Founder Ian Parton, born in Wales, was previously involved in a band called Dig The Slowness. The band is split 50/50 by gender, with a female frontwoman Ninja, drummer (Chi Fukami Taylor), and multi-instrumentalist (Kaori Tsuchida, who replaced Steidinger in Autumn 2005).
Initially The Go! Team was ostensibly a solo project for documentary film director Ian Parton, whose debut release was the "Get It Together EP", released in 2000 by Leicester-based Pickled Egg Records. This received airplay from legendary DJ John Peel, but following this, legal wrangles meant that it would be another three years before their next release, the "Junior Kickstart" EP in 2003.
Their album "Thunder, Lightning, Strike" was released on the Memphis Industries label in September 2004, and has received widespread critical acclaim. In 2005 it was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, which coincided with the international release of a "legal" version of the album wherein samples which could not be cleared for use had to be removed. The album was co-produced and mixed by Ian's brother Gareth Parton at The Fortress Studios and Bluestone in London. Prior to the album's release, Ian Parton had failed to clear any of the samples used in the album, believing it wouldn't attract much attention. However, the album received widespread critical acclaim upon release. Following the album's unexpected success, the Parton brothers later had to work with a musicologist to write around or recreate samples they could not use. The revised album was reissued with two additional bonus tracks in the United Kingdom and the United States the following year. The album peaked at number 48 on the UK Albums Chart in February 2006.
Their song "Bottle Rocket" was used as the theme on an advertising campaign for RTÉ Sport in 2005 on the Irish TV channels RTÉ One and RTÉ Two. Another of their songs, "Huddle Formation" is currently being used in an advertising campaign for the Honda Civic, "We Just Won't Be Defeated" is also being used in current Target commercials, and "Get It Together" is the title song of the official soundtrack for 'LittleBigPlanet' which is a PlayStation 3 game.
Album discography:
* Thunder, Lightning, Strike (2004)
* Proof of Youth (2007)
* Rolling Blackouts (2011)
* The Scene Between (2015)
* SEMICIRCLE (2018)
* Get Up Sequences Part One (2021)
* Get Up Sequences Part Two (2023)
www.thegoteam.co.uk
The Go! Team is not to be confused with Calvin Johnson's (Beat Happening, co-founder of K Records) and Tobi Vail's (Bikini Kill, Spider and the Webs) 1980's band, The Go Team. For information on The Go Team, see the Wikipedia entry. Last.fm currently redirects scrobbled tracks for The Go Team to this page (assuming that users omit the exclamation point by accident).
Secretary Song
The Go! Team Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A-go go
A-go go
Go go go
Start the day for something
Start the day at seven ten
Waking for a living
It's avenue b, change at Tennessee
Before the city begins to swell
At seven two four on the second floor
Is where the telephone has my bell
Echo echo echo down the wire
I can see
I can see
Nothing else to be
I can see
I can see
Nothing else to be
Only seven letters
Only seven hours to go
I begin to wonder now
If there's still a place below
I file it away, handing in the tray
So I can only be who I am
Eleven fifteen, tapping the machine
Until the calender starts to jam
Echo echo echo down the wire
I can see
I can see
Nothing else to be
I can see
I can see
Nothing else to be
Oh talking about
Oh walking about
We'll go back to the sea
And find what I'm about
Oh
But I'll never be someone again
Oh
'cause it happens all over again tomorrow
Hit it
Get it
Make it
Shake it
Hit it
Get it
Make it
Shake it
The Go! Team's "Secretary Song" is a reflection on the mundane routine of a secretarial job, set against the upbeat and energetic sound of the band's signature mix of cheerleader chants, electronics, and live instrumentation. The song starts with the repeated chant of "Go go" and "A-go go," which puts the listener in an excited and pumped-up mood. The lyrics describe the daily monotony of waking up at 7:10 am and going to work, taking the subway to the office on Avenue B and changing at Tennessee. The job involves answering the telephone, typing away at the machine until 11:15 am, handing in the tray, and doing it all over again the next day. The lyrics also hint at a sense of isolation and detachment from the world outside, as the singer wonders if there is still a place below and says they will never be someone again.
The repetition of the phrase "Echo echo echo down the wire" emphasizes the monotony and dehumanization of office work, where the singer's voice is reduced to a hollow echo on the telephone line. However, the song's chorus offers a glimmer of hope and escapism, where the singer talks about going back to the sea to find what they are about. The upbeat and catchy rhythm of the song makes it feel like a rallying cry for office workers everywhere, encouraging listeners to hit it, get it, make it, and shake it.
Line by Line Meaning
Start the day for something
Beginning the routine for a purpose
Start the day at seven ten
Starting work at a specific time every day
Waking for a living
Getting out of bed to earn money
And the pattern starts again
Repeating the cycle of work and sleep
It's avenue b, change at Tennessee
Navigating a route to work
Before the city begins to swell
Avoiding rush hour traffic
At seven two four on the second floor
Arriving at the workplace on the second floor
Is where the telephone has my bell
Answering work calls at my desk
Echo echo echo down the wire
Hearing the sound of the phone ringing
I can see
Realizing there's nothing else to focus on
Nothing else to be
Feeling trapped in a monotonous routine
Only seven letters
Having a short job title
Only seven hours to go
Counting down the hours until work ends
I file it away, handing in the tray
Completing paperwork to finish a task
So I can only be who I am
Being defined by my job
Eleven fifteen, tapping the machine
Using a computer to complete work tasks
Until the calender starts to jam
Working until the end of the day
Oh talking about
Discussing a desire for change
Oh walking about
Contemplating a different life
We'll go back to the sea
Looking to return to a simpler way of life
And find what I'm about
Exploring my true passions
Oh but I'll never be someone again
Feeling like work has taken over my identity
Oh 'cause it happens all over again tomorrow
Knowing that tomorrow will be the same routine
Hit it
Encouraging to start the day with energy
Get it
Motivating to work hard
Make it
Encouraging to be productive
Shake it
Encouraging to enjoy the day despite the routine
Hit it
Encouraging to keep up the energy throughout the day
Get it
Encouraging to stay motivated
Make it
Encouraging to be productive and achieve goals
Shake it
Encouraging to stay positive and enjoy the day
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EDDIE LASHEA, IAN PARTON, GIAN PIERO PICCIONI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ri!
Your band is so underrated, as well as this song! Totally wish I'd been here to support y'all earlier. Much love, <3<3<3<3
LittleFishChan
The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago, the next best time is today. The Go! Team has been making awesome songs like this for years, you're never too late for the party!
Amy Woy
this song is ace. it's so rich with sound it knocks any shitty thoughts right out of you.
cukistcrispeque
Her voice fits nicely with the Go! Team's style. She should be an honorary member!
Kilroy
ラジオで最初聞いた時、鮮烈で斬新なサウンドにインパクトを受けました。 アルバムを買ってみようかと思ってます。PVも個人的に好きです。
LittleFishChan
アメリカの田舎の道で運転しながらこの曲を聞くって感動的ですね
Quinn Lee
I can never forget this track, one of my favourites that is full of charming personality, sunshine and unadulterated joy. The prefacing vocals, melodies and transitions are a testament of what The Go! Team is capable of at their peak.
videodude4
Great song! This rocks!
john Bauman
My new faV song.. what a way to cure cabin fever with Deerhoof and The Go! Team !!
WNF
the best song on a great album.