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".
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Carnation
The Jam Lyrics
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I would only crush its tender petals
With me you'll have no escape
And at the same time there'll be nowhere to settle -
I trample down all life in my wake
I eat it up and take the cake
I just avert my eyes to the pain
Of someone's loss helping my gain
You'd be plugging in the wrong socket
With me there's no room for the future
With me there's no room with a view at all -
I am out of season all year 'round
Hear machinery roar to my empty sound
Touch my heart and feel winter
Hold my hand and be doomed forever -
If you gave me a fresh carnation
I would only crush its tender petals
With me you'll have no escape
And at the same time there'll be nowhere to settle.
And if you're wondering by now who I am
Look no further than the mirror -
Because I am the Greed and Fear
And every ounce of Hate in you.
The Jam's "Carnation" is a poignant exploration of the darker side of human nature. The song begins with the image of a fresh carnation, a symbol of beauty and hope, only to have it crushed by the singer's destructive tendencies. The singer declares that they leave no room for the future, no room for anyone else's view, and trample down all life in their wake. They even lament that their touch brings winter, a metaphor for stagnation and death.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that they are the embodiment of greed, fear, and hate. They urge the listener to look no further than the mirror to find these same qualities within themselves. In this way, the song becomes a powerful commentary on the human condition, cautioning against the destructive impulses that can lurk within us all.
The song's lyrics are delivered with a sense of urgency and intensity, punctuated by the driving beat and gritty guitar work characteristic of The Jam's music. It is a searing indictment of the darker aspects of human nature, set against a backdrop of powerful, unrelenting rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
If you gave me a fresh carnation
If you try to offer me something innocent and pure
I would only crush its tender petals
I would ruin it and destroy everything good
With me you'll have no escape
Once you're associated with me, you're trapped
And at the same time there'll be nowhere to settle.
I won't let you be comfortable in my presence
I trample down all life in my wake
I destroy everything in my path
I eat it up and take the cake
I consume everything and take more than my fair share
I just avert my eyes to the pain
I ignore the pain I cause to others
Of someone's loss helping my gain
I benefit from others' losses
If you gave me a dream for my pocket
If you tried to give me something hopeful or inspiring
You'd be plugging in the wrong socket
It wouldn't have any effect on me, I'm not receptive to it
With me there's no room for the future
I don't think about improving or moving forward
With me there's no room with a view at all -
I'm not interested in seeing anything from different perspectives
I am out of season all year 'round
I don't fit in with others, and I don't change or adapt
Hear machinery roar to my empty sound
My actions are robotic and meaningless
Touch my heart and feel winter
I have no warmth or empathy
Hold my hand and be doomed forever -
If you associate with me, you'll suffer the consequences
And if you're wondering by now who I am
If you're curious about my identity
Look no further than the mirror -
Just look at yourself
Because I am the Greed and Fear
I represent the negative emotions that drive people to do harmful things
And every ounce of Hate in you.
I embody the hate that people hold onto and project onto others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind