The one permanent fixture amidst the Fall's ever-changing line-up was Mark E. Smith (1957 – 2018). Smith's lyrics are free, unboxed and unpredictable, touching on an extremely wide range of subjects and places, and caring little for being tied down to easily digestible messages.
Smith's singing could put off some people, but others find it a uniquely expressive instrument. Smith was not a conventionally great vocalist, but his keen sense of rhythm, his energy and personality more than made up for this.
The Fall's music changed depending on the line-up at a given time. Always experimental, Mark E. Smith claimed to invent several musical genres, including house music; "we were doing that years ago" and even the internet. "He told me I didn't understand, that we were from the bleak industrial wastes of North England, or something, and that we didn't understand the Internet. I told him Fall fans invented the Internet. They were on there in 1982." One thing that is for sure is that The Fall (and their fans) always pushed the boundaries, and were never afraid to experiment.
The Fall were a favorite group of DJ John Peel, recording 24 sessions for his BBC1 radio program over the years.
The Fall's back catalogue consists of 29 studio albums, and is very fragmented with a seemingly endless number of compilations and semi-official live albums.
In 2006, British music-critic Dave Simpson published an entertaining account of a journalist's attempt to track down all 43 former members of The Fall in the Guardian. Many previous members have been fired, often with little or no notice. Simpson's ongoing effort was subsequently described at greater length in his book "The Fallen" (2008). His effort to track down the final unaccounted stragglers of at least 50 previous members of The Fall - including drummer Karl Burns - continues in his blog. Having decried Simpson's book as a "hatchet job" in the pages of Pseud. Mag., a Fall fan-mag, Mark E. Smith countered in short order with his autobiography "Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith" (Viking, 2008/Penguin 2009).
Mark E. Smith died on 24 January 2018, aged 60.
Key Albums include:
# Live At the Witch Trials (debut)
# Dragnet
# Totale's Turns (It's Now Or Nevr)
# Grotesque (after the Gramme)
# Perverted By Language
# Hex Enduction Hour
# This Nation's Saving Grace
# Middle Class Revolt
# Bend Sinister
# Extricate
# The Infotainment Scan
# Country on the Click aka The Real New Fall LP
# Fall Heads Roll
# Reformation Post TLC (new)
Compilations/Singles/B-Sides:
# 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats
# The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004
# Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 1) and Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 2)
# 458489 A-Sides
# 458489 B-Sides
Fortress
The Fall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With four left wing kids
I spent time in Nazi Fortress
Much discussion in room see-H-1-O-see-H-11
I did not understand why
I could not accept the fact
That I'd accepted the contract
Much discussion in this institution
Room see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11
It was clear in the window eye
The brick outlined the blue sky
And I had to go round the gay graduates in the toilets
And Good King Harry was there
Much discussion in room see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11
Much discussion in room see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11
The Fall's song "Fortress" is a cryptic commentary on the singer's time spent in a Nazi fortress with four left-wing kids. The lyrics describe the numerous discussions that took place during their stay, which were held in rooms with cryptic names like "see-H-1-O" and "see-H-11". The singer is confused as to why he accepted the contract that allowed him to stay in this place, and seems to not fully understand the discussions taking place around him.
Despite the confusion, the singer comments on the beauty of the outside world which he can see from the brick-lined window of the fortress. He also describes having to navigate his way around some "gay graduates in the toilets" and notes the presence of "Good King Harry" in one of the rooms. The final lines of the song repeat the mysterious room names from earlier, emphasizing the ongoing discussions taking place within the institution.
Overall, "Fortress" is a song that leaves much to interpretation, but seems to comment on the nature of power structures, their ability to confuse and manipulate those within them, and the beauty that can still exist despite such structures.
Line by Line Meaning
Two hours!
The singer spent two hours in a certain place.
With four left wing kids
The singer was accompanied by four people who shared left-leaning political views.
I spent time in Nazi Fortress
The singer spent some time in a location referred to as 'Nazi Fortress.'
Much discussion in room see-H-1-O-see-H-11
There was a lot of discussion in a room identified as 'see-H-1-O-see-H-11.'
I did not understand why
The artist did not comprehend the reason for something.
I could not accept the fact
The singer was unable to come to terms with a certain truth.
That I'd accepted the contract
The singer had entered into an agreement which was now causing internal conflict.
Much discussion in this institution
There was much conversation at the institution in which the artist found themselves.
Much discussion in boiled beef and carrots
Boiled beef and carrots were being served while the artists and others engaged in discussion.
Room see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11
Another room was identified as 'see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11.'
It was clear in the window eye
Through a window, it was evident to the singer.
The brick outlined the blue sky
The artist observed a blue sky framed by bricks in the view outside the window.
And I had to go round the gay graduates in the toilets
The singer had to navigate past homosexual graduates in the restroom.
And Good King Harry was there
The historical figure King Henry VIII was present in some form.
Much discussion in room see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11
Conversation continued in 'see-H-1-O-see-H-2-O-11.'
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Craig Scanlon, Karl Burns, Marc Riley, Mark Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ennbee2051
6 comments?! One of the greatest songs ever made?! Go on Mark!!!! RIP me old pal.
@chaunceyloveshack9530
coolest song ever made tbh
@Anony_mouse2
Awesomeness personified🚬🥴🍺
@lukeheywood7334
Cool c&w guitar lick hacksaw country billy only the fall does it like this 4.40
@ohdear671
How can you write this and think it's good? I don't know either, but it's fucking great.
@nicholaswatson8119
What was that room number again?
@pauls7803
CH10CH211. Must be a pretty big hotel.
@PostPunkXMan
have you been to the english deer park?