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The Selecter are a British ska revival band from Coventry, formed in the late 1970s as one of the essential bands of the British ska movement.
Much of what set apart The Selecter from many of the other ska bands at the time was the voice of Pauline Black. She had to disguise herself as a man in order for the band to get gigs, but once they did, there was no disguising her voice. Like other ska bands of this movement, The Selecter featured a racially mixed line up, and songs about violence, politics, marijuana, a fictional spy's theme song, James Bond, and reggae classics. The name of the band is a reference to the Jamaican word for a music selecter, known elsewhere as the DJ. Also typical to the style is the mix of one vocalist singing, and the other toasting in a Jamaican style, a precursor to rapping.
The Selecter's first recording Too Much Pressure was recorded at the end of 1979 and beginning of 1980 and issued on the pre-eminent 2 Tone/Chrysalis label. Their second recording Celebrate the Bullet was issued in 1981. Though the band has continued to regroup and reform on and off, most of the many recordings available are recompiled selections from these first two albums, either live or studio recordings. The Selecter's first two albums are essential British ska recordings.
Pauline Black has been the singer in The Selecter since its formation in 1979 when the band spearheaded the Two Tone movement alongside The Specials releasing the singles "The Selecter", "Three Minute Hero", "The Whisper", "Missing Words" and "On My Radio" as well as two albums; "Too Much Pressure" and "Celebrate The Bullet". The Selecter were also featured in the cult film Dance Craze. The band split in 1982, Pauline carved out a career in TV and theatre, appearing in dramas like The Vice, The Bill, Hearts and Minds and 2000 Acres of Sky. She won the 1991 Time Out award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in the play All or Nothing At All and starred next to Christopher Lee in the schlock horror film The Funny Man. She reformed The Selecter in 1991 and has released several new albums and has toured all over the world.
Nick Welsh is probably best known for being the bassist in The Selecter and formerly Bad Manners but he has worked with some of the biggest names in Ska and Reggae, Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Rico Rodriguez, Dave Barker and most recently Lee "Scratch" Perry with whom he received a Grammy Award Certificate for his work on the CD Jamaican ET which won The Best Reggae Category in 2002. Nick also writes music for TV which has been used world-wide on shows as diverse as WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), The Osbournes and even adverts for Ariel soap powder.
Neol Davies the founder and writer of the classic hits returns with a brand new band in 2010.
neoldaviesakatheselecter plays the mainstage at Bestival 2011 with new album and remixes.
Original line-up
Pauline Black : vocals
Compton Amanor: guitar
Charley Anderson: bass guitar
Charley Bembridge: drums
Desmond Brown: Hammond keyboard
Neol Davies: guitar
Arthur Hendrickson: vocals
Anderson and Brown left The Selecter in 1980. They were replaced by James Mackie: Hammond organ and Adam Williams: bass guitar
Reformed line-up: 1991
Pauline Black: vocals
Neol Davies: guitar
Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson - vocals
Martin Stewart: keyboards
Nick Welsh : bass
Perry Melius : drums
The Selecter 2010 lineup includes
Founder and songwriter Neol Davies- vocals/guitars
Lead Vocals- John Gibbons
Daniel Crosby- Drums
Andre Buyani- Bass
Tim Cansfield- Guitar
Victor Travino- Congas & Percussion
Dean Ross- Hammond Organ
Selecter Horns
Missing Words
The Selecter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About the way things are
You didn`t understand a word
But you said you did
Now I`m not the honest Joe I might seem
I can`t take your lies
It´s late, i`m tired, your words just crackle along the wire
It’s all over now (it’s over now)
You thought you hade it made,
It’s over, it’s over, it’s over
It just don’t make sense the way you did
They things you did
You might have thought that I was dumb
But I’m all wised up
Game up, move on, why don’t you, get out of my hair,
I wonder if you ever did really care
You get a problem baby (you got a problem)
It’s all over now (it’s over now)
You thought you hade it made,
It’s over, it’s over, it’s over
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words.
You get a problem baby (you got a problem)
It’s all over now (it’s over now)
You thought you hade it made,
It’s over, it’s over, it’s over
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words, missing words it’s just
Missing words.
The Selecter's song "Missing Words" is an upbeat ska tune about a relationship that has gone sour. The singer is accusing their partner of not listening or understanding anything they say. The partner pretends to comprehend their words, but in reality, they are lying. The singer feels exhausted and is done with the relationship, and they tell their partner that it's over. The line "missing words" implies a miscommunication or failure to understand one another.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be angry with their former partner but trying to move past the relationship. In the end, they know it's time to move on.
The song's lyrics were written by the band's guitarist, Neol Davies, and the song was released in 1980 as a single. It was later included on the band's first album, "Too Much Pressure." "Missing Words" is a staple of the ska genre and showcases The Selecter's blend of ska and punk influences.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night when I told you all that stuff
I shared my thoughts and feelings with you last night
About the way things are
I spoke to you about the current situation
You didn`t understand a word
You didn't comprehend what I was saying
But you said you did
Yet, you claimed you understood me
Now I`m not the honest Joe I might seem
I am not as truthful as I may appear to be
I can`t take your lies
I am unable to tolerate your deceitful words
It´s late, i`m tired, your words just crackle along the wire
It's getting late and I'm exhausted, your words sound like static noise to me
You get a problem baby (you got a problem)
You have an issue, my dear
It’s all over now (it’s over now)
Our relationship has reached its end
You thought you hade it made,
You believed you had everything figured out
It’s over, it’s over, it’s over
But now it's done and over with
It just don’t make sense the way you did
The way you acted doesn't seem logical to me
They things you did
The actions you took
You might have thought that I was dumb
Maybe you assumed that I was not intelligent
But I’m all wised up
However, I am now more knowledgeable and aware
Game up, move on, why don’t you, get out of my hair,
The game is up, it's time to move on and leave me alone
I wonder if you ever did really care
I am curious if you ever truly cared about me
Missing words, missing words it’s just
There are missing words and incomplete thoughts
Missing words.
The words that are missing
Contributed by Isabelle H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jonathanjonathan7386
Last night, when I told you all that stuff
About the way things are
You didn't understand a word
But you said you did
Now, I'm not the honest Joe I might seem
I can't take your lies
It's late, I'm tired, your words just
Crackle along the wire
You've got a problem, baby (you've got a problem)
It's all over now (it's over now)
You thought you had it made
It's over
It's over
It just don't make sense, the way you did
The things you did
You might have thought that I was dumb
But I'm all wised up
Game's up, move on, why don't you
Get out of my hair?
I wonder if you ever did
Really care
You've got a problem, baby (you've got a problem)
It's all over now (it's over now)
You thought you had it made
It's over
It's over
It's over
Missing words, missing words, it's just
Missing words, missing words, it's just
Missing words, missing words, it's just
Missing words, missing words, it's just
Missing words
You've got a problem, baby (you've got a problem)
It's all over now (it's over now)
You thought you had it made
It's over
It's over
It's over
@slappedhappy9549
What a great flashback!💎
M,55,Germany
@gilbaptiste6732
My favourite Selecter song. It's so good
@garryblack8195
sitting on an oil rig in the north sea,57 yrs old,takes me back 45 yrs 😎
@OtiliaSiroka
great, here's some words in case you missed them: LEAVE IT IN THE DAMN GROUND!
@jamesmcnellis7457
PAULINE BLACK IS......THE QUEEN OF SKA!! 👸
@honiideslysses12
...and she still sits atop that throne!
@morelife6508
Phyllis Dillion: hold my roots tea
@Bjornontour
True that!!!
@jamesmurphy4292
Definitely
@csh5414
@@morelife6508 True but Pauline is the Queen of British Ska..