The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam’s original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band’s songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
For artists called "Jam", please see http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Jam.
“Pretty Green”
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna put it in the fruit machine
I'm gonna put it in the jukebox
It's gonna play all the records in the hit parade
This is the pretty green, this is society
You can't do nothing, unless it's in the pocket
Oh no
I've got a pocket full of pretty green
I'm gonna give it to the man behind the counter
He's gonna give me food and water
I'm gonna eat that and look for more
And they didn't teach me that in school
It's something that I learnt on my own
That power is measured by the pound or the fist
It's as clear as this oh
I've got a pocket full of pretty green!
In "Pretty Green," The Jam's lead singer and songwriter, Paul Weller, sings about the power of money and how it shapes society. The repeated refrain of "I've got a pocket full of pretty green" speaks to the idea of having money as a form of power and influence in the world. Weller places the emphasis on how money can buy access to various forms of entertainment and goods, like putting it in a fruit machine or the jukebox to play popular music.
However, Weller's lyrics also point to the darker side of money and how it can be used to control people. He acknowledges that society favors those with money, and without it, one can't do anything. He notes that the power of money and control is something that he learned for himself and not in school.
Overall, "Pretty Green" is a commentary on the commodification of society and how money shapes the culture around us. The song highlights how money can buy access to things and influence, but also how it perpetuates inequality and reinforces social hierarchies.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a pocket full of pretty green
I have a lot of money
I'm gonna put it in the fruit machine
I'm going to gamble my money in a slot machine
I'm gonna put it in the jukebox
I'm going to use my money to play music
It's gonna play all the records in the hit parade
I'm going to use my money to listen to popular songs
This is the pretty green, this is society
Money is power and society values it
You can't do nothing, unless it's in the pocket
You can't accomplish anything without having money
Oh no
An expression of frustration or disappointment
I'm gonna give it to the man behind the counter
I'm going to exchange my money for goods or services
He's gonna give me food and water
I'm going to use my money to buy basic necessities
I'm gonna eat that and look for more
I will consume my purchases and then seek to acquire additional resources
And they didn't teach me that in school
I didn't learn about the importance of money in school
It's something that I learnt on my own
I learned about the value of money through personal experience
That power is measured by the pound or the fist
Power can be determined by one's wealth or physical strength
It's as clear as this oh
This is a simple and obvious truth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andrewbarr5227
Foxtons bass line and backing harmony. So underrated. He made the jam sound
@plasteredbastard
Overtly neglected by the masses but we few know better and like it this way
@ampsplus
This is great! Too many people forget how big a contribution Bruce made to the SOUND of the Jam. If not for his great bass playing and tone, they would not have sounded so good.
@drazenplavec2957
Exactly !
@Metal_Horror
I don't think anyone forgets or fails to realize that except for maybe Paul Weller.
@bone0944
I can't say strongly enough how good a band The Jam were. In my opinion they were the most influencial UK band, certainly of their era, and maybe since the Beatles.
@NorthernFella
indeed and they actually sang about something as well.
@mickgordon5151
peter bowden
Couldn't have put it any better myself.
@kevinwheatley6342
don't forget the clash
@OrgytenThePyroxenes
Errrrrr ....... no.