Leeds University art students Jon Langford and Tom Greenhalgh formed the Mekons in 1977, taking the band's name from the Mekon, an evil, super-intelligent Venusian featured in the British 1950s-1960s comic Dan Dare (printed in the Eagle). The band first gained widepread popularity with the single "Never Been in a Riot," a satirical take on the Clash's "White Riot." For several years the loose-knit band played noisy, bare-bones post-punk in the vein of fellow Leeds students Gang of Four. Yet Langford and Greenhalgh never hewed closely to genre conventions, and by the mid-80s (now augmented by vocalist Sally Timms and violinist Susie Honeyman) they began to experiment with musical styles derived from traditional folk and country. 1985's watershed Fear and Whiskey, 1986's The Edge of the World and 1987's Honky Tonkin' exemplified the band's new sound, which built on the innovations of Gram Parsons and blended punk ethos with the minimalist country of Hank Williams. This style, sometimes referred to as "post-modern country", is a direct forerunner of the alt-country genre represented by bands like Uncle Tupelo.
Jon Langford has been busy as an artist and as founder of several solo and band projects: namely the Waco Brothers (a country-like ensemble) and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts (exploring the music of Bob Wills, Johnny Cash and others). Besides his solo albums he has released CDs with Richard Buckner and Kevin Coyne.
Subsequent albums such as The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll, while containing several straightforward rock songs, continued to explore the boundaries of the punk genre by utilizing diverse instrumentation (notably the fiddle and slide guitar) and Timm's haunting vocals.
The Mekons Rock 'n' Roll was the band's first major label release. Issued by A&M Records in 1989, it was not a commercial success, but it was met with critical acclaim. Arguably the best album of their career (alongside Fear and Whiskey), it is perhaps the most accessible synthesis of their experiments in country, rock and punk.
Just as the Mekons began to grow in critical stature, their relationship with A&M Records became more tense, and unable to fulfill their commercial expectations, the Mekons were soon dropped by the label. However, not only did the band remain intact, they continued to record at a prolific rate, releasing such notable albums as 1991's Curse of the Mekons, 2000's Journey to the End of the Night, and 2002's OOOH!.
The band continues to tour under an altered lineup, and has a highly devoted following.
CHIVALRY
The Mekons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fear and whiskey kept me going
I swore somebody held me tight
But now there's just no way of knowing
I saw your face in a crowded bar
"Excuse me please!"
At least I thought it was you
My suit was smart when I put it on last week
All I could remember as I walked down the street
Was the rain and tears on your face
Oh gee, I guess I'm just a disgrace
The lyrics of The Mekons’s song Chivalry speak of a sense of loss and confusion the singer is feeling after a drunken night out. The song starts with the line “I was out late the other night”, establishing a sense of disorientation and lack of clarity. The singer goes on to say that “Fear and whiskey kept me going,” which could suggest they were trying to drown their sorrows with alcohol. They then reveal that they thought they were being held by someone, presumably a lover, but wake up the next day with no way of knowing if it was real or not. The story then takes a turn as the singer admits to seeing the person they believe held them earlier in a crowded bar. They try to approach them by saying, “Excuse me please!”, but they are not sure if they got the right person as they are unable to locate them again.
The lyrics take on a nostalgic tone as the singer remembers a time when they were with their lover. They describe how their suit used to look smart and how they only remember the rain and tears on their lover’s face. The singer goes on to say, “Oh gee, I guess I’m just a disgrace,” implying that they feel guilt or shame for how their relationship with their lover ended.
Overall, Chivalry speaks to feelings of regret, loss, and confusion. The singer seems to be struggling to come to terms with their actions and the state of their relationship, and the song leaves the listener with a sense of melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
I was out late the other night
I was roaming around late at night
Fear and whiskey kept me going
I was motivated by fear and the effect of whiskey
I swore somebody held me tight
I had a strong belief that someone hugged me tightly
But now there's just no way of knowing
It is impossible for me to determine or confirm it
I saw your face in a crowded bar
I caught a glimpse of your face amidst the crowd in a bar
"Excuse me please!"
I expressed my request politely saying "Excuse me please!"
At least I thought it was you
I believed it was you, but I'm not sure
Now I just don't know where you are
I'm unaware of your current location
My suit was smart when I put it on last week
My cloth was quite fashionable when I put it on last week
All I could remember as I walked down the street
The only thing that came to my mind as I was walking down the street
Was the rain and tears on your face
Was the recollection of rain and tears on your face
Oh gee, I guess I'm just a disgrace
I feel embarrassed and shamed, just not worthy of something
Contributed by Caleb I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.