for living and provides him with the motivation to move away from sadness and into joy.
The lyrics explain that she is able to help the singer move away from sadness by encouraging him to not yield to its atmospheric hue. She is described as a powerful force that can make things turn out right, even in the darkest hours of the blackest night. With her knowledge and her words, she can bring light into darkness and make the world a better place.
The lyrics use imagery of passion and power to describe this woman. Her eyes are described as being limp and pools of passion. Her lips are referred to as “deepest darkest damson” and her touch is like a “leather disciplinary”. She is also described as predatory and emissary of sin. Despite this darker imagery, the overall message of the song is one of hope and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
She knows - about all the evil in this world
She is aware of the wickedness that exists in this world.
She knows - what blackness lurks in our souls
She understands the dark thoughts that can exist within us.
She parts her lips and gives me a literary quip
When she speaks, her words are clever and precise.
Sharper and sweeter than any cat-o-nine tails whip
Her words are powerful and soothing at the same time.
She makes me feel like a king
She empowers me and lifts me up.
She is the reasoning that makes life swing
She brings balance and perspective to life.
She says - come on and swing away from blue
She encourages me to move away from sadness and depression.
She says - don't yeild to it's atmospheric hue
She tells me not to succumb to the gloominess of the environment.
She's got the power to make things turn out right
She has the ability to bring positive change.
Even in the darkest hour of the very blackest night
She can find hope and light even in the bleakest moments.
Eyes limped and pools of passion
Her eyes are heavy and filled with intensity.
Lips of deepest darkest damson
Her lips are a dark shade of plum.
Fingers probing show white skin
Her fingers are exploring and revealing pale skin.
Like a leather disciplinary
Her touch and presence is both strict and alluring.
Looking rather predatory
She has a fierce and intense gaze.
Like an emissary of sin
She embodies temptation and forbidden desire.
She knows - we've got nothing more to prove
She understands that we have nothing left to demonstrate or justify.
She knows - we're dancing in a dead mans shoes
She is aware that we are in a situation of danger and uncertainty.
She says let's check out of this haunted hotel
She wants us to leave this place that is full of negative energy.
Where all the corridors and doorways are leading straight to hell
The place we are in is leading us towards destruction and chaos.
She drags my world awake
She invigorates and energizes my life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Ondrejkova
I love this song, I love the lyrics and I love the feeling it gives me.
The Haunted Dollhouse
Patricia Morrison!!Yes she is! and very talented!
Snowy Hoffa
MOst underrated band in the whole Damned world
Niroshan Fernando
@Marxista Grouchista Dave Vanian, Captain Sensible & Co. are superstsrs known well in the punk realm with some moments of exposure in the mainstream but imo they still don't get their fair due as they should. I will agree that Patricia Morrison's band The Gun Club are definitely underrated.
Niroshan Fernando
Most underrated In the whole DAMNED (all pun intended) world! I DITTO that sentiment.
Marxista Grouchista
Damned underated? Camon , is rather famous band , The Gun Club , where Patricia Morrison came from may be more underated and is a fucking great band, and I can tell you thousand bands as good as damned , from the same decade and less famous as Sad lovers and giants , Pink turns blue...
g man tramp
Nah the Ruts were ..
eboyzki
I learned of this band through a comic, and DAMN, The Damned creates good music.
Place So Far Away - Glenn Page's Sister Channel
Great song from a vastly underrated CD! Love how they incorporated the Sisters of Mercy-like choir at the end...
Glenn Page Music
Damn, this song kicks ass. The Damned are just too good to be as (relatively) unrecognized as they are...