Racist Friend
The Specials Lyrics


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If you have a racist friend
Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end

Be it your sister
Be it your brother
Be it your cousin or your, uncle or your lover

If you have a racist friend
now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end

Be it your best friend
Or any other
Is it your husband or your father or your mother?

Tell them to change their views
Or change their friends
Now is the time, now is the time, for your friendship to end

So if you know a racist who thinks he is your friend
Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end

Call yourself my friend?
Now is the time to make up your mind, don't try to pretend

Be it your sister
Be it your brother
Be it your cousin or your uncle or your lover

So if you are a racist
Our friendship has got to end
And if your friends are racists don't pretend to be my friend

So if you have a racist friend
Now is the time, now is the time for our friendship to end





Goodbye

Overall Meaning

The song 'Racist Friend' by The Special A.K.A. is a protest against racism and prejudice. The song speaks about the need to end relationships with people who hold racist views, even if they are close family members, friends or lovers. The lyrics emphasize that the time for friendship with racists is over and that we need to take a stand against racism. The song insists that if you have a racist friend, it is time to end the friendship, whether it's your best friend, brother, sister, cousin, uncle or lover. It even goes on to suggest that if you are a racist, then the friendship with the singer needs to end. The song urges people to change their views or change their friends because there is simply no place for racism in our society.


The song was released in 1983 and became one of The Special A.K.A.'s biggest hits. The song was written by Jerry Dammers, the band's lead singer and keyboardist, who was known for his anti-racist activism. Dammers was inspired to write the song after attending an anti-racist demonstration in London. The song was a response to the rise of racism in England, and particularly the National Front, a far-right political movement that was gaining popularity at the time. The song was dedicated to Blair Peach, an anti-racist campaigner who was killed by police during a demonstration in London in 1979.


Line by Line Meaning

If you have a racist friend
If you associate with someone who holds prejudice against certain ethnic groups


Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end
It is imperative that you sever your friendship with them as soon as possible


Be it your sister
Whether they are your sibling, particularly your sister


Be it your brother
Whether they are your sibling, particularly your brother


Be it your cousin or your, uncle or your lover
Whether they are your cousin, uncle, or even romantic partner


Or any other
No matter the relation or connection you have with them


Is it your husband or your father or your mother?
Even if they are your spouse, parent, or any significant figure in your life


Tell them to change their views
Encourage them to rethink and reject their discriminatory beliefs


Or change their friends
If they refuse to change, then encourage them to seek out friendships with more tolerant people


So if you know a racist who thinks he is your friend
If you are acquainted with someone who holds prejudiced views and yet still calls themselves your friend


Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end
It is essential to terminate your association with them immediately


Call yourself my friend?
Are you really deserving of being regarded as my friend?


Now is the time to make up your mind, don't try to pretend
It is time to decide, and there is no sense in pretending to be something you are not


So if you are a racist
If you, yourself have prejudiced beliefs


Our friendship has got to end
Our friendship can no longer exist


And if your friends are racists don't pretend to be my friend
Furthermore, if those you associate with hold prejudiced beliefs, then you have no place among my friends


So if you have a racist friend
Once again, if you associate with someone who holds prejudice against certain ethnic groups


Now is the time, now is the time for our friendship to end
It is essential that we sever our friendship as soon as possible


Goodbye
Farewell




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Dick Cuthell, Jerry Dammers, John Edward Bradbury

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@soulproduct6209

Classic tune and on point message from one of my favorite bands ever. Oh, and since a lot of people are asking who the band members are in this video, allow me to name them:

Stan Campbell: lead vocals
Rhoda Dakar: co-lead vocals
Egidio Newton: backup vocals
Jerry Dammers: keyboards
John Shipley: guitar
Gary McManus: bass #RIP
John Bradbury: Drums #RIP
Dick Cuthell: Flugelhorn



All comments from YouTube:

@RapBox

Great song.

@kevinsnazz

Such a relevant song right now.
Also, Rhoda Dakar is so beautiful.

@UnitK7

Oh, hey. Look At that, still relevant.

@kajakern268

Sadly, maybe more than for a long time. But at least something is chancing now.

@60framesorbust86

@Kajaker n It's always been relevant you twat, it's just now people give a shit (for the next few months)

@Halfrond44

Yup, even including a Wuhan shake at m1:30 to add to the 2020 vibes.

@kajakern268

@60FramesOrBust of course. :(
I hope, people will care much loger!

@ermatugade3771

Absolutely relevant! We muat recognize we will never completwly opress racism. So only associate ourselves with who we feel share common ground, everone else can go fuuk themselves.

9 More Replies...

@MsNooneinparticular

Not a single Specials song is irrelevant today...in fact most are even more on point now. Go back & listen to all 3 albums + their latest "Encore". All great material that never ages. Fun Boy Three is great as well.

@OverEducatedsp

You are a true fan. I just turned 50. I was turned onto these guys by my awesome cousins when I was 10! I TOTALLY AGREE! God, I miss good music.

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