After meeting at the Deeply Vale Free Festival, The Ruts were formed on 18 August ]1977, the band consisted of Malcolm Owen (vocals), Paul Fox (guitar), John "Segs" Jennings (bass) and Dave Ruffy (drums).[1] As part of the Misty in Roots People Unite collective based in Southall, west London, the band were active in anti-racist causes and played a number of benefits for Rock Against Racism.
On 11 February 1980, the band returned to a BBC studio for their third Peel session, two tracks of which - "Demolition Dancing" and "Secret Soldiers" - later appeared on Virgin's posthumous Grin & Bear It album.
By this time singer Malcolm Owen was suffering with health problems; a combination of sore throats and a heroin addiction. A UK tour was arranged, the 'Back to Blighty' tour, but a number of dates had to be cancelled due to Owen's condition. What turned out to be the last Ruts gig with Malcolm took place at Plymouth Polytechnic on 26 February 1980.
Many of the Ruts best gigs were RAR (Rock Against Racism) gigs with Misty in Roots, and Jah War was written in response to the Southall Riots where the police attacked the Anti-Nazi League that were protesting a National Front march through the predominantly British Indian Southall area.
The Ruts, in their attitude, politics and music were truly representative of the best Punk had to offer. Sadly we were never to discover how they would develop as Malcom Owen, their charismatic front man, died of a heroin overdose on 14th July 1980, aged 26.
Love In Vain
The Ruts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't want ya
Don't want ya, in my arms no more
Don't want ya
Don't want...
Don't want ya, in my arms no more
Cause it's certain like you did before
The tracks I made are really like a map
All the time I'm spending on my back
Oh god now I ache inside
Oh god now I'm really tired
Sleepless nights I spend in pools of sweat
Can't get you out of my mind, well not just yet
Don't want ya
Don't want ya
Don't want ya, in my arms no more
Now you're gone sometimes I think of you, (think of you)
Don't want you back now, cause I've changed my view, (changed my view)
I use to love you, Oh it's true
But if you come back well it's...(raspberry) to you
Ah ha ha ah ha ha ah
The lyrics of the song 'Love In Vain' by The Ruts narrate a story of a disillusioned lover who has fallen out of love and does not want to be with their partner anymore. The repetition of 'Don't want ya' in the chorus highlights the intensity of the feelings of the singer. The song, however, delves deeper into the aftermath of a broken relationship, portraying the pain and the complications associated with getting over the person they once loved.
The singer acknowledges the fact that the tracks they have made are like a map and the person they loved before had certainly walked those paths as well. The thoughts of their past lover make the singer suffer inside and cause restless sleepless nights. These feelings are explicitly represented in the lines 'Oh god now I ache inside, sleepless nights I spend in pools of sweat.'
However, the song does not end with a sad note; the singer has moved on from their past love, and even though they think of them sometimes, they do not want them back. The final lines, 'But if you come back, well, it's...(raspberry) to you,' are a firm indication that the singer no longer longs to be with their past love, and they are content with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't want ya
I no longer desire your presence
Don't want ya
I still do not have any interest in a relationship with you
Don't want ya, in my arms no more
I do not want to be physically close to you
Don't want ya in my arms no more
I have grown tired of holding you
Cause it's certain like you did before
You have shown me your true self, and I cannot ignore it
The tracks I made are really like a map
The evidence of our past relationship is clear and present
All the time I'm spending on my back
I am lying awake, unable to sleep due to thoughts of you
Oh god now I ache inside
The pain of missing you is overwhelming
Oh god now I'm really tired
The emotional exhaustion is taking a physical toll on me
Sleepless nights I spend in pools of sweat
My anxiety over losing you is causing severe physical reactions
Can't get you out of my mind, well not just yet
I am constantly thinking about you, despite my efforts to move on
Now you're gone sometimes I think of you, (think of you)
Even though you are no longer here, thoughts of you still invade my mind
Don't want you back now, cause I've changed my view, (changed my view)
I have reassessed my feelings and no longer want to be with you
I use to love you, Oh it's true
I admit that I once had strong feelings for you
But if you come back well it's...(raspberry) to you
If you try to return to my life, I will reject you and move on
Writer(s): OWEN, JENNINGS, FOX, RU
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@duplicitousdemocracy2246
I think the fact that the very talented Malcolm Owen lost his battle with drugs around the time this song was released, makes it all the more poignant. A beautiful, haunting track, music lost a figure that would have surely gone on to even greater things. RIP Malcolm, you had a huge impact.
@2018Clarity
One of The Ruts best songs,so sad about Malcolm.
@hjlc8222
The Ruts. Possibly the best band in the world.....
@anthonylee9943
H JLC not possibly......Definitely
@REPENTBELIEVE
I listened to much punk back in the day , they were similar to the Clash but better !
@malgalloway5717
What a beautiful but very sad song. I've been down that road now for 26 years and it's so hard to let go of.
@rikantony6571
yep.hope ur doin well mate.was on the gear about 30yrs too.been clean 12 yrs n if i can do it so can u.......
@noladavis5085
Been there for 24 years, sick to death of it. Day 8 of not using. Wishing you the best hon
@noladavis5085
Gosh im almost 2 years off it now. How the heck did I manage that. Seems so long ago.
@noladavis5085
3 years and still haven't used. On 12ml of methadone and feeling crappy. But onwards and upwards. Next time I post I'll be off everything.