The Teen Idles were among the first punk rock groups from the early 1980s hardcore movement to break out of their regional scene to tour and sell nationally. Inspired by other American punk bands like The Cramps, Bad Brains and Black Flag, The Teen Idles' music was an early version of hardcore punk, and an attempt, in the words of MacKaye, "to get away from a really corrupted music". Their appearances, lyrics and musical style sought to revive a punk movement that they believed had lost its original zeal.
Fleeting Fury
The Teen Idles Lyrics
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Cries of fury in the United Kingdom
Started out loud, started out young
Started out poor and just for fun
Tales of youth fighting back
Just another load of crap
The clothes you wear have lost their sting
So's the fury in the songs you sing
Making sure you're seen in the public eye
You're acting mean, you're acting tough
You shoud have been happy with just enough
A loaded pistol at your head
You won't be satisfied 'til you're dead
Playing your game, apparent cheap thrills
An image to live by, an image that kills
There goes your fury, out the door
Don't expect our respect anymore
In the song "Fleeting Fury" by The Teen Idles, the lyrics speak of the cries of anarchy, freedom, and fury in the United Kingdom. The song reflects on the punk rock movement which arose in the UK during the 1970s. The Teen Idles, hailing from Washington, D.C., were influenced by this movement and this song seems like a critique of the punk rock subculture. The lyrics suggest that what started out as a genuine youth movement with messages of rebellion against the government and society, has now turned into a shallow, superficial trend. The Teen Idles seem to be saying that what was supposed to amount to something more has instead become simply a show of aggression and dressing to impress.
The lines "The clothes you wear have lost their sting, So's the fury in the songs you sing" suggest that punk rock clothing and music have lost their original power and meaning. Some members of the movement became more concerned with the image they projected, rather than the music and message they were trying to convey. The lyrics "An image to live by, an image that kills" suggests that the punk rock subculture has become too caught up with creating an image and has lost sight of its original intention. The Teen Idles seem to be suggesting that the punk rock movement has become a caricature of itself and is no longer a part of a genuine youth rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Cries of anarchy, cries of freedom
There are cries for freedom and anarchy happening
Cries of fury in the United Kingdom
There are also cries of fury in the United Kingdom
Started out loud, started out young
The movement started loud and at a young age
Started out poor and just for fun
It started from a place of poverty and was initially just a form of entertainment
Tales of youth fighting back
The movement is about youth taking a stand and fighting back
Just another load of crap
However, some people see this movement as meaningless and a waste of time
The clothes you wear have lost their sting
The clothing style associated with the movement has lost its impact and no longer holds any meaning
So's the fury in the songs you sing
The anger and intensity conveyed in the movement's songs have also lost their impact
Walking with a goose-step, rose up high
Some individuals associated with the movement carry themselves in a show-offish and arrogant manner
Making sure you're seen in the public eye
They want to make sure they are highly visible in public and are seeking attention
You're acting mean, you're acting tough
People see through the facade of toughness and meanness that some associated with the movement put up
You shoud have been happy with just enough
Others believe that they should have been content with having just enough
A loaded pistol at your head
The movement is so intense and extreme that it's like having a loaded pistol pointed at your head
You won't be satisfied 'til you're dead
Some individuals are so invested in the movement that they won't be satisfied until they've died for the cause
Playing your game, apparent cheap thrills
To some, the movement seems like a cheap form of entertainment, rather than a significant cause to fight for
An image to live by, an image that kills
The image associated with the movement is so powerful that it can be lethal
There goes your fury, out the door
The fury and intensity associated with the movement has dissipated
Don't expect our respect anymore
As the movement has lost its impact and appeal, people are no longer respecting it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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