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.
The 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 Lodgers" by The Style Council is a politically charged song that addresses the societal issues of inequality, greed, and corruption. The lyrics speak to the idea that there is no peace for the poor, only war. The powerful and wealthy are the ones who hold the power and the poor are left to fend for themselves. The idea of equal opportunity is a fallacy, as the reality is that there is no such thing as equal pay, only room at the top if one is willing to tow the line. The song exposes the truth that there is only room for those who are willing to play the game and suck up to the powerful. Those who refuse to conform are unwelcome and will ultimately be exploited and discarded.
The song also touches on the notion that society is built on a foundation of lies and deception. If one works hard, they can become the boss, but if they refuse to work the system, they will be left behind. The song highlights that one can cover up their crimes if they are wealthy and connected, but for those who lack power, there is no recourse. The lyrics are particularly timely given the current political climate and the widening wealth gap between the rich and poor.
Line by Line Meaning
No peace for the wicked, only war on the poor
The poor are constantly being targeted with violence, and there is no peace in sight.
They're batting on pickets, trying to even the score
The poor are struggling to level the playing field.
It's all inclusive, the dirt comes free
Everyone's included, but there's a price to pay.
And you can be all that you want to be
You have the freedom to be whoever you want, but there are limitations.
Oh an equal chance and an equal pay
Everyone has an equal opportunity and should be paid the same.
But equally there's no equal pay
Despite claims of equal pay, there is still significant income inequality.
There's room on top, if you tow the line
There are opportunities for advancement, but you have to follow the rules.
And if you believe all this you must be out of your mind
If you accept the status quo without question, you're foolish.
There's only room for those the same
Conformity is valued over individuality.
Those who play the leeches game
Those who exploit the system for personal gain.
Don't get settled in this place
Don't get too comfortable with the current situation.
The lodger's terms are in disgrace
The people in power are behaving in a shameful manner.
Get 'cha brains blown out, in a captain's mess
You'll suffer the consequences for going against those in power.
Stand for the queen if you can stand the test
You must be loyal to those in power or face the consequences.
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
You're given everything on the surface, but there are hidden costs.
And you can be all that they want you to be
You're expected to conform to the expectations of those in power.
Oh if you work hard you can be the boss
There is a chance for advancement, but it requires hard work.
But if you don't work at all then that's nobody's loss
If you don't contribute, you won't be missed.
There's room on top, if you dig in low
You can succeed if you're willing to sacrifice your morals.
And the idea is what they reap you sow
The people in power benefit from your hard work.
With an old school tie and a reference
Connections and references are essential for success.
You can cover up crimes in their defense
People in power can protect you if it suits them.
It's all thrown in and the lies come free
Promises are made, but there is no follow-through.
And you can be all that they want you to be
Conformity is expected, and individuality is discouraged.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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.