One of the more popular and enduring groups of a short-lived trend, The Beat released three albums: "I Just Can't Stop It" (1980), "Wha'ppen" (1981) and "Special Beat Service" (1982), and a string of excellent singles including "Mirror in the Bathroom", the politically-charged "Stand Down Margaret" (which refers to controversial British PM Margaret Thatcher), "Save It For Later" and "I Confess".
Although the group's main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country's college radio.
After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.
Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as "Free Nelson Mandela". In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.
Ranking Roger's son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father's footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys' single "Boys Will Be Boys". In 2003, The Beat's original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).
The Beat's lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Official Website: www.davewakeling.com
Click Click
The English Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open your mouth, slide the barrel in
If you don't like it, just don't do it again
Itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Click, click
Click, click, click
Say it's your job to scrape a living up, that's all it does
Well, think it back over it, hurts twice as much as living
Itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Faster, faster, faster, faster
One shot, this is it
Did you delay?
You call it a nightmare, now, I call it a day
You hold yourself steady at the edge of the bed
As you say finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Click, click, click, click, click
Click, click, click
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Stop
The English Beat's song Click Click is a deep commentary on the power of weapons and the destruction they can cause. The lyrics are quite confrontational, describing the act of loading a gun, giving it a spin, and telling the listener to "slide the barrel in". The repetition of the words "itchy finger" and "trigger" create a tense atmosphere, suggesting that the person holding the gun may be grappling with the urge to use it. The chorus has a rhythmic quality to it, with the clicks of the gun sounding like a drumbeat, which further adds to the tension.
The second verse of the song describes the tragic consequences of using a weapon, with one in thirty-five people resorting to alcohol as a form of apology after hurting someone. The line "Say it's your job to scrape a living up, that's all it does" suggests that the person in question may have turned to violence as a way of making ends meet, but ultimately ended up causing more harm than good. The final verse continues in the same vein, with the repeated clicks of the gun conveying a sense of urgency and danger.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a one shot magazine, give it a spin
This is a single opportunity to try something new.
Open your mouth, slide the barrel in
Accept and go ahead with whatever is about to happen.
If you don't like it, just don't do it again
If you don't enjoy the experience, don't repeat it.
Itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
An urge to take action or do something.
Click, click
The sound of something not working as intended or failing to take effect.
One in thirty five is saying sorry through a bottle
Many people numb their emotions and problems through alcohol consumption.
Say it's your job to scrape a living up, that's all it does
Sometimes survival is more important than living life to the fullest.
Well, think it back over it, hurts twice as much as living
Reflecting on past experiences can sometimes be more painful than living in the moment.
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Urging for things to speed up or move more quickly.
One shot, this is it
This is the one opportunity to take action.
Did you delay?
Did you hesitate or wait too long to act?
You call it a nightmare, now, I call it a day
What feels like a disaster or catastrophe for you may be just an average day for someone else.
You hold yourself steady at the edge of the bed
Preparing mentally and physically for something to happen.
As you say finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Psyching oneself up for the moment of action.
Click, click, click, click, click
The repeated sound of something not working or not happening.
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Urging for a rapid resolution or completion of the situation.
Stop
Bringing an end to the event or experience.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROGER CHARLERY, ANDREW COX, ANDY COX, EVERETT MORTON, DAVID STEELE, DAVID WAKELING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Άγγελος Γατζιάς
It's a one shot magazine, give it a spin
Open your mouth, slide the barrel in
If you don't like it, just don't do it again
Itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Click, click
Click, click, click
One in thirty five is saying sorry through a bottle
Say it's your job to scrape a living up, that's all it does
Well, think it back over it, hurts twice as much as living
Itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Faster, faster, faster, faster
One shot, this is it
Did you delay?
You call it a nightmare, now, I call it a day
You hold yourself steady at the edge of the bed
As you say finger, finger, trigger, trigger
Click, click, click, click, click
Click, click, click
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Faster, faster, faster, faster
Stop
Dan Springer
Some of the greatest drum and bass of all time.
LaurenFromRhody401
This song always makes me want to drive really fast
Toyota Kawasaki
Dangerous
Birk Derkowitch
This song rocks!
Chris Gavito
I love EVERYTHING about this - the : click. click. - click. click. click. Now just 1 left in the chamber. The guys were geniuses.
Marcio Rohden
Showww curti muito em 1981 aqui em joinville no America Disco Club
Paul Liddy
Simply brilliant !!
BRICKS AND BASS
Listening to this high on speed is the best thing ever
crazytrace69
Seen them at the US Festival 83 when I was a teen.....they were great......
Shannon Kirshner
Cool, I wasn't even alive then