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
Vote For Me
The Specials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be upright, decent and honest
To have our best interest at heart
You understand why we don't believe you
You're way too easy to see through
Not the best places to start
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
You're all so drunk on money and power
Inside your Ivory tower
Teaching us not to be smart
Making laws that serve to protect you
But we will never forget that
You tore our families apart
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
So if we vote for you, do you promise
To be upright, decent and honest
And take away all of the fear
You sit and wait for us to elect you
But all we'll do is reject you
Your politics bore us to tears
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
The Specials' song "Vote for Me" captures the band's quintessential elements of commentary on societal problems through their signature ska-punk sound. In this track, the band targets politicians and their corrupt ways of manipulating the public.
The song begins with a challenge to the politicians. The band asks if they promise to be "upright, decent, and honest" and "have our best interest at heart" if they get voted for. However, the politicians can't be trusted as they are easy to see through. The people who hold the ivory tower are drunk on money and power and are teaching people not to be smart. The laws that are being made don't protect the people; instead, they tear families apart.
The Specials' point here is to call people to action and make them aware of the corrupt practices of politicians. The chorus of the song reinforces this idea; there are no rocks at Rockaway beach, and all that glitters isn't gold. This means that appearances can be deceiving, and it's tough to trust anyone in power blindly. The band wants the people to choose carefully and not only vote but be informed about politics.
Overall, the song is a powerful critique of the political system and a call for people to take responsibility for their choices in leadership. With its upbeat, danceable rhythm and catchy chorus, it's a lively anthem that resonates with anyone who's tired of empty political promises.
Line by Line Meaning
If we vote for you, do you promise
Asking politicians if they are trustworthy and honorable
To be upright, decent and honest
To operate in a moral and ethical manner
To have our best interest at heart
To act in the best interests of the electorate, not oneself
You understand why we don't believe you
The electorate has lost faith in politicians
You're way too easy to see through
Politicians are transparent and predictable
Not the best places to start
A bad position for a political candidate to be in
There are no rocks at Rockaway Beach
Things are not what they seem
And all that glitters isn't gold
Things that appear valuable aren't always what they seem
You're all so drunk on money and power
Politicians are excessively motivated by money and power
Inside your Ivory tower
Politicians are isolated and disconnected from the people they serve
Teaching us not to be smart
Politicians discourage critical thinking and informed decisions
Making laws that serve to protect you
Politicians make laws that benefit themselves, not the electorate
But we will never forget that
The electorate has a long memory when it comes to political betrayals
You tore our families apart
Politicians have caused harm to families and communities through their policies
So if we vote for you, do you promise
Asking politicians for assurances of good behavior
And take away all of the fear
Promising to address the concerns of the electorate
You sit and wait for us to elect you
Politicians expect to be elected without earning voters' trust
But all we'll do is reject you
Voters are fed up with corrupt or ineffective politicians
Your politics bore us to tears
Politics is dull and uninspiring to most people
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Horace Panter, Lynval Golding, Nikolaj Torp Larsen, Terry Hall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amarok41
If we vote for you, do you promise
To be upright, decent and honest
To have our best interest at heart
You understand why we don't believe you
You're way too easy to see through
Not the best places to start
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
You're all so drunk on money and power
Inside your Ivory tower
Teaching us not to be smart
Making laws that serve to protect you
But we will never forget that
You tore our families apart
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
So if we vote for you, do you promise
To be upright, decent and honest
And take away all of the fear
You sit and wait for us to elect you
But all we'll do is reject you
Your politics bore us to tears
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
Solange Voiry
VÓTAME
Si te votamos, ¿prometes
Ser honrado, decente y honesto,
Y defender principalmente nuestros intereses?
¿Entiendes por qué no te creemos
Es demasiado fácil ver a través de ti.
Y esa no es la mejor manera de empezar.
No hay rocas en la playa de Rockaway (*)
Y todo lo que brilla no es oro
Estáis todos tan borrachos de dinero y de poder
Dentro de vuestra torre de marfil
Enseñándonos a no ser inteligentes
Haciendo leyes que solo sirven para protegeros a vosotros mismos
Pero nunca olvidaremos que
Destrozasteis nuestras familias
No hay rocas en la playa de Rockaway
Y todo lo que brilla no es oro
Así que, si te votamos, ¿nos prometes
Ser honrado, decente y honesto
Y quitarnos todo el miedo?
Te sientas y esperas a que te elijamos.
Pero lo que haremos será rechazarte
Porque tus políticas nos aburren hasta hacernos llorar
No hay rocas en la playa de Rockaway
Y todo lo que brilla no es oro.
(*) Rockaway Beach: Playa de Queens, Nueva York, conocida por ser la playa urbana de arena más extensa de los Estados Unidos.
Traducción libre: Liova37 (Fuente : https://errepublikaplaza.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/vote-for-me/)
Amarok41
If we vote for you, do you promise
To be upright, decent and honest
To have our best interest at heart
You understand why we don't believe you
You're way too easy to see through
Not the best places to start
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
You're all so drunk on money and power
Inside your Ivory tower
Teaching us not to be smart
Making laws that serve to protect you
But we will never forget that
You tore our families apart
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
So if we vote for you, do you promise
To be upright, decent and honest
And take away all of the fear
You sit and wait for us to elect you
But all we'll do is reject you
Your politics bore us to tears
There are no rocks at Rockaway beach
And all that glitters isn't gold
Jonathan Hadley
Voting is just a token gesture
Phil Abbott
Brilliant
pyrogian
NO THEY WONT
Kristian Hardiman
Love it. The Specials were all about cutting edge music and the music they produced reflects society at that time. It would be an insult to their music and their craft if they chucked out a classic 2tone sounding album, as tempting as it would be. Instead they have produced something that reflects 2019, whilst keeping true to their core music credentials. I'm guilty to thinking that they would probably mess up this album. I should have known better
Mark Gillespie
Bang on. Encore expands their legacy, I still listen to it alot, several years on, there are are some top tracks on there.
Jonathan Hadley
john wick As a Weller fan I disagree both The Jam & The Specials were telling it like it was & is more so the latter Social & Political songs doesnt have to be ramned down your throat Weller during The Style Council & his solo years has been more subtle in his approach!
LouFiasco
@john wick salty much mate? how was your band?
john wick
Kristian Hardim...The Specials were boring and depressing (all reggae influenced music is) The Jam were the only band that mattered then!
Mark Boothroyd
Are you crazy?? We want two tone sounding Specials. Those were the best days of music ever to exist