The Vibrators recorded sessions at for John Peel at BBC Radio 1 in October 1976, June 1977, and February 1978. They were one of the pioneering punk bands that played at London's Roxy Club. They headlined in January 1977, supported by The Drones, and in February they played twice at the venue. In March 1977 the band supported Iggy Pop on his British tour. Later that year they backed ex-Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter.
The band signed to Epic Records in early 1977. Their debut album, Pure Mania was co-produced with Robin Mayhew, the sound engineer for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust live shows, and reached the Top 50 of the UK Albums Chart. The album is well regarded by some music critics and, 17 years after its release The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music named Pure Mania one of the 50 best punk albums of all time.
Their follow-up album, V2, narrowly missed the UK Top 30. The only single to be taken from that album, "Automatic Lover", was the only Vibrators’ single to reach the UK Top 40 where it reached #35. It earned the band a TV appearance on the prime-time TV show Top of the Pops. The Vibrators’ final single on Epic, "Judy Says (Knock You In The Head)", was released in June 1978. It reached #70 in the UK singles chart. Years later it was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.
A lack of further chart activity, and with only one UK Top 40 single to their credit, sees the Vibrators join the list of one-hit wonders; a list that includes other UK punk and new wave acts such as The Banned, John Cooper Clarke, The Flying Lizards, Jilted John, 999, the Radio Stars, and the Rich Kids.
During the 1980s, John Ellis recorded and toured frequently with Peter Hammill, and subsequently The Stranglers, eventually joining the latter full-time in the 1990s. Pat Collier went on to work closely with The Soft Boys, producing their seminal album, Underwater Moonlight, and Robyn Hitchcock, producing and mixing some of his solo albums (to which Knox also sometimes contributed). Despite numerous line-up changes, The Vibrators are still touring to this date as a three-piece, "Knox" and "Eddie" being the only original members.
Born To Lose
The Vibrators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This city is so cold
And I'm ... I'm so-so
That's why I know (I say hey)
Born to lose
Born to lose
Born to lose
Baby I was born to lose
And nothing to say
Only one thing that I know
It's the only way ... I said hit it!
Born to lose (I say hey)
Born to lose (I say hey)
Born to lose
Baby I was born to lose
baby I was born to lose
Living in a jungle
It ain't so hard
But living in the city
It'll eat out ... eat out your heart (I said hey)
Born to lose (I say hey)
Born to lose (I say hey)
Born to lose
Baby I was born to lose
Baby I was born to lose
Baby I was born to lose
Baby I was born to…
Guitar 4x
Born to lose
Born to lose
Born to lose
Baby I'm born too lose
Baby I'm born to lose
Born to lose
Born to lose
Born to lose
Baby I'm born too lose 4x
The Vibrators’s song “Born to Lose” talks about the singer feeling like he was born to fail in life. He mentions how life can be cold in the city and how he feels aimless - “nothing to do and nothing to say” - but that he knows he was “born to lose”. The repetition of the phrase “born to lose” emphasizes the singer’s bleak outlook on life. The line “Living in the city, it’ll eat out... eat out your heart” is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the hustle and bustle of a big city can not only be overwhelming, but also break a person’s spirit.
Although the song is about a feeling of defeat, it still manages to evoke a sense of energy and rebellion. This is seen in the lines “I said hit it!” and “Guitar 4x” which signify moments of excitement and rock and roll. The song ends on a somber note with the repeated line “Baby I’m born to lose”.
Overall, the song “Born to Lose” by the Vibrators is a representation of the punk rock genre’s anti-establishment sentiment. It is a song about nihilism, pessimism, and the feeling of being trapped in a cold and indifferent world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, that's just the way it goes
Life is unpredictable and full of disappointments
This city is so cold
The urban environment is unfriendly and indifferent
And I'm ... I'm so-so
I'm feeling indifferent, undecided or mediocre
That's why I know (I say hey)
This realization has led me to a certain mindset or perspective
Born to lose
Fate has already decided that I will not succeed or be happy
Baby I was born to lose
This is my identity and my destiny
Nothing to do
I'm bored, idle or unproductive
And nothing to say
I'm speechless, apathetic or uninspired
Only one thing that I know
Despite my confusion or doubts, there is one certainty in my life
It's the only way ... I said hit it!
The only escape or release for me is music
Living in a jungle
The world is savage, competitive and hostile
It ain't so hard
Out there, you have to fight to survive but it's not impossible
But living in the city
Here, the challenges are more subtle, pervasive and draining
It'll eat out ... eat out your heart (I said hey)
The city will drain you of your energy, passion and soul
Baby I'm born too lose
This feeling of despair and hopelessness is part of my core identity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Genzale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind