The group was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals) and a rhythm section featuring Horace Panter (bass) and John Bradbury (drums; born 16 February 1953, died 28 December 2015). The band wore mod-style 1960s period "rude boy" outfits (pork pie hats, mohair suits, and loafers). In 1980, their song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached number one in the UK. In 1981, the unemployment-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart. After seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, the band broke up in 1984. A version of the band reformed from 1994-2001. In 2008, the band reformed again and, in2009, embarked on a 30th anniversary tour. In 2010, they toured America and Europe. In 2011 they again touring the UK.
In 1979, their debut LP hit the shelves and quickly soared into the UK Top Five. The album was produced by Elvis Costello and was released under founding member, Jerry Dammer's record label 2 Tone Records.
Following the success of their debut album, Specials, their second and final album, More Specials was released. This expanded the group's 2 tone sound to include lounge music and other influences.
After two albums and a string of very successful singles the band called it quits in 1984. The bands members moved onto their other musical projects. In 1994 they toured with the original line-up without Terry Hall and Jerry Dammers. Roddy sang Terry's parts. The line-up changed in 1996. The band split again in 2001.
In 2008, The Specials officially announced that they would reform and embark on a 30th Anniversary Tour in 2009. The founding member, Jerry Dammers was not part of the reformed Specials and relationships between him and the rest of the band have remained sore, particularly on Dammers' side of things.
In January 2013, the Specials announced the departure of Neville Staple. In February 2014 it was revealed that another original member, Roddy Radiation, had left the reformed group. In spite of this, the Specials played an extensive tour in the autumn of 2014 with Steve Cradock as lead guitarist.
On 19th December 2022 it was announced that Terry Hall had passed away after a short illness. He was 63.
www.thespecials.com
It’s Up to You
The Specials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We won't go away, 'cos we've come out to stay
Stand there like parked cars if you want to
We can't force you to enjoy this music
Take it or leave it we'll carry on regardless
If you don't like it you don't have to use it
It's up to you, up to you
It's up to you, up to you
It's up to you, up to you
Looks like a case of the blind leading the deaf to me
You must be bored out of your pants
Take it or leave it we'll carry on regardless
If you don't like it you don't have to dance
It's up to you, up to you, black
It's up to you, up to you, white
It's up to you, up to you, unite
It's up to you, up to you, or fight
In London town you can hear the youth them say "Take warning"
It's up to you what you really wanna do
For you were standing on the corner giving trouble
When the policeman come he say you have to move on the double, yeah
So, steppin' up the street with my little rude girl
With her 'stay-pressed' to her ankles
It's up to her what she really wants to do
It's up to you, you and strictly you and you
What you gonna do, when morons come for you?
They won't go away, they want the whole world painted grey
It's up to you, up to you
It's up to you, up to you
It's up to you, up to you
It's up to you, up to you
The song "It's Up to You" by The Specials speaks to the listener in a confrontational and challenging manner, asking what they will do when guests who won't leave come over, and urging them to either embrace the music or not, but warning that the music will continue either way. The use of metaphors like "looks like a case of the blind leading the deaf to me" suggests that the singer feels the audience is missing something important that they should be understanding, and the line "you must be bored out of your pants" implies that they could be enjoying the music if they were open to it. The Coda ends with further warnings about choices: "It's up to you what you really wanna do," which seems to extend beyond just the music, to life choices in general.
The specific mention of London in the bridge, and the reference to trouble with police, suggests an underlying message about societal and cultural issues in the city at that time. The use of Jamaican patois, like "rude girl," and references to police and social troubles, suggests a connection with both the punk and ska/rocksteady subcultures of London in the 1970s. The song is an example of the British 2-tone movement, which sought to fuse punk rock and reggae music, as well as to promote racial unity and social justice.
Line by Line Meaning
What you gonna do, when guests drop in on you?
What will you do when unexpected visitors arrive?
We won't go away, 'cos we've come out to stay
We are here to stay, and we will not leave voluntarily.
Stand there like parked cars if you want to
If you choose not to participate, you may stand still like a parked car.
We can't force you to enjoy this music
We are unable to make you appreciate this music if you don't already.
Take it or leave it we'll carry on regardless
We will continue playing our music, regardless of your decision to stay or go.
If you don't like it you don't have to use it
If you don't enjoy our music, you are free to leave.
It's up to you, up to you
The decision to enjoy our music or leave is yours and yours alone.
Looks like a case of the blind leading the deaf to me
I perceive a situation where neither side is really listening to the other.
You must be bored out of your pants
I suspect that you are extremely bored.
Take it or leave it we'll carry on regardless
Our band will continue playing, whether or not you choose to participate.
If you don't like it you don't have to dance
If you don't enjoy our music, you don't have to dance to it.
It's up to you, up to you, black
Whether or not to dance to our music is your decision, regardless of skin color.
It's up to you, up to you, white
Irrespective of your ethnicity, you are free to decide whether or not to enjoy our music.
It's up to you, up to you, unite
Join us or not, you are the arbiter of your own choices.
It's up to you, up to you, or fight
We won't force you to join or appreciate our music, but we'll fight for our right to play it.
In London town you can hear the youth them say "Take warning"
The youth of London have a message: Be cautious.
It's up to you what you really wanna do
It's your decision what actions you take.
For you were standing on the corner giving trouble
You may have caused or been involved in a disturbance while loitering.
When the policeman come he say you have to move on the double, yeah
When the police arrived, they ordered you to leave immediately.
So, steppin' up the street with my little rude girl
Strolling up the street with my confident woman.
With her 'stay-pressed' to her ankles
She is wearing trouser pants tailored to fit perfectly over her shoes.
It's up to her what she really wants to do
She is free to choose what she wants to do.
It's up to you, you and strictly you and you
Your choices are entirely yours to make.
What you gonna do, when morons come for you?
What action will you take when confronted by foolish or stupid people?
They won't go away, they want the whole world painted grey
These individuals are not satisfied until everything is bleak and dismal.
It's up to you, up to you
You are in control of how you respond and react.
Writer(s): John Edward Bradbury, Terry Hall, Jerry Dammers, Roderick James Byers, Lynval Golding, Stephen Graham Panter, Neville Egunton Staples
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thespecials
More music from The Specials: https://TheSpecials.lnk.to/Listen
@kayvancooten4657
Thanking you for your contribution to the music of my era.
RIP Terry Hall. 🕯💔🕊
@emmanuelsimon8874
When you were listening this LP at the first time, you knew that it was a masterpiece.
@arvinbrinas8732
Back in the nineties when i was a geek,
@paultaylor9934
No punks just Terry Hall ❤R.I.P. MY FRIEND.
@tao6866
Pretty sure you could call Terry Hall a punk.
@paultaylor9934
What can I say the best times of my life ❤❤❤❤❤
@GildaLee27
Rest in peace, Terry 🙏
@richardmiller3922
Still a great album, hasn't aged a bit.
@Janeybjournals
Getting mine out tomorrow to listen to it on vinyl and relive how it really felt x