Parsons and Stanton left in 1979, with Spike moving to lead vocals, and Lealand's girlfriend Louise Wright joining on bass.
Influenced by the likes of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Ramones, the band started off covering punk rock hits and soon started to compose their own material. They were the second band signed to Chris Berry's No Future Records label, and their debut release, the double A-sided Police story/Killing machine was released on 28 September 1981. It reached #5 on the UK Indie Chart, on the back of a tour with label-mates Blitz, and with strong support from Sounds writer Garry Bushell. Following the success of this single, The Partisans were included on the third volume of Bushell's Oi! compilation series Carry On Oi!, which reached #60 on the UK Album Chart, and won the band gig slots with Blitz, Peter and the Test Tube Babies and The Ejected, as well as a 'No Future' night at London's Zig Zag Club with Red Alert, The Lombardos, and Peter and the Test Tube Babies.
The band released its second single, 17 Years of Hell, on 27 May 1982, peaking at #2 on the Indie Charts. This was followed by their self-titled debut LP, released in February 1983. It hit #5 in the Indie Chart and #1 in the Punk Chart, amid considerable critical acclaim from the national press and the underground fanzine culture.
After the departure of Louise Wright, the remaining members relocated to Bayswater in west London, with new bassist Dave Parsons to relaunch the band. Their next release was the three-track "Blind Ambition" EP on Cloak & Dagger Records, which peaked at #23 on the Indie Chart, and got played on Prime Time Radio 1. The LP, Time Was Right, followed in 1984, described as "The Professionals meets The Clash," and reaching #20 in the Indie Chart. The album featured live recordings from a gig at the Brixton Ace, at which The Partisans supported Anthrax, Lost Cherrees, Conflict and others.
The band split up in 1984. Dave Parsons later found chart success with Transvision Vamp and, even later, became a worldwide success with Bush. Andy moved to Scandinavia. Andy and Rob recorded one more session in late 1989 for Link Records under the name Agent Orange including Andy's then partner Iggi.[1] In the late 1990s Lealand and Harrington reformed the band along with two of Lealand's Swedish friends, Magnus Neundorff and Mikael "Gustav" Gustavsson. The band signed to American label TKO who issued the "So Neat" single in 2001, followed by a new full-length LP/CD in 2004 "Idiot Nation" on Dr. Strange. Currently the band are writing and recording new material.
Arms Race
The Partisans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such a long time since I played your war games
Don't know the rules but I can learn real fast
They're gonna start a nuclear blast.
Join in the arms race seems allot of fun
Fingers on the button no need to use a gun
They play their game with a loaded dice
Don't take no orders we just follow advice
They're playing pogo with their nuclear toys now.
Join in the arms race seems allot of fun
Fingers on the button no need to use a gun
The Partisans's song "Arms Race" portrays the idea of individuals joining the military, not fully understanding the magnitude of what they are getting themselves into. The lyrics "Nowhere to go don't even know my name" emphasizes that these soldiers have nowhere else to turn to, and in a way, have lost their identity to the military. The line "such a long time since I played your war games" exemplifies that they have been engulfed in the military system for so long that it is all they know, and they have become desensitized to the violence around them.
The lyrics "Don't know the rules but I can learn real fast, they're gonna start a nuclear blast" suggest that the individuals are willing to follow orders blindly, even if those orders could lead to widespread destruction. The performers convey a sense of urgency in the phrase "they're gonna start a nuclear blast," emphasizing the devastating and irreversible consequences of nuclear war. The chorus repeats the phrase "join in the arms race seems allot of fun," almost sarcastically, highlighting the irony in the idea of war being fun.
The song portrays the idea that the politicians hold all the power and make all the decisions, leaving the soldiers to blindly follow orders irrespective of the consequences. The line "the politicians they make all the noise, they're playing pogo with their nuclear toys now" highlights that these politicians have control over millions of lives but take it lightly and play games with their decisions. The Partisans's song "Arms Race" demonstrates the real-world implications of war and shines a light on the individuals who are most affected by it.
Line by Line Meaning
Nowhere to go don't even know my name
I am lost and without direction, feeling a lack of identity in this chaotic world.
Such a long time since I played your war games
I have not been a part of the war machine for quite some time, and have lost touch with its methods and motivations.
Don't know the rules but I can learn real fast
Although inexperienced, I am confident in my ability to quickly adapt and absorb the rules of war.
They're gonna start a nuclear blast
The powers that be are on the brink of nuclear war, a devastating event that threatens to wipe out all of humanity.
Join in the arms race seems allot of fun
The idea of participating in the race to acquire weapons of mass destruction seems like an exciting prospect to some, despite its terrifying consequences.
Fingers on the button no need to use a gun
With the ability to launch nuclear missiles at the push of a button, the destructive impact of these weapons is far greater than any other type of firearm.
They play their game with a loaded dice
The powers that be control the narrative of war, using propaganda and deceit to tilt the odds in their favor.
Don't take no orders we just follow advice
Even though we are not taking direct orders, we still follow the advice of those in power, perpetuating the cycle of war and destruction.
The politicians they make all the noise
The politicians make all the speeches, but ultimately they are the ones who decide when and where to launch deadly attacks.
They're playing pogo with their nuclear toys now
The leaders of the world seem to be treating nuclear war like a game, jumping around like children as they test their deadly toys.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Primera Calle de la Soledad
nowhere to go don’t even know my name
such a long time since i played your war games
don’t know the rules but i can learn real fast
they’re gonna start a nuclear blast.
join in the arms race seems allot of fun
fingers on the b*tton no need to use a gun
they play their game with a loaded dice
don’t take no orders we just follow advice
the politicians they make all the noise
they’re playing pogo with their nuclear toys now.
join in the arms race seems allot of fun
fingers on the b*tton no need to use a gun
Deez Nuts
join in the arms race its alot of fun!
paul turner
cool as fuck
Crossover93
i like this one 17 years and police story
christophe frapin
du good du bon du remember of my jeunesse fuk