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
Therapy
The Damned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who needs this voltage food?
Who needs therapy?
Who needs this filthy room at night
Who says give up without a fight
Who gets their answers out of books
Dirty man with their dirty looks
Therapy for clones with their Barclay cards
Pension books and mortgage minds
Pay for this therapy
Who needs this filthy room at night
Who says give up without a fight
Who gets their answers out of books
Dirty man with their dirty looks
What do you need in your room at night
Therapy
That's right
What do you get when you kill the light
Therapy
That's right
What do you want when it all goes wrong
Therapy
That's right
Who needs therapy all night long
I do
I dream of pavements
Pavements cold and grey
Cheeful and laughter on a lovely day
I dream of pavements
They won't do away
I dream of pavements
The lyrics to The Damned's song 'Therapy' discuss the idea of seeking help from therapists or psychiatrists, questioning the necessity of this kind of treatment. The opening lines of the song, "Therapy plug me in straight again, who needs this voltage food?" reveal a sense of exhaustion or being worn down. The singer is asking for someone to fix them or give them a jolt of energy, but also expressing a sense of apathy toward the idea of therapy.
The chorus of the song repeats the question "Who needs therapy?" and goes on to criticize those who seek it out. The lines "Therapy for clones with their Barclay cards, Pension books and mortgage minds, Pay for this therapy" suggest that therapy is seen as a luxury or status symbol for wealthy individuals with boring, mundane lives. Additionally, the reference to "dirty man with their dirty looks" could be seen as a critique of therapists themselves, painting them as judgmental or untrustworthy.
The bridge of the song shifts from these criticisms to a more personal reflection. The repeated refrain of "What do you need in your room at night, Therapy that's right" highlights a sense of loneliness or desperation that the singer is feeling. They are seeking some kind of comfort or solace from their own mind, but it's not clear whether they believe therapy is the answer.
Overall, 'Therapy' explores the complex relationship between mental health, societal expectations, and personal aspirations. It questions the effectiveness and necessity of therapy, while also expressing a sense of longing for relief from inner turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Therapy plug me in straight again
Requesting to be plugged into therapy to cure whatever mental or emotional ailment is affecting them
Who needs this voltage food?
Questioning the effectiveness of therapy, suggesting that it may just be an electrifying experience without real substance or value
Who needs therapy?
Rephrasing the previous line to reiterate the skepticism towards therapy and its true necessity
Who needs this filthy room at night
Questioning the environment in which therapy takes place, suggesting that it may not be conducive to healing or recovery
Who says give up without a fight
Challenging the notion that one should surrender or give up in the face of hardship or adversity
Who gets their answers out of books
Questioning the reliance on reading and knowledge for solutions to personal problems, suggesting a need for more experiential or personal approaches
Dirty man with their dirty looks
Potentially referring to therapists or other mental health professionals, suggesting a general distrust or dissatisfaction with their profession and practices
Therapy for clones with their Barclay cards
Implying that therapy may only be accessible to a certain type of person with financial means and similar backgrounds, further questioning the universality of therapy's benefits
Pension books and mortgage minds
Playing off the phrase 'mortgage bind' to suggest that many people seeking therapy may be in debt or struggling financially, and that therapy may be seen as a luxury or alternative to financial stability
Pay for this therapy
Highlighting the transactional nature of therapy and how it is often viewed as a service or commodity to purchase, rather than an essential part of healing or self-care
What do you need in your room at night
Asking what is truly needed for comfort and stability in one's personal space, perhaps implying that therapy may not be the answer
Therapy
Answering the question above with the resounding message of the song, but leaving room for interpretation as to what therapy truly represents and how it can be achieved
That's right
Emphasizing the validity of the previous lines and driving home the central message of the song
What do you get when you kill the light
Asking what is left when everything else fades away or becomes uncertain, perhaps suggesting that therapy may help provide answers in these moments of darkness
What do you want when it all goes wrong
Asking what one truly desires or seeks when things don't go as planned, perhaps implying that therapy may be a way to cope with and manage these feelings
Who needs therapy all night long
Echoing the initial sentiment of the song but suggesting an ongoing need for therapy rather than a one-time solution or quick fix
I do
Affirming the personal desire for therapy and a need for self-improvement or healing
I dream of pavements
Introducing a new element to the song and opening up a new interpretation for the listener, perhaps suggesting a longing for simpler times or a simpler life
Pavements cold and grey
Describing the unfamiliar nature of the dream and the emotions associated with it, perhaps highlighting a sense of isolation or stagnation
Cheerful and laughter on a lovely day
Offering a contrast to the bleakness of the previous lines, suggesting a desire for happiness and positivity even in the midst of difficult times
They won't do away
Reiterating the persistent presence of the dream and the longing for something more or different
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN MILLAR, DAVID VANIAN, FAY HART, PAUL GRAY, RAYMOND IAN BURNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Balazs Orban
I'll be 50 soon. Never stopped listening to music and The Black Album is still one of my faves.
Johnny Bouldt
The bass is so dominant in the mix. He is totally pulling off lead bass instead of lead guitar without being offensive about it.... Paul Gray.
Bernie Mckenna
The Damned for ya
b mp
+Naymlus Esmour It's a different Paul Gray
Renounced Equation
Ain't Paul Gray dead, and was in Slipknot?
infocado
One of my favourite Damned Songs Late night ,headphones on ,and sterio panning is great !!! Plus the Love Song basss riff - it cant fail to deliver. This is the definative Damned line up
limelight778
i bought the album in 1980 and it still buzzes me a legendary band who still are legends
PeaceFrog
thanks so much for this song! One of my favourites from the damned! It's so effin underrated!
communycat13
i fucking love this song
Chewed Tape
One of my fave Damned songs and a very funny slideshow....great stuff!