The band showed a diversity of musical styles. Singles "Speak Like a Child" (with its loud soul-influenced style), the extended funk of "Money-Go-Round", and the haunting synth-ballad "Long Hot Summer" all featured Talbot on keyboards and organ. Near the end of 1983, these songs were compiled on Introducing The Style Council, a mini-album initially released in Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States only. The Dutch version was heavily imported to the United Kingdom.
In 1984, the single "My Ever-Changing Moods", backed with the Hammond organ instrumental "Mick's Company", reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song remains Weller's greatest success on the American charts (including his efforts in The Jam and as a solo artist), while the group reached the peak of its success in the United Kingdom with the 1985 album Our Favourite Shop.
To Weller's fans, the decision to split up The Jam at the height of their commercial success was met with considerable controversy[citation needed]. Weller deliberately distanced himself from The Jam's sound and style, with his use of new musical arrangements and instruments in a much slicker, more heavily produced style. In the place of the Bruce Foxton-Rick Buckler rhythm section were drum and bass parts done entirely on synthesisers.
Structurally, many of the band's early singles were not far removed from The Jam's latter-day soul-pop efforts such as "Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender", but they were often criticised as overproduced, despite Weller's impressive songwriting[citation needed]. Also, many observers saw even the early albums as indulgent and overly experimental; Trouser Press called Café Bleu "too schizophrenic to be a good album".
The Style Council took a more overtly political approach than The Jam in their lyrics, with tracks such as "Walls Come Tumbling Down", "The Lodgers", and "Come To Milton Keynes" being deliberate attacks on 'middle England' and Thatcherite principles prevalent in the Eighties. Weller was also instrumental in the formation of Red Wedge with Billy Bragg. However, he later said that this began to detract from the music: "We were involved with a lot of political things going on at that time. I think after a while that overshadowed the music a bit"
In 1986, the band released a live album, Home and Abroad, and, in 1987, the album The Cost of Loving was launched, followed later in the year by the upbeat non-album single "Wanted", which reached #20 in the United Kingdom. However, Confessions of a Pop Group, released a year later, sold poorly. This led to their record label Polydor rejecting their final album (Modernism: A New Decade), which was heavily influenced by the contemporary house scene. A greatest hits album, appropriately called The Singular Adventures of The Style Council, was released internationally in 1989; it included the non-album single "Promised Land", which had reached #27 in the United Kingdom earlier that year.
In 1989 members of The Style Council went under the name of King Truman to release a single on Acid Jazz titled "Like A Gun". This was unbeknown to Polydor and the single was pulled from the shops only 3 days prior to release. Acid Jazz founder Eddie Piller said "The pair offered to make a single for my new label, which I'd just started with Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson as a side project. Mick and Paul took pseudonyms Truman King and Elliott Arnold." [1]
The Style Council broke up in 1989. The cover of "Promised Land" (originally by Joe Smooth) was the only release which surfaced from the Modernism sessions at the time; however, the entire album was released in 1998, both independently and in a 5-CD box set, The Complete Adventures Of The Style Council. After the split, Weller embarked on a successful solo career (still featuring Steve White on drums, who had left The Style Council by the time Confessions of a Pop Group was released, having only played on a few of its tracks). Talbot and White released two albums as Talbot/White — United States of Mind (1995) and Off The Beaten Track (1996). More recently, Mick Talbot and Steve White have formed The Players with Damon Minchella and Aziz Ibrahim.
All of The Style Council's UK releases (including singles, 12" maxis, albums, compact discs and re-issues thereof) featured the work of graphic designer Simon Halfon, who often collaborated with Weller to hone his ideas into a graphic form. Weller and Halfon began working together at the end of The Jam's career, and continue to work together to this day on Weller's solo material.
Since 2007, the song "Walls Come Tumbling Down" has been used as the theme song for the German TV series Dr. Psycho – Die Bösen, die Bullen, meine Frau und ich.
Lodgers
The Style Council Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're batting on pickets, trying to even the score
It's all inclusive, the dirt comes free
And you can be all that you want to be
Oh an equal chance and an equal pay
But equally there's no equal pay
There's room on top, if you tow the line
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind
There's only room for those the same
Those who play the leeches game
Don't get settled in this place
The lodger's terms are in disgrace
Get 'cha brains blown out, in a captain's mess
Stand for the queen if you can stand the test
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
Oh if you work hard you can be the boss
But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss
There's room on top, if you dig in low
And the idea is what they reap you sow
With an old school tie and a reference
You can cover up crimes in their defense
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
The Style Council's song "Lodgers" is a commentary on the harsh realities of living in a society that favors the privileged few while creating impossible hurdles for the poor. The lyrics make a scathing critique of the status quo, highlighting the hypocrisy of those in power who claim to offer equal opportunities to all, but in reality, crush the hopes and aspirations of those who are not born into wealth and privilege.
The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the line "No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor." This line suggests that the society that the song describes is one in which the rich and powerful are actively engaged in a battle to subjugate the poor. The lyrics go on to describe a world in which the playing field is far from level. While the rich and powerful claim to offer an "equal chance and an equal pay," the reality is that "equally there's no equal pay." The song is calling out the hypocrisy of a system that claims to be merit based, while perpetuating systemic inequality that keeps the vast majority of people disenfranchised.
The second verse of the song gets even more explicit in its critique of the system. The lyrics describe a world where there is only room for those who play the "leeches game" and where even those who work hard may never make it to the top. The chorus warns the listener not to get too comfortable in this world, reminding them that the lodger's terms are in disgrace. The final verse of the song warns that even those who seem to have made it to the top are often complicit in the system and are willing to cover up crimes and defend the status quo.
Overall, "Lodgers" is a powerful statement on the need for greater equality and fairness in our society. The song makes clear that the promise of equal opportunity is far from being fulfilled and that those in power are more interested in maintaining the status quo than in creating a more just and equitable world.
Line by Line Meaning
No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor
The powerful don't care about the well-being of the less fortunate; they only want to maintain their own power.
They're batting on pickets, trying to even the score
The rich and powerful are fighting against unions and worker's rights in order to maintain their own wealth.
It's all inclusive, the dirt comes free
Everything is packaged together, including the lies and deceit that come along with the benefits.
And you can be all that you want to be
The system makes it appear that anyone can achieve their dreams, but the reality is far from that.
Oh an equal chance and an equal pay
The ideal of equality is preached, but it's not actually put into practice.
But equally there's no equal pay
Even though the idea of equal pay is talked about, it's not actually implemented in the workplace.
There's room on top, if you tow the line
If you follow the rules and play the game, you might be able to climb the social ladder.
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind
The system is rigged, and if you believe in its promises, you're not seeing the bigger picture.
There's only room for those the same
The system only welcomes those who fit a certain idea of what is desirable, often determined by factors like education and social status.
Those who play the leeches game
People who are willing to take advantage of others and suck up to those in power.
Don't get settled in this place
Don't become complacent within the rigged system, or risk being trapped in a cycle of poverty and exploitation.
The lodger's terms are in disgrace
The terms of the system are shameful and unfair.
Get 'cha brains blown out, in a captain's mess
In order to succeed within the system, you might have to sacrifice your individuality and intelligence.
Stand for the queen if you can stand the test
In order to fit in and achieve success, you might be required to swear loyalty to the state and its symbols.
Oh if you work hard you can be the boss
The system perpetuates the myth of the American dream - i.e. if you work hard enough, you'll be successful - even though that's not necessarily true in reality.
But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss
Those in power don't actually care about the well-being of the working class, so if they can't work, the rich don't see it as their problem.
There's room on top, if you dig in low
If you're willing to compromise your values and work within the corrupt system, you might be able to make it to the top.
And the idea is what they reap you sow
The system is built on the idea that if you put in enough work and play by the rules, you'll be rewarded with success. In reality, however, that's not always the case.
With an old school tie and a reference
Those with connections and a certain background are given preferential treatment in the system.
You can cover up crimes in their defense
The powerful will protect their own, even if it means covering up immoral or illegal acts.
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
The corrupt system is packaged together with lies, deception, and propaganda.
And you can be all that they want you to be
In order to succeed, you might have to conform to the system's expectations and sacrifice your own morals and values.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MICK TALBOT, PAUL WELLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fabiocasa843
No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor
They're batting on pickets, trying to even the score
It's all inclusive, the dirt comes free
And you can be all that you want to be
Oh an equal chance and an equal pay
But equally there's no equal pay
There's room on top, if you tow the line
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind
There's only room for those the same
Those who play the leeches game
Don't get settled in this place
The lodger's terms are in disgrace
Get 'cha brains blown out, in a captain's mess
Stand for the queen if you can stand the test
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
Oh if you work hard you can be the boss
But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss
There's room on top, if you dig in low
And the idea is what they reap you sow
With an old school tie and a reference
You can cover up crimes in their defense
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
@rolloooo
Dont get settled in this place
The lodgers terms are a disgrace
No peace for the wicked - only war on the poor
They're batting on pickets - trying to even the score
It's all inclusive - the dirt comes free
And you can be all that you want to be
Oh an equal chance and an equal say
But equally there's no equal pay
There's room on top - if you toe the line
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind
There's only room for those the same
Those who play the leeches game
Don't get settled in this place
The lodger's terms are in disgrace
Getcha brains blown out - in a captain's mess
Stand for the Queen if you can stand the test
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
Oh if you work hard you can be the boss
But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss
There's room on top - if you dig in low
And the idea is what they reap, you sow
With an old school tie and a reference
You can cover up crimes in their defence
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
@StevieRevbo
The Lodger's
The Style Council
No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor
They're batting on pickets, trying to even the score
It's all inclusive, the dirt comes free
And you can be all that you want to be
Oh an equal chance and an equal pay
But equally there's no equal pay
There's room on top, if you tow the line
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind
There's only room for those the same
Those who play the leeches game
Don't get settled in this place
The lodger's terms are in disgrace
Get 'cha brains blown out, in a captain's mess
Stand for the queen if you can stand the test
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
Oh if you work hard you can be the boss
But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss
There's room on top, if you dig in low
And the idea is what they reap you sow
With an old school tie and a reference
You can cover up crimes in their defense
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
And you can be all that they want you to be
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Mick Talbot / Paul Weller
@AHC63
They had such a unique sound - Paul Weller is a great musician.
@loveandpeach2217
I've been enjoying this song for over 30 years!
This is one of my favorite song of the style council.
Awesome!!!
@muripa
Passei quase 30 anos tentando descobrir o nome desta música e quem a canta. Finalmente, a descoberta aconteceu em 13/06/2022!
@persona83
Nunca é tarde demais. 😆
@sidney.3449
Demorou mas chegou🎉
@michaelrawling4187
This album version of the lodger is better than the other version
@min3008
absolutely!!!!
@myronheller6165
TOTALLY agree!...🎶🎼🎵
@SFHikaru
YES！
@tednorton5150
I can't fathom why they were unhappy with the drum machine and sequencing on this. It's fucking brilliant and SWINGS. I have to admit Paul's guitar work on the re-cut and live versions was very very nice but this is my preferred version.