In mid-1977 the band moved to the UK, where it became apparent that they and their label had different ideas as to how they should be marketed. EMI planned to sell The Saints as a typical punk band complete with ripped clothes. The Saints insisted on wearing collared shirts and sweaters, and left their hair long. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Chris Bailey, guitarist Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay on drums with Kym Bradshaw and later Algy Ward on bass.
Kuepper, Hay and Ward left the band in 1978, but Chris Bailey continued touring and recording as The Saints with a revolving line-up of musicians throughout the 80's including the late Janine Hall on bass. The Saints' commercial breakthrough into the US came in 1986 with the album "All Fools Day", with the video for "Just Like Fire Would" receiving airplay on MTV.
After releasing a couple of records under his own name, Bailey reformed The Saints in 1996. Once again without any of the other founding members but they have reunited occasionally to perform live. The Saints music could often be heard in the background during episodes of Neighbours in the 1990's!
The current line-up is:
Chris Bailey - Guitar and vocals
Caspar Wijnberg - Bass
Peter Wilkinson - Drums
Other bands:
2) A Reggae Band.
3) Polish klezmer band from Cracow.
4) Saints (sans The) is an experimental group from Goleta, CA.
5) '60s British band recorded by Joe Meek.
6) An American 60's uptown soul group.
Friend Of The People
The Saints Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was kissing babies like a diplomat
was on remand & on my best behaviour
shaking hands & getting in on the act...
The business people were getting drunker than usual
The conversation slipped below the skull
Exchanging glances with a reporter from Teen Hits
I was a bit like you
You showed me what to do
I was introduced to the sound of confusion
Got propositioned by a passing nun
I was indisposed & unavailable for comment
I'm on the borderline
with nowhere to go
I was a bit like you
You showed me what to do
The lyrics to The Saints's song Friend Of The People describe the experience of a person who is in the public eye and is trying to make a name for themselves as a friend of the people. The verses describe a scene where the person is interacting with business people, politicians, and reporters, trying to gain popularity and influence. The lyrics suggest that the person is walking a fine line between being a genuine friend and being a mere opportunist, and that they are constantly trying to balance their actions to remain credible to their followers.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that the person singing is not a natural-born leader or politician but rather someone who has learned by watching others. The chorus states that "I was a bit like you," and that the person singing learned what to do by following the example of others.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the nature of leadership and the difficulty of balancing personal ambition with the desire to serve others. The lyrics suggest that even a well-intentioned person can become corrupted by the trappings of fame and public recognition, and that it takes constant self-awareness and introspection to remain true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
I was talking to a friend of the people
I was conversing with someone who is widely beloved by the public
Was kissing babies like a diplomat
I was showing affection to infants as a political figure would
was on remand & on my best behaviour
I was detained by authority and abided by the rules
shaking hands & getting in on the act...
I was socializing and participating in whatever was going on
The business people were getting drunker than usual
The wealthy individuals were consuming more alcohol than usual
The conversation slipped below the skull
The topic of discussion became morbid or gruesome
Exchanging glances with a reporter from Teen Hits
I made eye contact with a journalist from a publication aimed at teenagers
I'm an apprentice w____ on my way to Babylon
I am a beginner with blank to fill in, headed towards a place of corruption or chaos
I was a bit like you
I used to be similar to you
You showed me what to do
You taught me how to navigate certain situations
I was introduced to the sound of confusion
I became familiar with chaotic noises or situations
Got propositioned by a passing nun
A nun made suggestive advances towards me
I was indisposed & unavailable for comment
I was unable to respond or give a statement
I'm on the borderline with nowhere to go
I am at a crossroads with no clear direction to take
Writer(s): BAILEY CHRISTOPHER JAMES MANNIX
Contributed by Jasmine I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sebastián Parra
Yo lo tengo 😅 nuevo sin estrenar y lo vendo
Stephen Faust
Someone got me mad the other day, said they'd show me what to do but, hey, the result of that I wouldn't want to see, so I knew what to do, because they showed me.
Jarski J.
Thanks.