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.
Keep On
The Partisans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Precision guidance freedom comes
When the boss begins
To break the rules we made
Gun control is what we need
To keep the terrorists we've seen
Hiding in their hills
And always running
And I'll keep on with what I want
No point in always hiding
And I'll keep on with what I want
No point in never trying
Embedded news reports at home
We've experienced it all
Not for the first time
We get to save our souls
This is the advertisers dream
Kmart sells to keep you clean
Stockpiled high because
They know you'll need it
Aljazerah news is free
But I tune into the BBC
Time Warner is AO Hell
Keeps us happy keeps us well
Microsoft keep playing hard
Secure Services at heart
Recording everything they see
Keep you happy keep you free
In the first verse of The Partisans' song "Keep On," the lyrics discuss the idea of freedom amidst the violence and chaos of the world. The lines "The bullets fly beneath the sun/Precision guidance freedom comes" seem to suggest that there is a certain level of precision and control that comes with the idea of freedom, despite the violence that may surround it. The lyrics also speak to the need for gun control to keep people safe from terrorism. The chorus of the song reinforces the idea of persistence and determination, with the lines "And I'll keep on with what I want/No point in always hiding/And I'll keep on with what I want/No point in never trying."
In the second verse, the lyrics delve into the role of the media in shaping our perceptions of the world. The lines "Embedded news reports at home/We've experienced it all/Not for the first time/We get to save our souls" suggest that the media often presents us with a certain narrative of events, and that we have a role in crafting our own interpretations of what we see. The lyrics also touch on the idea of consumerism and how corporations manipulate our desires and fears to sell us products. In the final lines, the song speaks to the concept of surveillance and how we are constantly being monitored and recorded.
Line by Line Meaning
The bullets fly beneath the sun
Amidst a sunny day, there is still danger in the form of flying bullets.
Precision guidance freedom comes
Our freedom can be achieved through precise and guided efforts.
When the boss begins
The leader of a group starts to take action.
To break the rules we made
They are breaking their own rules in order to achieve progress.
Gun control is what we need
In order to protect ourselves from terrorists, we need to control access to guns.
To keep the terrorists we've seen
We must take measures to ensure that terrorists do not go unnoticed or unpunished.
Hiding in their hills
The terrorists are hiding in remote areas to avoid being caught.
And always running
Terrorists are constantly on the move to avoid being caught by authorities.
And I'll keep on with what I want
I will continue to pursue my goals despite any obstacles that may be in my way.
No point in always hiding
It is useless to always be concealing oneself from danger or risk.
And I'll keep on with what I want
I will not give up on my ambitions and desires.
No point in never trying
It is futile to never attempt to achieve one's goals.
Embedded news reports at home
News reports are being broadcast directly into people's homes.
We've experienced it all
We have gone through many of these situations before.
Not for the first time
This is not the first time that we have faced these challenges.
We get to save our souls
We are given the opportunity to save ourselves from danger or harm.
This is the advertisers dream
Advertisers aim to create a situation where people feel like they need their products to survive.
Kmart sells to keep you clean
Kmart markets and sells products that make you feel clean and fresh.
Stockpiled high because
These products are stockpiled because they will be in high demand.
They know you'll need it
Advertisers know that people will feel like they need their products to get through difficult times.
Aljazerah news is free
Aljazeera broadcasts news at no cost to its viewers.
But I tune into the BBC
I choose to watch the BBC over other news outlets.
Time Warner is AO Hell
Time Warner is known for its strict rules and regulations which can make things difficult for customers.
Keeps us happy keeps us well
Time Warner keeps us happy and healthy through their strict policies.
Microsoft keep playing hard
Microsoft stays competitive by always working hard and striving for success.
Secure Services at heart
Microsoft values security and safety measures in their services.
Recording everything they see
Microsoft records and keeps digital records of everything that takes place within their systems.
Keep you happy keep you free
Microsoft strives to keep their customers happy through their services and offerings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENKT NILS SVENSSON, KARIN CECILIA WISTRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
roby barby
grande band veramente potenti..
Deez Nuts830
Spike sort of sounds like Joe strummer. Can't say that the partisans have ever realesed an album that I didn't love. Great band
Manolo Xines
I didnt know these tracks...when did this album come out?
Peter Ryan
2004