The Skids continue to enjoy popularity with two top 20 singles, "Masquerade" and "Working for the Yankee Dollar", from the album "Days in Europa", produced by Bill Nelson. The Cover of the album, showing an "aryan", was seen by some as Nazi, and was soon replaced with a less controversial sleeve. This sleeve, although conventional, still bore the image of the first release seen through the viewers eyes by a picture on the wall, alongside a picture of 'Scared to Dance', the sleeve portrayed a woman , bare breast showing, in the hands of a man.
The Absolute Game was The Skids' 1980 third album (not counting the two different mix versions released of their second album 1979's Days in Europa) and was produced by Mick Glossop. It featured two new band members, Russell Webb (bass guitar, vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion) and Mike Baillie (drums, vocals, percussion).
The album continued the Skids' progression from a punky sound into a more mellow one - paralleled by many bands of the period. The album has a great deal in common with Days in Europa, but not much with its successor, Joy. Around this time the band were driven by internal rifts and disagreements, leading to various members coming and going. Soon after the release and live concert tour of The Absolute Game, Adamson and Baillie left the band. (Although Adamson did temporarily return to play on one more song from the album Joy, called Iona.) Adamson went on to launch the career of his new band, Big Country, and Baillie moved back to Scotland to live. A great deal of Big Country's future sound and style can be heard in this album. In particularly on Hurry On Boys, which features bagpipe simulations and real didgeridoo. Joy has a completely different sound to other Skids albums, and some fans consider The Absolute Game to be the last canonical Skids album.
Soon after the release and live concert tour of The Absolute Game, Adamson and Baillie left the band. (Although Adamson did temporarily return to play on one more song from the album Joy, called Iona.) Adamson went on to launch the career of his new band, Big Country, and Baillie moved back to Scotland to live. It left Jobson and Webb, in 1981, to write and record the band's fourth and final album Joy, which Russell Webb also produced. The pair played multiple instruments on the album, and also invited a collection of seventeen musical friends to perform on various tracks with them. The Skids dissolved in 1982, with the album Fanfare posthumously issued by Virgin. It was a mixture of greatest hits and unreleased tracks.
Jobson and Webb then went onto form a new band called The Armoury Show. The group only recorded one album called Waiting for the Floods in 1985 before splitting up. Jobson went onto pursue a solo career as a poet, songwriter, television presenter and most recently a film director. He released albums on the Belgian record label Les Disques du Crepuscule, and the UK's own Parlophone Records.
Sadly, on December 16 2001, Stuart was found dead in Best Western Plaza Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, having committed suicide.
In the year 2007, U2 and Greenday covered "The Saints Are Coming" recorded originaly by the skids for the "Scared to Dance" album. Most fans seen this as a juncture to include new fans to the old punk scene.
In 2007 Richard Jobson, William Simpson and Mike Baillie, along with Bruce Watson (guitar/vocals) of Big Country, Jamie Watson (guitar), Brian Jobson (vocals) and Jane Button (vocals), got together to play three gigs. They were to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the group's formation, and as a final tribute to Stuart Adamson, who died in 2001. The shows on 4 July and 5 July were at Dunfermline's Glen Pavilion, where they were supported by Rosyth band The Draymin - outside of which The Skids had previously played only their second gig according to Jobson - and on 7 July, at the T in the Park festival.
Skids returned to the stage on 28 November 2009 as one of the headlining acts in Homecoming Live, a series of gigs held around the SECC complex in Glasgow to celebrate the end of the Year of Homecoming in Scotland. The line-up mirrored the 2007 gigs, with members of The Gospel Truth Choir joining Button on backing vocals for "A Woman in Winter" and "Working for the Yankee Dollar".
The same lineup performed a concert on 5 March 2010 at the ABC in Glasgow, with support from The Law and Bruce & Jamie Watson, and lastly a concert on 6 March 2010 at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, with support from Beatnic Prestige and Bruce & Jamie Watson. This final concert was to conclude a week of events celebrating the works, past and present, of Richard Jobson as part of The Fifer Festival 2010 on 6 March 2010.
In 2016 the band reformed and announced a 40th anniversary tour of the UK with their original singer Richard Jobson. In 2018, Skids released their fifth album, Burning Cities.
Both Dunfermline Athletic FC and Charlton Athletic FC use "Into the Valley" as a theme song.
Circus Games
The Skids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wager, the one card to play
Priest has this burden
He thinks, the right thing, to say
Amid all the honour
He sees, the wrong one, to share
Since child is an angel
The duty, the one card prepare
(Come and play at circus games)
(Come and play circus games)
(Come and play at…)
Jury is a gambler
The wager, the one card, to play
Judge has this burden
He tells, the wrong one, to pay
Amid all the honour
He puts, the wrong one, to trial
Since child is an angel
No jury, but one card, so vile
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Mother is a gambler
The wager, the one card, to play
Birth has this burden
She says no children today
Midst all dishonour
She sees a heavenly noose
Since child is an angel
The mother, the one child, set loose
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Come and play circus games
Come and play
Come and play circus games
Come and play
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
Come and play circus games
Come and play at circus games
The Skids's song Circus Games is a social commentary on how everyone in society, from the mission to the mother, play their own version of a 'card game' with the life of a child as the prize. The lyrics evoke the image of a circus with the child as the main attraction and various characters in the lyrics as the players. The mission or priest has the duty to prepare the child as the 'one card' to play, which implies they have control over the child's life. The jury plays the 'one vile card' in judging the child's fate, while the judge declares the wrong card, making the parents and society guilty. The mother plays her hand by refusing to give birth and condemning the child to a 'heavenly noose.'
The lyrics highlight the theme of gambling by using the metaphor of a card game, and it is symbolic of how society views children as objects that can be manipulated or controlled for personal gain. The repetition of 'Come and play circus games' emphasizes how children are commodities and are treated as such. The song's somber tone further reinforces this message, as the listener is left with a feeling of hopelessness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Mission is a gambler
The person in charge has taken on a risky challenge
The wager, the one card to play
There's only one chance to succeed
Priest has this burden
The priest feels responsible for something
He thinks, the right thing, to say
He's trying to figure out the best course of action
Amid all the honour
Despite the positive aspects or expectations
He sees, the wrong one, to share
He realizes that some things shouldn't be revealed
Since child is an angel
Because the child is innocent and pure
The duty, the one card prepare
The responsibility is great and there's only one chance to be ready
Jury is a gambler
The members of the jury are taking a risk
Judge has this burden
The judge carries great responsibility
He tells, the wrong one, to pay
He unfairly assigns guilt
He puts, the wrong one, to trial
He unfairly brings someone to court
No jury, but one card, so vile
There's only one option and it's terrible
Mother is a gambler
The mother is making a risky decision
Birth has this burden
Giving birth is a huge responsibility
She says no children today
She chooses not to have a child
Midst all dishonour
Despite the negative response or situation
She sees a heavenly noose
She feels trapped or burdened by societal expectations
The mother, the one child, set loose
The mother abandons her child
Come and play circus games
Take part in dangerous, unpredictable activities
Come and play at circus games
Experience the excitement of the circus
Contributed by Jordyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pellelidell007
I can't express the love I have for this amazing song!
@rw8733
I was 15. The 80s were so exciting. It was a great time to grow up. I'd go back in a heartbeat if I could.
@damselflylight
Great music by an incredible band
@stevetaylor7206
Dynamite! Bought this when I was 20. Now 61. Still play the arse off the album. Once a punk..
@kevinskad4life799
BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOODY AWESOME TRACK,.... Pre BIG COUNTRY, WAS THE BEST FOR ME...
@clash4ever
Maybe The Best Song Of The Skids. I Love It!
@andrewcorlett4795
The whole LPs Grand mate
@migration8123
THe Skids in terms of music and concept were light years ahead of their time
@clash4ever
Great Single From A Great Album
@chriscole4092
Great track