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.
Maverick
The Mekons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
slow down you're going to fast
suck the breath back through my nose
and spit on all the whitelines
where's my baby face?
Chorus
Ball and chain on arms and legs
throw acid on the shiny cars and leave this territory
I'll get chased from place to place
but I'll only finish stronger
Daddy's in the Falklands
he don't love you any longer
We struck out on a hard beaten road
slow down you're going to fast
I ran by the president and heard his bells all ringing
where's my baby face?
I ran past the chimneys, past the marshalls
slow down you're going to fast
my red face burnt and bare feet tore
on jagged desert rocks
where's my baby face?
Instr. chorus
I took a shot gun to a first class drawing
slow down you're going to fast
loking up sweet St. Anne
and the blessed Virgin Mary
where's my baby face?
Ball and chain. whoo ooh
Chrorus . don't lovre you any longer
love you any longer
The Mekons's song titled "Maverick" talks about a person who is determined to run the race of life at their own pace, without allowing external factors to dictate their movement. The verse "I could run in a marathon, slow down you're going too fast, suck the breath back through my nose, and spit on all the whitelines, where's my baby face?" suggests that the person wants to slow down and appreciate life as they live it, instead of rushing through it. The mention of "baby face" implies that the person wants to capture the innocence and curiosity of childhood in their adult life.
The chorus of the song highlights the theme of resistance against societal constraints. The phrase "ball and chain on arms and legs, won't keep these hands from talking, throw acid on the shiny cars and leave this territory" suggests that the person is not willing to allow societal norms to limit their freedom. The mention of "Daddy's in the Falklands, he don't love you any longer" implies that the person has gone against societal expectations and perhaps parental expectations as well.
The latter verse of the song talks about the struggles the person faces while pursuing their individuality. The lines "I took a shotgun to a first-class drawing, slow down you're going too fast, looking up sweet St. Anne and the blessed Virgin Mary, where's my baby face?" suggest that the person is willing to challenge the norms upheld by societal elites, and also seeks solace in religion.
Line by Line Meaning
I could run in a marathon
I have the potential to achieve great things and am willing to put in the effort to do so.
slow down you're going too fast
Don't let your eagerness get the best of you, take your time and pace yourself.
suck the breath back through my nose
I am trying to regain my composure and calm down.
and spit on all the whitelines
I am rejecting the idea of conforming to societal norms and instead want to make my own path.
where's my baby face?
I am struggling to recognize myself and my identity in the midst of all the chaos.
Ball and chain on arms and legs
I feel burdened by responsibilities and obligations that hinder me from taking risks and exploring.
won't keep these hands from talking
My desire to express myself and my ideas will not be silenced or suppressed by external factors.
throw acid on the shiny cars and leave this territory
I reject the materialistic and superficial values of this society and want to escape from it all.
I'll get chased from place to place
As I take unconventional paths, I will face challenges and opposition from those who want to maintain the status quo.
but I'll only finish stronger
Through perseverance and resilience, I will learn from my experiences and become more confident and self-assured.
Daddy's in the Falklands
The absence of a paternal figure in my life has led to feelings of abandonment and instability.
he don't love you any longer
The parental figure whom I relied on for support and guidance no longer has my best interests at heart.
We struck out on a hard beaten road
I am embarking on a challenging journey that has been taken by many before me, but that doesn't make it any easier.
I ran by the president and heard his bells all ringing
As I traverse through different social classes and hierarchies, I realize that everyone has their own set of issues and struggles.
I ran past the chimneys, past the marshalls
I am constantly moving and adapting to new environments and situations as I search for a sense of belonging.
my red face burnt and bare feet tore on jagged desert rocks
I am physically and emotionally tested as I journey through challenging terrains and situations.
I took a shot gun to a first class drawing
I am looking to challenge and disrupt the established order and systems that perpetuate inequality and oppression.
loking up sweet St. Anne and the blessed Virgin Mary
I am seeking guidance and direction from higher powers and entities as I navigate through uncertainty and confusion.
don't lovre you any longer
The people whom I relied on for support and love have let me down and no longer have my best interests at heart.
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.