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.
Staring at the Rude Boys
The Ruts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The room gets dark when the music gets loud
Treble cuts through' when the rhythm takes the bite
But there's no room to move 'cause the floor is packed tight
A voice shouts loud
"We'll never surrender"
A voice in the crowd
A hand in the crowds flying propaganda,
"Never surrender, we'll never surrender"
The skins in the corner are staring at the bar
The rude boys are dancing to some heavy heavy ska
It's getting so hot people are dripping with sweat
The punks in the corner are speeding like a jet
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
A bunch of peers march in on the DM's
With some standing there saluting the air
They want to be pirates but the sea is not calm
Tattooed crossbows on their arm
A voice shouts loud
"We'll never surrender"
A voice in the crowd
"Never surrender"
Another hand fly, fly propaganda,
Propaganda, propaganda
The lights come alive in a blinding flash
Dance floor clears as the mutants clash
Everyone leaves when the heavy's arrive
Someone hits the floor, someone takes a dive
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
[Repeat: x8]
We'll never surrender
The Ruts immortalized the spirit of the rising punk culture in the UK in their song "Staring at the Rude Boys." Its lyrics depict the chaotic and explosive energy of punk rock shows in the '70s and '80s era. The song's chorus, "We'll never surrender," is a rallying cry for the punk movement that sought to defy the mainstream society's norms and challenge the establishment's authority.
The verse "It's a very small world in the middle of a crowd, The room gets dark when the music gets loud" describes the intense and claustrophobic atmosphere of a packed punk rock show. The song captures the punk ethos of rebellion, where the youth sought an outlet to express their frustration and anger through music. The rude boys, skins, and punks mentioned in the song are representative of different subcultures within the punk movement that coexisted and sometimes clashed.
The bridge of the song describes a scene of a group of peers marching in on the DM's (Doc Martens) and saluting the air. This is a reference to the far-right groups that were active in the UK during the '70s, such as the National Front, which sought to promote a white supremacist agenda. The Ruts were known to be an anti-fascist band, and the "Never surrender" chant in the song's refrain can be interpreted as a call to resist the ideology of the far-right.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a very small world in the middle of a crowd
Despite being surrounded by people, you may feel alone and insignificant.
The room gets dark when the music gets loud
The atmosphere changes as the music intensifies, creating a sense of anticipation or unease.
Treble cuts through' when the rhythm takes the bite
When the music is lively and energetic, it can have a powerful impact on its listeners.
But there's no room to move 'cause the floor is packed tight
The club or venue is overcrowded, which can be both uncomfortable and dangerous.
A voice shouts loud
"We'll never surrender"
Amidst the chaos and noise, a voice of conviction declares the group's unwavering stance.
A voice in the crowd
"Never surrender"
Even those who are not leading the charge can be drawn into the cause and echo the same sentiment.
A hand in the crowds flying propaganda,
"Never surrender, we'll never surrender"
People are actively spreading the message of defiance and rebellion by passing around printed materials or other forms of propaganda.
The skins in the corner are staring at the bar
The rude boys are dancing to some heavy heavy ska
Different groups within the same space may have varying interests and preferences, and may not interact with or understand each other.
It's getting so hot people are dripping with sweat
The punks in the corner are speeding like a jet
The physical intensity of the scene is escalating, with people and movements becoming more and more frenzied.
A bunch of peers march in on the DM's
With some standing there saluting the air
They want to be pirates but the sea is not calm
Tattooed crossbows on their arm
A new group enters the scene, but their intentions and affiliations are unclear and ambiguous.
Another hand fly, fly propaganda,
Propaganda, propaganda
More people are joining in the cause and actively contributing to its message.
The lights come alive in a blinding flash
Dance floor clears as the mutants clash
Everyone leaves when the heavy's arrive
Someone hits the floor, someone takes a dive
The tone and energy of the scene come to a violent head, with conflict and danger erupting from the frenzied atmosphere.
We'll never surrender
This refrain is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the group's commitment to their cause and their unyielding spirit.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FOX, JENNINGS, OWEN, RU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nikolavejnovic8483
It's a very small world in the middle of a crowd
The room gets dark when the music gets loud
Treble cuts through' when the rhythm takes the bite
But there's no room to move 'cause the floor is packed tight
A voice shouts loud
"We'll never surrender"
A voice in the crowd
"Never surrender"
A hand in the crowds flying propaganda,
"Never surrender, we'll never surrender"
The skins in the corner are staring at the bar
The rude boys are dancing to some heavy heavy ska
It's getting so hot people are dripping with sweat
The punks in the corner are speeding like a jet
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
A bunch of peers march in on the DM's
With some standing there saluting the air
They want to be pirates but the sea is not calm
Tattooed crossbows on their arm
A voice shouts loud
"We'll never surrender"
A voice in the crowd
"Never surrender"
Another hand fly, fly propaganda,
Propaganda, propaganda
The lights come alive in a blinding flash
Dance floor clears as the mutants clash
Everyone leaves when the heavy's arrive
Someone hits the floor, someone takes a dive
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Dancing with the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
Staring at the rude boys
We'll never surrender
@craigav68
Never surrender..my Late Dad gave me a Ruts, UK Subs tape when I was 12..great tunes.. pure energy
@eviltopher
Your dad knew what was up, man. Both killer bands.
@bobbyshafto3259
More than 40 years since this was out. It still excites me every time I hear it. Classic Punk track ! ! !
@TheRockerxx69
I was 25 when the Ruts came, having been through the sparks of exciting rock n' roll since 1963, but the Ruts ignited me again and again.
@bobk9879
Still sounds wonderful in 2020 as it did back then. Thanks for uploading. “We’ll never surrender!”.
@rangefourharry7226
And december 2023,class song class band RIP Malcolm
@16addam
One of the greatest bands I ever saw live. Sleep well Malcolm.
@willieluncheonette
And here's The Ruts. One of my 10 all-time favorite punk bands. This song absolutely kills!
@gobsofgopherguts
I've always wondered why Dag Nasty bothered to cover this. Their version sounds no different than the Ruts. They didn't add anything to it or make it different in any way. The Ruts version is all you need.
@dannygroom3327
One of my 1 all time favourite bands