There are at least four artists with this name.

1. The System are e… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four artists with this name.

1. The System are electrosoul/R&B duo David Frank and Mic Murphy.
The duo recorded their biggest hit "Don't Disturb This Groove" in 1987 and later that decade featured another notable track entitled "Coming To America" as featured in the movie of the same name. "You Are In My System" was another hit from the band. They also worked as producers for acts like Chaka Khan ('I Feel For You'), Phil Collins ('Sussudio') and Mtume ('Juicy Fruit'). In 2013, they released a new album, "System Overload".

2. The System are an anarcho-punk band formed in the summer of 1980 having messed around in various other bands since 1978. In 1981 they met a band called Flux Of Pink Indians, who helped them make their fist single - The Warfare EP. This was very successful and contained their anthem - The Dogs Of War. By Mid 1981 they were touring with Flux Of Pink Indians and the legendary Crass. They followed up with their second single - The System Is Murder. By This Time they were being recognized all over the UK, Europe and the USA.

3. In 1994 Anders Remmer (aka Dub Tractor), Thomas Knak (aka Opiate) og Jesper Skaaning (aka Acustic) met around the compilation series 'Boredom Is Deep And Mysterious', which they were compiling for April Records. After having used the name D.A.W.N. for a while, they changed their name to Future 3.
With their cool minimalism and their intelligent mix of dub and ambient, Future 3 made quite an impact on the electronic scene at that time.
After Kruder & Dorfmeister listed Future 3´s debut album 'We Are the Future 3' as one of their top 5 albums of all time, the trio were catapulted into the collective consciousness of lovers of electronic music. Since the early Future 3-days, the trio has found pleasure in experimenting with different electronic genres of the day, from the melodic dub-ambient on the debut 'We are the Future 3' to the understated escapades into drum´n´bass on their breakthrough hit: 'The Boy From West Bronx' from 1998´s 'Stay With'.
Where 'Like...' from 2001 was close to being pop-electronica (with vocals by Jonas Bjerre of Mew among others), the 'System' album from 2002 (released on Scape) saw the trio break away from the melodicism that had characterized their work since the beginning. The sound on the album was so strikingly different that the group felt a new name, System, was necessary.
Due to each group member's solo output and label involvement, new group-material from Denmarks 3 electronic pioneers has become a quite rare experience. Many of Anders Remmer´s Dub Tractor releases on City Center Offices as well as Thomas Knak´s Opiate releases on April, Morr Music and Raster Noton (with Alva Noto as Opto) has long been acclaimed as milestones in modern electronic music. Thomas Knak has also been busy with his Hobby Industries label, producing for Björk on the Vespertine album as well as remixing for Efterklang, Sketch Show and Ryuichi Sakamoto. And then there is Jesper Skaanings´s Acustic project, which was featured on Rump in 2005 with the 'Welcome' album.
In a way Systems 'Tempo EP' continues the sound of the System album on Scape, only this time presented in a slightly faster tempo, hence the title. It´s no secret that the group have been listening to two-step and dub-step, but instead of being a rip off of the genre, System incorporates the UK-styles into their own sound universe, creating something that sounds much more like System than like Skream.

4. The System are a little-known UK group masterminded by Bob Lamb, a cult figure in Birmingham's music history (he played as a drummer throughout the late sixties and into the late seventies for a number of progressive rock bands and helped produce UB40 and Duran Duran's earlier works). The short lived group released only one album ‘Logic' and a single in 1983 on the obscure electronic French label ‘Romantic Records’. This distinctively forward thinking new wave/synth pop album was met with poor reception and eventually dwindled into obscurity. Nonetheless the album's revolutionary exploration in sound and outstanding production value in addition to the band’s gift of writing deeply emotive, yearning pop tunes, make it sound though perhaps more relevant today than many other far more successful albums of it's time. The System EP was reissued on Music From Memory in 2016.

Escape
The System Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I needed the money, so I got a day job
Life as a chain gang, I'm workin' too hard
I can see freedom
But I'm stuck on the inside
Monday through Friday I'm
Playin' this nine-to-five

You can free yourself, you can overcome pain

You can save yourself from the pouring rain

I can't wait! 'Til I'm makin' my escape

Stuck in these four walls
Feelin' like a prisoner
Got up the courage, I try for a new start
I get away, I'm headin' for the good times
Life is a shot when there's
Happiness on the line

You can free yourself, you can overcome pain
You can save yourself, get on the night train

I can't wait! 'Til I'm makin' my escape
I can't wait! I can't wait!
I can't wait!

Stuck in these four walls
Feelin' like a prisoner
I got up the courage, I try for a new start

(You got to be right)
You can free yourself, you can overcome pain
(You've got to make your escape)
You can save yourself, get on the night train
(You've got to make your escape)
I can't wait!
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
'Til I'm makin' my escape

You can free yourself, you can overcome pain
(You've got to make your escape)

You can save yourself, get on the night train
(You've got to make)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The System's song "Escape" depict the struggles of being trapped in a mundane and unfulfilling daily routine. The singer expresses their desperation for change, as they need money and have resorted to a regular job that feels like a prison. They yearn for freedom and a life outside of the monotony they currently find themselves in.

The first verse highlights the contrast between the desire for freedom and the reality of being stuck in a routine. The singer acknowledges that they can see the possibility of freedom, but they are confined to the nine-to-five grind. The lyrics suggest that the motivation for working this job is solely for financial reasons, reinforcing the notion that they feel trapped and burdened by this situation.

The chorus further emphasizes the longing for escape. The repetition of the phrase "I can't wait!" reflects the urgency and excitement the singer feels about breaking free from their current circumstances. The mention of being stuck in four walls and feeling like a prisoner further illustrates the metaphorical imprisonment they experience, longing for a fresh start and the promise of happiness that lies outside.

In the second verse, the singer shows a glimmer of hope. They gather the courage to make a new start, signaling a desire for change and a willingness to break free from their current situation. They anticipate the good times and the excitement that comes with pursuing a different path in life, emphasizing the idea that escaping their current circumstances will bring them a sense of fulfillment and vitality.

Throughout the song, there is a recurring theme of self-empowerment. The lyrics suggest that it is possible to free oneself, overcome pain, and save oneself from the pouring rain. This hints at the idea that the power to change one's life lies within their own hands. The reference to getting on the night train further symbolizes the idea of leaving behind the darkness and moving towards a brighter future.

In conclusion, "Escape" by The System delves into the desire for liberation and the longing for a more fulfilling life outside the confines of a monotonous routine. It encourages listeners to take control of their own destiny and seek happiness, reminding them that they have the power to break free from the metaphorical prison and embark on a new journey.

Line by Line Meaning

I needed the money, so I got a day job
I had financial obligations, so I took on a regular job to earn income

Life as a chain gang, I'm workin' too hard
My work feels like an exhausting routine that restricts my freedom

I can see freedom
I can envision a life of liberation and independence

But I'm stuck on the inside
Unfortunately, I feel trapped and unable to break free

Monday through Friday I'm
On weekdays, I spend my time

Playin' this nine-to-five
Engaged in the monotonous daily grind of a regular job

You can free yourself, you can overcome pain
It is possible to liberate oneself from any form of suffering or hardship

You can save yourself from the pouring rain
You have the ability to protect yourself from challenging or adverse circumstances

I can't wait! 'Til I'm makin' my escape
I eagerly anticipate the day when I can break free and pursue my desired lifestyle

Stuck in these four walls
Trapped within the confines of my current situation

Feelin' like a prisoner
Experiencing a sense of confinement and restriction

Got up the courage, I try for a new start
Summoning the bravery to seek a fresh beginning

I get away, I'm headin' for the good times
Once I escape my current circumstances, I will pursue a more joyous and fulfilling life

Life is a shot when there's
Every moment becomes exciting and full of opportunities when

Happiness on the line
I prioritize my well-being and contentment

You can save yourself, get on the night train
You have the chance to rescue yourself and embark on a journey towards liberation

I can't wait! 'Til I'm makin' my escape
I am eagerly anticipating the moment I can break free and pursue my desired lifestyle

I can't wait! I can't wait!
My excitement and anticipation are overwhelming

Stuck in these four walls
Trapped within the confines of my current situation

Feelin' like a prisoner
Experiencing a sense of confinement and restriction

I got up the courage, I try for a new start
I summoned the bravery to seek a fresh beginning

(You got to be right)
(You need to make sure you make the right choices)

You can free yourself, you can overcome pain
It is within your power to liberate yourself and conquer adversity

(You've got to make your escape)
(You must find a way to break free from your current situation)

You can save yourself, get on the night train
You have the ability to rescue yourself by embarking on a journey towards liberation

(You've got to make your escape)
(You must find a way to break free from your current situation)

I can't wait!
I am filled with impatience and eagerness

(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
(Instrumental ad-lib)

'Til I'm makin' my escape
Until I successfully break free and start anew

You can free yourself, you can overcome pain
It is possible to liberate yourself and triumph over suffering

(You've got to make your escape)
(You must find a way to break free from your current situation)

You can save yourself, get on the night train
You have the option to rescue yourself by boarding the metaphorical night train to liberation

(You've got to make)
(You must take decisive action)

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

The Fairy Penguinos

4y↑4

the intro to this song is just incredible. I see where Japanese RPG video game composers from the late 80s early 90s got their inspiration lol ... sounds like entrance to boss fight or into crystal caverns. The sound is so awesome I can't even contain my excitement whenever I listen to this. Too cool.

dwightddddd

8y↑10

So many mainstream pop bands where listening to The System and copying things and they never got the credit for the influence they had.
Great band.

Thanks for the upload.

The Fairy Penguinos

4y↑2

sounds like my theme song. In 5th grade I realized how trapped one feels, going to school day in and day out, same schedule, following someone else's orders. This continues on to after graduation when it's the same thing all over again. Escape from it when the opportunity comes!

Funk Rocker

3y↑1

Big smile on my face when the chorus came in. It just took me all the way back to 1984 and all the beautiful memories and the beautiful music that came out during that time. Reminded me of Howard Jones music also.