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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Set the House Ablaze
The Jam Lyrics
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A mutual friend of ours said
he'd seen you in the uniform
Yeah the leather belt looks manly
The black boots butch
But oh what a bastard to get off
Promises, promises
But hatred has never won for long
You was so open minded
But by someone blinded
And now your sign says closed
Promises, promises
They offer real solutions
But hatred has never won for long
I think we've lost our perception
I think we've lost sight of the goals we should
Be working for
I think we've lost our reason
We stumble blindly and that vision must be restored
I wish that there was something
I could do about it
I wish that there was some way
I could try to fight it
Scream and shout it
But something you said set the house ablaze
It is called indoctrination
And it happens on all levels
But it has nothing to do with equality
It has nothing to do with democracy
And though it professes to
It has nothing to do with humanity
It is cold, hard and mechanical
The Jam's song "Set the House Ablaze" is a politically charged anthem that explores the themes of indoctrination, lost perception, and the dangers of blind conformity. The lyrics paint a picture of a society that has lost its way, where promises of real solutions have given way to hatred, and where people have become blind to the goals they should be working for. The opening verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer recounting a conversation in a pub where a mutual friend has seen someone in a uniform. The leather belt and black boots may look manly, but they belie the fact that the person wearing them has become a bastard to get off, a metaphor for the dangers of conformity and brainwashing.
The chorus, which repeats the line "Promises, promises, they offer real solutions, but hatred has never won for long," is a clear warning against the false promises made by those in power, who seek to exploit people's fears and prejudices for their own gain. The second verse suggests that the problem is not just with those in power, but with the people themselves, who have lost sight of their goals and become blinded by the rhetoric of hate and division. The singer wishes that there was something that could be done to fight against this, but is ultimately left feeling helpless in the face of such overwhelming forces.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics take a darker turn, as the singer suggests that the problem is not just with the people themselves, but with the system that indoctrinates them. The lines "Something you said set the house ablaze, it is called indoctrination, and it happens on all levels, but it has nothing to do with equality, it has nothing to do with democracy, and though it professes to, it has nothing to do with humanity, it is cold, hard and mechanical" suggest that the problem is systemic and deeply entrenched, and that any attempt to fight it will be met with fierce resistance.
Line by Line Meaning
I was in the pub last night
The singer mentions their whereabouts and sets the scene for the rest of the song.
A mutual friend of ours said he'd seen you in the uniform
The singer is informed by a mutual friend that someone they know is now wearing a uniform, which implies they have joined an organization or movement.
Yeah the leather belt looks manly, the black boots butch, but oh what a bastard to get off
The singer observes that the uniform may look impressive, but it also comes with difficulties and hardships.
Promises, promises, they offer real solutions, but hatred has never won for long
The artist notes that some groups or organizations may offer solutions and promises, but that hatred and extremism cannot ultimately succeed.
You was so open minded, but by someone blinded, and now your sign says closed
The artist implies that someone they know used to be open-minded but has become closed off or narrow-minded due to their association with a particular group or ideology.
I think we've lost our perception, I think we've lost sight of the goals we should be working for, I think we've lost our reason, we stumble blindly and that vision must be restored
The singer laments the loss of direction and values in society, and calls for a restoration of purpose and meaning.
I wish that there was something I could do about it, I wish that there was some way I could try to fight it, scream and shout it
The singer expresses frustration and a desire to take action to address the problems they see in society.
But something you said set the house ablaze
The artist identifies a particular statement or idea as being highly provocative, and implying that it has caused problems or conflict.
It is called indoctrination, and it happens on all levels, but it has nothing to do with equality, it has nothing to do with democracy, and though it professes to, it has nothing to do with humanity, it is cold, hard and mechanical
The artist offers their interpretation of the root cause of the problems they see, suggesting that people are being indoctrinated into ideologies that are fundamentally flawed and lack moral or ethical grounding.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind