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.
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The Man With No Name
The Specials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When he puts out his hand, yeah he's an angry young man
You say he don't feel no pain 'cos he's the man with no name
And the streets are his bed every night
And the boots on his feet, they walk a long lonely street
To the Heartbreak Hotel, out on highway to hell
You say he don't feel no pain 'cos he's the man with no name
And yet the streets are his bed every night
Oh why should we care?
It's another world out there
But could you change your point of view
It could be me, it could be you
Under bushes in the park, and shop doorways after dark
And all the losers and the lost, just surviving in Jack Frost
You say they don't feel no pain, all them people without no name
And yet the streets are their bed every night
Say she don't feel no pain, when she's out there on the game
Yeah she walks along this street every night
I say you don't feel no pain 'cos you're the man with no name
And I wonder how you can sleep at night
The Specials’ song The Man With No Name is a commentary on the plight of those who society has abandoned. The lyrics paint a picture of a young man, the titular “man with no name,” who is forced to survive on the streets. The song juxtaposes the harsh reality of the streets that he must endure with the common perception that he doesn’t feel any pain. The lyrics suggest that society at large tends to overlook those who are forced to live on the streets, and that this lack of empathy can only lead to more suffering for those who are already marginalized.
The song is a poignant reminder that, even as we go about our daily lives, there are countless people who are struggling to survive. The chorus encourages us to change our perspective, and to recognize that the man with no name could just as easily be any one of us. The song also addresses the plight of women who are forced to survive on the streets, acknowledging that they too are often forgotten by society.
Overall, The Man With No Name is a powerful commentary on social inequality and the need for greater empathy and understanding. The lyrics remind us that, as a society, we can and must do better.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in the heat and the dust, well survival is tough
Living in a hot and dusty environment is difficult and challenging.
When he puts out his hand, yeah he's an angry young man
The man is angry and frustrated and shows it in his behavior.
You say he don't feel no pain 'cos he's the man with no name
People assume that the man is immune to pain because he is unknown and invisible to society.
And the streets are his bed every night
The man is homeless and sleeps on the streets every night.
And the boots on his feet, they walk a long lonely street
The man walks on a long and lonely road, probably looking for a better life.
To the Heartbreak Hotel, out on highway to hell
The man is traveling to a place where he will experience more pain and suffering.
Oh why should we care?
The singer questions why society should care about people like the man with no name or the homeless.
It's another world out there
The man's world is different from the artist's and the rest of society's world.
But could you change your point of view
The artist asks listeners to change their perspective and try to empathize with the man and others like him.
It could be me, it could be you
The artist suggests that anyone could end up in the man's situation and become homeless.
Under bushes in the park, and shop doorways after dark
Homeless people often seek shelter in public places like parks and closed shops.
And all the losers and the lost, just surviving in Jack Frost
Homeless people are often seen as losers and lost in society and struggle to survive in harsh weather conditions.
Say she don't feel no pain, when she's out there on the game
Prostitutes are often assumed to be immune to pain because of their lifestyle.
Yeah she walks along this street every night
The woman referred to in the previous line is a prostitute who walks on the same street every night.
I say you don't feel no pain 'cos you're the man with no name
The singer is now talking directly to the man with no name and suggesting that he is not immune to pain.
And I wonder how you can sleep at night
The artist questions how the man can find comfort and rest when he lives in such difficult circumstances.
Contributed by Michael N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.