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 Jamโs 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 bandโs 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 Great Depression
The Jam Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe right turned over
They promise us the earth
Instead we've got the great depression
Now you're free and easy with the base
You blame your brothers and sisters
And neurotics say sod the rest
It's the new dissention
Into the abyss
By pushing forwards
It's always down
It's a desperate war
you're trying to blow yourselves up
You don't care who you stand with the help about
Hey hey well that's not the way
No sense or reason in your fussing and fighting
And your violent obsession
who's ever really left feeling fine
After the great depression?
No sense of purpose in the competition
Keeping up with the Jones's
You buy a house,
You buy a car
You buy a marriage and a bed of roses
Into the abyss
By pushing forwards
It's always down
It's a desperate war
you're trying to blow yourselves up
You don't care who you stand with the help about
Hey hey well that's not the way
The Jam's song The Great Depression delves into the societal issues that arose in Britain during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The opening lines of the song suggest that something has gone wrong, with the world turning upside down, and people turning on each other out of desperation. It is a reflection of the mood of the time where people were feeling disillusioned and betrayed due to the false promises of those in power. Instead of fulfilling their promises, the politicians had led the country into economic hardship and widespread unemployment. The title of the song refers to the Great Depression of the 1930s, a catastrophic global economic crisis that lasted for a decade, leaving millions of people unemployed, homeless, and hungry.
The lyrics of the song condemn the senseless violence and nihilism that was spreading among society. The lines "No sense or reason in your fussing and fighting and your violent obsession" refers to the increasing violence between the police and the working-class youth. The song goes on to criticize the culture of consumerism which dominated society, the idea that owning more things and having more money will bring happiness. The lines "No sense of purpose in the competition, keeping up with the Joneses" highlights the lack of satisfaction and meaning that comes with chasing materialism.
Overall, The Jam's The Great Depression is a powerful reflection of the political and social climate of the time. It speaks to the feelings of helplessness and disillusionment that many felt during the 1970s and early 1980s in Britain.
Line by Line Meaning
I think we must have all gone mad
Something must have happened to make us all go insane
Maybe right turned over
Perhaps what was once considered 'right' is now wrong
They promise us the earth
They told us we would have everything we wanted
Instead we've got the great depression
But what we have is a severe economic downturn
Now you're free and easy with the base
Now you don't have any moral standards
You blame your brothers and sisters
You're quick to point fingers at others
And neurotics say sod the rest
People who are mentally ill don't care about anything else
It's the new dissention
This is a new type of disagreement or conflict
Into the abyss
We're headed towards a dark, hopeless place
By pushing forwards
Despite the dire circumstances, we continue to move forward
It's always down
Things seem to constantly get worse
It's a desperate war
This is a fight for survival
You're trying to blow yourselves up
You're self-destructive
You don't care who you stand with the help about
You don't care who gets hurt as long as you get what you want
Hey hey well that's not the way
This isn't a healthy or sustainable way to live
No sense or reason in your fussing and fighting
Your arguments and conflicts are irrational and pointless
And your violent obsession
Your fixation on aggression is unhealthy
who's ever really left feeling fine
Nobody is truly happy or content after experiencing this depression
After the great depression?
After this period of economic hardship
No sense of purpose in the competition
There is no meaningful reason to compete with others
Keeping up with the Jones's
Trying to match or surpass what your neighbors have
You buy a house,
You think that acquiring material possessions will bring happiness
You buy a car
You believe that having a car will make you feel successful
You buy a marriage and a bed of roses
You purchase the idea of a perfect marriage and ideal romance
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nardo
One of the best jam tunes. Bring a tear to my eye this one something of legend.
The Last Guitar Hero
I fucking love this song and can't stop playing it. Bands today aren't fit to wipe the arse of The Jam
terry tibbs
How does one go about wiping faecal matter from the buttockial crevasse of a band?
mark tranter
I concur
Rajah O'bagal
wow rude
ITS ME P.B!!!
Top Mod tune....one of the best groups EVER!!!!!!
Ian Howatson
Not one of the greatest THE GREATEST!!!!! How many of days bands will still be as popular over 40 years later?
Tim Beasley
Disagree...not one of the greatest...this was a B-side, never on an album, c'mon now
Siobhan Quinn
goldenspecial KTF๐ฎ๐ชโ๐ต๐ถ
Filippo Rimondi
Gorgeously played live on their last appearance on The Tube..