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
Too Hot
The Specials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This town is too hot
Now they're calling for their guns
About to spoil the rude boys' funs
But rude boys never give up their guns
It's too hot (too hot, too hot)
No, man
Pound for pound
They say they're ruder than you (too hot, too hot)
They are the boss
And no back down (too hot, too hot)
You might have a couple you like
Choose your burial site
Take insurance, make up your will
Come out and tell them, find them
The soldiers came back to you
Without them
The police force are afraid
They can't even touch them
They say "you think you're bad?"
"Why don't you come out yourself" (too hot, too hot)
These boys are calling for a fight, fighting tonight, they don't lie
It's too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
Too hot
The song Too Hot by The Specials is about the tensions and violence between the police and the rude boys in 1980s Jamaica. The lyrics describe the heat, both literally and metaphorically, that the rude boys bring to the town. They are so dangerous that even the police are afraid of them, and the soldiers have to be called in to deal with them. The rude boys are described as being so tough and violent that no one can control them, and they are daring the police and soldiers to come out and fight.
The song speaks to the larger issues of poverty, unemployment, and social inequality that led to the emergence of the rude boy subculture in Jamaica. The rude boys were young men who felt they had no future in their society, and so turned to violence and gang activity as a way to assert themselves and gain some kind of power. The song acknowledges the fact that the rude boys are dangerous and violent, but also implies that they are a product of a system that has failed them.
The repeated refrain of "too hot" suggests that the situation is boiling over, and that something has to give. The rude boys are not going to back down, and the police and soldiers are not going to let them continue their violent ways. The tension is palpable, and the song captures that sense of danger and unease that must have been pervasive in 1980s Jamaica.
Line by Line Meaning
Too hot
The situation is extremely tense and dangerous
This town is too hot
The town is becoming too dangerous and violent
Now they're calling for their guns
The police or soldiers are arming themselves
About to spoil the rude boys' funs
They are trying to put an end to the rude boys' disruptive behavior
But rude boys never give up their guns
Rude boys are very stubborn and will not surrender their weapons
It's too hot (too hot, too hot)
The situation is extremely tense and dangerous
No, man
Can tell them what to do (too hot, too hot)
They will not listen to anyone trying to control their actions
Pound for pound
They say they're ruder than you (too hot, too hot)
They believe they are tougher and more aggressive than anyone else
They are the boss
And no back down (too hot, too hot)
They are in charge and refuse to be intimidated
You might have a couple you like
Choose your burial site
Take insurance, make up your will
Come out and tell them, find them
If you want to challenge them, be prepared to face the consequences, including death
The soldiers came back to you
Without them
The police force are afraid
They can't even touch them
The soldiers and police are powerless against the rude boys
They say "you think you're bad?"
"Why don't you come out yourself" (too hot, too hot)
They are daring anyone to confront them directly
These boys are calling for a fight, fighting tonight, they don't lie
It's too hot
The rude boys are looking for a fight and it's getting too dangerous
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
(Too hot) too hot
The situation is extremely tense and dangerous
Too hot
The situation is extremely tense and dangerous
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cecil Campbell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@julyanahafizanjohan4976
Too Hot
This town is too hot
Now they're calllin' for their guns
About to spoil the rude boys funs
But rude boys never give up their guns
It's too hot
No man, can tell them what to do
Pound for pound
They say, they're ruder than you
They are boss, and no back talk
You might have a coffin you like
Choose your burial site
Take insurance, make up your will
Come out and tell them
Fight them
The soldiers came back to you, without them
The police force are afraid
They can't even touch them
They say "You think you're bad?"
"Why don't you come out yourself?"
These boys are looking for a fight
Fighting tonight
They don't lie
It's too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot, Too hot
Too hot.
@thespecials
More music from The Specials: https://TheSpecials.lnk.to/Listen
@Dr.Snooze-gt5yg
Canada were shhhh
No guns
See what becomes
@fingerprint5511
I was 15 with a skinhead loving this band, now 50's, loving them. RIP Terry
@sssidney
First heard The Specials when I was 13 and played my Specials tape on my Walkman over and over.I’m 50 now and I’m still listening to them but not in a Walkman haha
@andrewmckeever552
Let me hazard a guess - the old yellow sony walkman? Im 47, 13 was when i first heard them too. Hahaha. Walkman was the best way to listen to music back then. I remember always keeping an eye on the red light, batt power. Hahahaha. Its easier to listen to music now!
@joyful_tanya
55 here! So glad I found them on YT.
@Hookeniggy
Same here, on my walkman, 5 am in the morning on my Sony walkman doing my paper route, eventually on my moped, never noticed the exhaust fell of the bike one day, i was to buzzy listening to the specials, so it became the wake up route for lots of people on sundaymorning haha
@ArchStantonT5
49 now and the same !.. 14 years old listennig The Specials on my aiwa black walkman...
@rickortiz17
Slc punk fans here in 2021
@swiftireeves9388
That's right ❤️❤️