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.
The Eton Rifles
The Jam Lyrics
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There's a row going on down near Slough
Get out your mat and pray to the west
I'll get out mine and pray for myself
Thought you were smart when you took them on
But you didn't take a peep in their artillery room
All that rugby puts hairs on your chest
What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?
Hello-hooray, what a nice day, for the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, I hope rain stops play, with the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Thought you were clever when you lit the fuse
Tore down the House Of Commons in your brand new shoes
Compose a revolutionary symphony
Then went to bed with a charming young thing
Hello-hooray, cheers then mate, its the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, an extremist scrape, with the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
What a catalyst you turned out to be
Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea
Left me standing, like a guilty schoolboy
What a catalyst you turned out to be
Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea
Left me standing, like a naughty schoolboy
We come out of it naturally the worst
Beaten and bloody and I was sick down my shirt
We were no match for their untamed wit
Though some of the lads said they'll be back next week
Hello-hooray, there's a price to pay, to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, I'd prefer the plague, to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, there's a price to pay, to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, I'd prefer the plague, to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
"The Eton Rifles" is a song by British band The Jam, released in 1979. The song is often interpreted as a commentary on social class and the divide between the working class and the upper class. The lyrics describe a conflict between a group of working-class young men and a group of upper-class young men who are members of the Eton College Officers' Training Corps.
The song opens with the line "Sup up your beer and collect your fags," which is a reference to the working-class culture of drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. The line also sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a battle cry of sorts for the working-class against the upper class.
The lines "Thought you were smart when you took them on, but you didn't take a peep in their artillery room" suggest that the upper-class young men have access to more resources and weaponry than the working-class group. The line "All that rugby puts hairs on your chest, what chance have you got against a tie and a crest?" is a further commentary on the physical and social advantages of the upper class.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the lines "Hello-hooray, what a nice day, for the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles / Hello-hooray, I hope rain stops play, with the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles" is ironic in its tone. It suggests that the working-class group is being defeated and pushed down by the upper class.
Line by Line Meaning
Sup up your beer and collect your fags
Finish your drink and grab your cigarettes
There's a row going on down near Slough
There's a fight happening close to Slough
Get out your mat and pray to the west
Take out your yoga mat and face the west
I'll get out mine and pray for myself
I'll pray for myself on my own mat
Thought you were smart when you took them on
You thought you were clever by opposing them
But you didn't take a peep in their artillery room
But you didn't look in their weapons storage
All that rugby puts hairs on your chest
Playing rugby toughens you up
What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?
What chance do you have against someone with a tie and a crest (signs of upper class status)?
Hello-hooray, what a nice day, for the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello, hooray, it's a great day for the Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, I hope rain stops play, with the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello, hooray, I hope it rains and the Eton Rifles' game is cancelled
Thought you were clever when you lit the fuse
You thought you were smart when you started a revolution
Tore down the House Of Commons in your brand new shoes
You destroyed the House of Commons in your new shoes
Compose a revolutionary symphony
Write a revolutionary song
Then went to bed with a charming young thing
Then went to bed with an attractive person
Hello-hooray, cheers then mate, its the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello, hooray, cheers, it's the Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, an extremist scrape, with the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello, hooray, a confrontational situation with the Eton Rifles
What a catalyst you turned out to be
You turned out to be a significant influence
Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea
You armed yourself and then went home for a cup of tea
Left me standing, like a guilty schoolboy
You left me standing there feeling guilty and foolish
We come out of it naturally the worst
We naturally came out of the situation worse off
Beaten and bloody and I was sick down my shirt
We were beaten and I was injured and vomiting
We were no match for their untamed wit
We weren't capable of competing with their cleverness
Though some of the lads said they'll be back next week
Although some of the guys said they'll return next week
Hello-hooray, there's a price to pay, to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello, hooray, there are consequences for opposing the Eton Rifles
Hello-hooray, I'd prefer the plague, to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello, hooray, I'd rather have the plague than deal with the Eton Rifles
Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Repeating the name of the group
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul John Weller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind