Trans-Global Express
The Jam Lyrics


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Ordinary people don't get time to think
Not that it's their fault
'cause you have to hustle and bustle about your work
Just to make sure the food gets bought
Goverments threaten you with recession
Then they threaten you with war
How the other side wants to take away
All the things you ain't got no more
Keep us divided with their greed and hate
Keep you struggling to put the food on your plate.
Imagine if tomorrow the workers went on strike
Not just British Leyland but the whole world
Who would earn their profits?
Who would make their bombs?
You'd see the hands of oppression fumble
And their systems crash to the ground
And you men in uniform will have to learn the lesson too
Not to turn against your own kind
Whenever governments tell you to.

Get the trans-global express moving
And see our marvelous leaders quiver
They know that if it happens
Their lazy days are over
The day the working people join together
We'll all rest much more easy
The responsibility you must bear
When it's your own future in your hands




Maybe a hard one to face up to
But at least you will own yourself!

Overall Meaning

The Jam's Trans-Global Express is a song that talks about the struggles of ordinary people who are constantly busy with work, leaving them little time to contemplate the world around them. The song starts by acknowledging the hustle and bustle that people have to go through just to ensure they can put food on the table. Despite working hard, governments threaten the economic stability of a nation with recessions as well as threatening wars. The politicians and government leaders of the other side are seen to be taking away what little people have left. The song goes on to describe how greed and hate are used by these authorities to maintain division among people. The wealthy continue to stay at the top while the poor struggle to survive.


The song takes a positive turn after this and imagines what would happen if the working class joined forces from all over the world to go on strike. The song suggests that if they did, the oppressors would lose their power and the systems they control would fall. As a result of the protest, people in uniform in the police or army would refuse to turn on their own kind, and they too would be able to understand the importance of standing together. Finally, the song urges the listener to take responsibility for their own future, even if doing so can be challenging. It is better to be in control of one's future than be controlled by others.


Line by Line Meaning

Ordinary people don't get time to think
Ordinary people are too busy with their daily lives and jobs to think about the bigger picture.


Not that it's their fault
It's not their fault that they don't have time to think.


'cause you have to hustle and bustle about your work
People have to work hard to make ends meet.


Just to make sure the food gets bought
They work hard to ensure that they can afford to buy food.


Goverments threaten you with recession
Governments threaten ordinary people with the possibility of a recession.


Then they threaten you with war
Governments then threaten people with war.


How the other side wants to take away
The government tells people that the other side wants to take away things they already have.


All the things you ain't got no more
Things that people don't have anymore.


Keep us divided with their greed and hate
Governments keep people divided with their own greed and hate towards different groups.


Keep you struggling to put the food on your plate.
They keep people struggling to afford basic necessities like food.


Imagine if tomorrow the workers went on strike
If all workers across the world went on strike tomorrow.


Not just British Leyland but the whole world
Not just in one company, but every worker in the entire world.


Who would earn their profits?
Who would earn the profits if workers went on strike.


Who would make their bombs?
Who would make weapons if workers went on strike.


You'd see the hands of oppression fumble
You'd see those in power struggle without workers.


And their systems crash to the ground
The systems of oppression would fall apart without workers.


And you men in uniform will have to learn the lesson too
Those in military positions would also have to learn not to oppress people for the government.


Not to turn against your own kind
Don't turn against people who are just like you and fighting for similar things.


Whenever governments tell you to.
Don't blindly obey government orders.


Get the trans-global express moving
Get workers across the world to unite.


And see our marvelous leaders quiver
Watch the powerful leaders become afraid of the united workers.


They know that if it happens
They know that if workers unite, they will lose their power.


Their lazy days are over
Days of laziness and oppression for the government will be over if workers unite.


The day the working people join together
The day when all workers join in unity.


We'll all rest much more easy
Everyone will be able to rest easier with a united front.


The responsibility you must bear
Everyone has a responsibility to unite and fight for their collective future.


When it's your own future in your hands
When you have control over your own future.


Maybe a hard one to face up to
It may be difficult to face the responsibility of change.


But at least you will own yourself!
At least you will have more control over your own life and future.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL WELLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

David Waterhouse

Amazing tune! dx

Cappuccino Kid 67

It's your own future in your hands. Make it work.

Paqui Ruiz Mesa

O

monki music

inspired by: the world column 'so is the sun'

Leaf

Dance to this....Jam jam..

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