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.
Down in the Tube Station at Midnight
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
The ones that they love and who love them forever
The glazed, dirty steps
Repeat my own and reflect my thoughts
Cold and uninviting, partially naked
Except for toffee wrappers and this morning's papers
Headlines of death and sorrow, they tell of tomorrow
Madmen on the rampage
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight, oh
I fumble for change, and pull out the Queen
Smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum
Behind me
Whispers in the shadows, gruff blazing voices
Hating, waiting
"Hey boy" they shout, "Have you got any money?"
And I say, "I've a little money and a takeaway curry
I'm on my way home to my wife
She'll be lining up the cutlery, you know she's expecting me
Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork"
I'm down in the tube station at midnight, oh
I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs, and wormwood scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in its own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
Filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth, it blocked all my senses
Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer
I'm down in the tube station at midnight, oh
I said I was down in the tube station at midnight, oh
The last thing that I saw as I lay there on the floor
Was "Jesus saves" painted by an atheist nutter
And a British Rail poster read
"Have an away day, a cheap holiday, do it today"
I glanced back on my life, and thought about my wife
'Cause they took the keys, and she'll think it's me
I'm down in the tube station at midnight
The wine will be flat and the curry's gone cold
I'm down in the tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
The Jam's song Down In The Tube Station At Midnight tells the story of a man who is attacked by a group of thugs in a tube station late at night. The song is narrated by the victim himself, who describes his emotions and thoughts during the attack. The first verse sets the scene of the tube station late at night, with people boarding trains to take them home to their loved ones. The second verse introduces the victim, who is alone and feeling vulnerable. He describes the dirty surroundings and the sensation of being watched by strangers. Suddenly, he is confronted by the thugs who demand his money. He tries to explain that he only has a little money and a takeaway curry, and that he is on his way home to his wife. However, his words fall on deaf ears and he is brutally attacked. The final verse reveals that the victim has lost consciousness and is lying on the floor. As his life flashes before his eyes, he thinks about his wife, who will be waiting for him at home, unaware of what has happened. The song ends with the repeated refrain of "Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight", which serves as a warning to the listeners of the dangers of the city at night.
One theory about the inspiration for the song is that it was based on a real-life incident involving the lead singer of The Jam, Paul Weller. According to this theory, Weller was attacked by a group of racist thugs in a tube station in London, and the song is a reflection of his experience.
Line by Line Meaning
The distant echo
Of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
The ones that they love and who love them forever
The sound of people boarding trains in the distance reminds me of the love and connection they have with their families and loved ones.
The glazed, dirty steps
Repeat my own and reflect my thoughts
Cold and uninviting, partially naked
Except for toffee wrappers and this morning's papers
The steps in the tube station are cold and uninviting, and remind me of my own thoughts. The discarded trash by the steps reflects the temporary nature of our existence.
Mr. Jones got run down
Headlines of death and sorrow, they tell of tomorrow
Madmen on the rampage
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight, oh
The tragic news of Mr. Jones getting run down is a reminder of the senseless violence and madness in the world. This realization hits me as I stand alone in the tube station at midnight.
I fumble for change, and pull out the Queen
Smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum
Behind me
Whispers in the shadows, gruff blazing voices
Hating, waiting
"Hey boy" they shout, "Have you got any money?"
As I try to buy my ticket, I'm accosted by unsavory characters who are waiting for an opportunity to steal from me. They shout at me to give them money, and the menacing whispers of their voices send chills down my spine.
And I say, "I've a little money and a takeaway curry
I'm on my way home to my wife
She'll be lining up the cutlery, you know she's expecting me
Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork"
I try to reason with the muggers and tell them I only have a little money and a takeaway curry to take home to my wife, who is expecting me for dinner. I paint a picture of a happy home life in the hope of evading their grasp.
I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs, and wormwood scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My hopeful pleas are met with violence as the muggers first punch and then kick me. I'm repulsed by the smell of their breath, which is a mixture of alcohol, cigarettes, and an extremist ideology.
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in its own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
Filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth, it blocked all my senses
As I'm beaten to the ground, my life flashes before my eyes and I'm consumed by a deep sense of despair. The scent of leather is all around me, and it suffocates me like an oppressive fog that blocks out all my senses.
The last thing that I saw as I lay there on the floor
Was "Jesus saves" painted by an atheist nutter
And a British Rail poster read
"Have an away day, a cheap holiday, do it today"
As I lay helpless on the ground, the last thing I see is a graffiti message of "Jesus saves" written by someone who doesn't believe in religion. The British Rail poster nearby advertises cheap holidays, which is a stark contrast to my own reality.
I glanced back on my life, and thought about my wife
'Cause they took the keys, and she'll think it's me
I'm down in the tube station at midnight
The wine will be flat and the curry's gone cold
As I reflect on my life, I think about my wife and how she'll blame me when the muggers take our keys. I'm still lying in the tube station at midnight, and I know that by the time I get home, the wine and curry will have turned sour and cold.
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight, oh
The repetition of the chorus shows my fear and horror of being alone and vulnerable in a tube station at midnight, where violence and chaos lurk around every corner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul John Weller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@filipporimondi7857
@@scottnever8732 Better stop dreaming of the quiet life
'Cause it's the one we'll never know
And quit running for that runaway bus
'Cause those rosy days are few
And stop apologizing for the things you've never done
'Cause time is short and life is cruel but it's up to us to change
This town called Malice
Rows and rows of disused milk floats
Stand dying in the dairy yard
And a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk
Bottles to their hearts
Hanging out their old love letters on the line to dry
It's enough to make you stop believing when tears come fast and furious
In a town called Malice, yeah
Struggle after struggle, year after year
The atmosphere's a fine blend of ice I'm almost stone cold dead
In a town called Malice, ooh yeah
A whole street's belief in Sunday's roast beef
Gets dashed against the Co-op
To either cut down on beer or the kids new gear
It's a big decision in a town called Malice, ooh yeah
The ghost of a steam train echoes down my track
It's at the moment bound for nowhere just going round and round
Playground kids and creaking swings
Lost laughter in the breeze
Could go on for hours and I probably will
But I'd sooner put some joy back in this town called Malice, yeah ooh
In this town called Malice, yeah
In this town called Malice, ooh yeah
@sammysouth8372
Foxton is history’s most underrated bass guitar player. Dude plays melodies with that thing.
@honeychurchgipsy6
Sammy South - so do many bass players - check out a young woman called Tal Wilkenfield - and what about the late, great Jacko Pastorius? None of which is mean't to denegrate Foxton by the way - oh, and who could forget Stanley Clarke - me obviously - lol!!
@Eysenbeiss
@@honeychurchgipsy6Nick Beggs
@honeychurchgipsy6
@@Eysenbeiss - Nick Beggs - will check him out
@3ld919
I liked the Jam as a kid when they were still together, but really didn't appreciate Foxton until I recently delved back into the Jam again. Foxton has made me appreciate bass for the first time in my life & now I make a point of actively listening to it. My God, the single bass intro note on "Ghosts" is unforgettable.
@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz
Not only his technical facility, but his tone, intonation, and sheer musicality were rivaled by very few players. Truly one of the greats.
@jakeburns7331
Bruce Foxton is without doubt one of the great bass players. His work with The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers was immense.
@chrisolagrim3597
Amen brother. Very underrated musician.
@lauriemiller1690
Definitely is so…..
@kbeesmot9928
With a name like yours, no doubt a touch of bias about SLF.