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
You Know
The Damned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you can't create
You've got your open bars
But you can't relate
Pretty as a mirror
Ugly as your smile
You won't fool anybody
Not even for a while
You know you know
You know honey you know
You know you know
You know you know
Can't stop thinkin' of you
All the ways you go on
Don't try to tell me baby
All your plastic has gone
You know we need your honey
Like I need a loan
Your time is running out now
Unless we're really on a go
Well you know you know
You know yes you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know honey
You've got your plastic cards
But you can't create
You're got your open bars
But you can't relate
Pretty as a mirror
Ugly as your smile
You won't fool anybody
Not even for a while
You know why
You know you know
You know honey you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know you know
The Damned's song "You Know" is a critical commentary on society's obsession with money and material possessions. The lyrics criticize those who have all the trappings of wealth, such as plastic cards and open bars, but lack the ability to truly create or relate to others. The song highlights the superficiality of society and the futility of relying on material wealth for fulfillment.
The lyrics also touch on the idea that even though people may try to present a polished and perfect image to the world, their true selves will eventually show through. The line "Pretty as a mirror, ugly as your smile" suggests that even though someone may look good on the outside, their true personality may not be as attractive. The repetition of the phrase "You know" throughout the song emphasizes that the subject of the lyrics is aware of their own shortcomings and the flaws in their lifestyle, but is unable or unwilling to change.
Overall, "You Know" is a cynical and critical take on society's obsession with wealth and material possessions, reminding listeners that true happiness and fulfillment cannot be bought with money.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got your plastic cards
You possess everything materialistic
But you can't create
But you lack the ability to create something significant
You've got your open bars
You have access to socializing
But you can't relate
But you are incapable of forming meaningful connections with others
Pretty as a mirror
You may be physically attractive
Ugly as your smile
But your insincerity makes your smile look ugly
You won't fool anybody
People around you can see through your facade
Not even for a while
And it won't take them long to realize the truth
You know you know
You are aware of the truth
You know honey you know
You are well-aware of the situation, my dear
Can't stop thinkin' of you
I can't stop thinking about you
All the ways you go on
And all the things you're doing
Don't try to tell me baby
Don't even try to pretend to me
All your plastic has gone
That you've lost all that superficiality
You know we need your honey
We need your help
Like I need a loan
As desperately as I need a loan
Your time is running out now
Time is running out
Unless we're really on a go
Unless we put in some real effort
You know yes you know
You definitely know the truth
You know honey
You know, my dear
You've got your plastic cards
You possess everything materialistic
But you can't create
But you lack the ability to create something significant
You're got your open bars
You have access to socializing
But you can't relate
But you are incapable of forming meaningful connections with others
Pretty as a mirror
You may be physically attractive
Ugly as your smile
But your insincerity makes your smile look ugly
You won't fool anybody
People around you can see through your facade
Not even for a while
And it won't take them long to realize the truth
You know why
You know the reason behind it all
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DONALD DENNIS, PAUL CROSSDALE, PATRICK JACKSON, ANDRE GRAY, RANALDO EVANS, IRIS JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
graham neale
"You Know"
You've got your plastic cards
But you can't create
You've got your open bars
But you can't relate
Pretty as a mirror
Ugly as your smile
You won't fool anybody
Not even for a while
You know you know
You know honey you know
You know you know
You know you know
Can't stop thinkin' of you
All the ways you go on
Don't try to tell me baby
All your plastic has gone
You know we need your honey
Like I need a loan
Your time is running out now
Unless we're really on a go
Well you know you know
You know yes you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know honey
You've got your plastic cards
But you can't create
You're got your open bars
But you can't relate
Pretty as a mirror
Ugly as your smile
You won't fool anybody
Not even for a while
You know why
You know you know
You know honey you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know you know
kevin adamson
I bought MFP and though this was far removed from first album, psychedelic and progressive , just shows how diverse musically they were, not just crash bang wallop like some punk bands of the time. I liked this and still play it from time to time.
Franco Jaramillo
The Damned has got to be one of the most under rated bands the UK has spawned.
graham neale
"You Know"
You've got your plastic cards
But you can't create
You've got your open bars
But you can't relate
Pretty as a mirror
Ugly as your smile
You won't fool anybody
Not even for a while
You know you know
You know honey you know
You know you know
You know you know
Can't stop thinkin' of you
All the ways you go on
Don't try to tell me baby
All your plastic has gone
You know we need your honey
Like I need a loan
Your time is running out now
Unless we're really on a go
Well you know you know
You know yes you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know honey
You've got your plastic cards
But you can't create
You're got your open bars
But you can't relate
Pretty as a mirror
Ugly as your smile
You won't fool anybody
Not even for a while
You know why
You know you know
You know honey you know
You know you know
You know you know
You know you know
Pipkin Hopkins
Love this its a really underated track by them .... ljust like the Stooges :D
Ken Andrews
I saw them July 4th 1979 at BOOKIES Club in Detroit
They had a new 3 song 45 out. And played all songs from first 2 albums
ClydeJarrod37UK
Cheers.Edward the Bear 7" is waaaay better than the album. He's right in there on the Grimly Fiendish version. I think he wrote Trojans.
Teddy Sundberg
How the hell did I get here? I was watching random awesome Doctor Who vids, went into awesome random David Tennant vids, and found this (Spot the difference ^^). Nothing bad, The Damned is one of my favorite bands. I mean this is a great, and which has been said; underrated track, but I don't get the connection xD Has this been in a 10th Doctor episode or something? :P 'Cause that would be cool! :D
kris s
its a mix of soft machine/kevin ayers and the stooges 'fun house' steve mackay sound. the damned were big fans of psychedelic freakout bands like those two. actually scabies similar to robert wyatt.
bef tahk
Excellence!
Fernando Graça
This is PUNK rock. The voice is appropriate to the genre. lol