Famously described by John Peel as being "always different, always the same… Read Full Bio ↴Famously described by John Peel as being "always different, always the same", The Fall were formed in Manchester, England in 1976 during the Punk era although their style quickly evolved into something more idiosyncratic.

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

In These Times
The Fall Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A flat season - vision gone
Picture frame it, and say so long;
My Aqua-cat is where it's at and new to mammal range
Buy you know it would never suit, territories Alpine

In These TIMES - Meeowww
In These Times - Fishcat Mother
In This Time - Spectral Filter

In These Times - A Feline Nutter

In these times;
A Man down South, he did go out and he did kill fifteen
What the papers could not grasp or work out, was his life
in a Flea brain;

In These Times - Universal Tepid
In These Times - Stagnant Mind
In This Time - And in these times
These Times - They're both the same

Diluted Jesuits pour out of mutual walkmans
From Elland Road to Venice Pensions and down
the Autobahns;

In This Time - If That's it I'm leaving
In These Times - Leave this planet fast
In These Times - It affects my sleeping
In This Time - My dreams are one to miss
Ones to be avoiding
In times like this

I often hope in days ahead my gossamer front gates,
will keep out the trash in which my psychic streets' emershed;

In These Times - Spectral Filter
In These Times - In Your Midst
In These Times - This song's a belter
In This Time - For times like this

In These Times - I picture framed pre-teen rap gangs,
with alsatians, Scapa flow steel became
inexpensive

A first season - vision gone
Picture frame it - and say so long

They say 'Give up Buster' - Cram it down
But I grow stronger, and break their Midszzzzzzzz

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "In These Times" by The Fall are a biting commentary on the state of the world at the time. The opening lines "A flat season - vision gone, Picture frame it, and say so long" suggest a lack of inspiration or creativity, and the need to move on from a stagnant situation. The next lines, "My Aqua-cat is where it's at and new to mammal range, But you know it would never suit, territories Alpine" continue this theme, with the singer contrasting their own innovative ideas with the limitations of the world around them.

The chorus, "In these times, Meeowww, Fishcat Mother, Spectral Filter, A Feline Nutter," is a surreal and almost nonsensical commentary on the state of the world. The repeated phrase "in these times" suggests that the problems of the world are all-encompassing and require attention.

The verse about the man who kills fifteen people and the newspapers' inability to understand his actions is a commentary on society's inability to understand and prevent acts of violence. The lines "Universal Tepid, Stagnant Mind, And in these times, These Times - They're both the same" suggest that the lack of understanding and action is a universal problem.

The verse about "Diluted Jesuits" pouring out of walkmans and the reference to popular locations such as Elland Road and Venice suggests a disillusionment with mainstream culture and a desire for something more meaningful.

The final verse suggests a hope for the future but also a recognition that there is a lot of work to be done. The closing lines, "But I grow stronger, and break their Midszzzzzzzz" suggest a determination to overcome the difficulties of the times and create a better world.

Line by Line Meaning

A flat season - vision gone
Things are stagnant and lacking excitement or inspiration.

Picture frame it, and say so long;
Acknowledge the end of this dull period and move on.

My Aqua-cat is where it's at and new to mammal range
I have something novel that I enjoy and find interesting, even if it's not universally accepted or understood.

Buy you know it would never suit, territories Alpine
Although I'm trying something new, I recognize that it might not work in all contexts or environments.

In These TIMES - Meeowww In These Times - Fishcat Mother In This Time - Spectral Filter In These Times - A Feline Nutter
These are different interpretations or perspectives on the current state of things, from humorous to unsettling.

A Man down South, he did go out and he did kill fifteen What the papers could not grasp or work out, was his life in a Flea brain;
There was a violent, senseless act that was difficult to make sense of or understand logically.

In These Times - Universal Tepid In These Times - Stagnant Mind In This Time - And in these times These Times - They're both the same
Again, emphasizing the lack of excitement or progress in the current moment, and suggesting it's a universal experience.

Diluted Jesuits pour out of mutual walkmans From Elland Road to Venice Pensions and down the Autobahns;
Strange or unlikely things are happening in different places, a bit like a surreal image.

In This Time - If That's it I'm leaving In These Times - Leave this planet fast In These Times - It affects my sleeping In This Time - My dreams are one to miss Ones to be avoiding In times like this
The current situation is deeply unsatisfying or negative, and is having a tangible impact on well-being.

I often hope in days ahead my gossamer front gates, will keep out the trash in which my psychic streets' emershed;
Looking towards the future, there's a desire to protect oneself from negativity or unpleasantness.

In These Times - Spectral Filter In These Times - In Your Midst In These Times - This song's a belter In This Time - For times like this
A meta-commentary on the song itself, acknowledging its relevance to and reflection of the current moment.

In These Times - I picture framed pre-teen rap gangs, with alsatians, Scapa flow steel became inexpensive
Another vivid, surreal image that doesn't seem to have an obvious meaning beyond being creative or provocative.

A first season - vision gone Picture frame it - and say so long They say 'Give up Buster' - Cram it down But I grow stronger, and break their Midszzzzzzzz
Once again, emphasizing the lack of inspiration or novelty in the current state of things, while also refusing to give up or be discouraged.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK E SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS