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

Put Away
The Fall Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ba da ba da ba da ba daaa!
Late 20th Century was late and just said yes or no
And was mistaken for sarcasm, even belligerent
Now to fight!

They're putting me away but I'll be back someday
Putting me away but I'll be back someday
Prisoner for a year and a day

Putting me away but I'll be back someday

A bust doorbell sound and the door broken down
A doorbell sound and the door broken down
They rang and rang but I never went down
And now they're putting me away but I'll be back someday

Putting me away but I'll be boo ba ba boo ba ba bow
Verse second

Overall Meaning

The first line of "Put Away" immediately captures the listener's attention with its energetic ba da ba da ba da ba daaa! This introduction sets the stage for the rest of the song, which discusses the feelings of frustration and rebellion that come with being misunderstood by society. The lines "Late 20th century was late and just said yes or no / And was mistaken for sarcasm, even belligerent" suggest that the time period was characterized by a lack of nuance or subtlety in communication. Many people may have perceived individuals who tried to express complex ideas or feelings as being hostile or confrontational.

The chorus of the song reveals that the singer has been put in prison for a year and a day. Despite this setback, they remain defiant, proclaiming that they will be back someday. The verses describe the circumstances that led to the singer's imprisonment. They ignored repeated attempts by authorities to contact them, which ultimately led to a confrontation in which the door was broken down. The singer's refusal to comply with societal expectations has led to their incarceration, but they remain hopeful that they will eventually be able to return to their former life.

Overall, "Put Away" can be seen as a commentary on the limitations of communication and the frustration that comes with being misunderstood by society. The song also celebrates a spirit of rebellion and independence, encouraging listeners to remain true to themselves even in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Late 20th Century was late and just said yes or no
The culture of the late 20th century was oversimplified and lacked nuance, leading to misunderstandings and hostility.

And was mistaken for sarcasm, even belligerent
Many people misinterpreted the straightforwardness of the late 20th century culture as insincere or aggressive.

Now to fight!
In response to this mistreatment, the singer resolves to stand up for themselves.

They're putting me away but I'll be back someday
The artist is being imprisoned, but remains hopeful that they will one day be released.

Prisoner for a year and a day
The length of the artist's imprisonment is exactly one year and one day.

A bust doorbell sound and the door broken down
The authorities forcibly entered the singer's home with a loud, jarring noise.

They rang and rang but I never went down
The singer refused to answer the door when the authorities arrived.

And now they're putting me away but I'll be back someday
Despite their confinement, the artist maintains their optimism for the future.

Putting me away but I'll be boo ba ba boo ba ba bow
This line seems to be a nonsensical interjection, meant to convey a sense of defiance or playfulness.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E W ROGERS, JOHN DALLAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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