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.
Yeah Yeah Yeah
The Vibrators Lyrics
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Yeah Yeah Yeah [x4]
Listen honey hear what I say,
I give you my love an' then you throw it away.
Well -
[Chorus]
Hey baby it's always the same,
You kiss my body then you kick in my brain.
Well -
[Chorus]
Money honey that hurts,
Money honey that hurts,
Money honey your causin' me pain,
I don't know why you do it but you're doin' it again.
Well -
(Hey watch that guitar)
[Chorus]
The Vibrators' song "Yeah Yeah Yeah" is a simple but captivating piece that speaks about the pain and confusion someone experiences in a toxic relationship. The refrain of the song comprises the titular phrase "Yeah Yeah Yeah," which serves as an expression of the character's resignation, frustration, and suffering. The lyrics in the first verse bemoan the lack of appreciation and acceptance shown by the singer's lover, with lines such as "Listen honey, hear what I say / I give you my love, and then you throw it away." The second verse adds a layer of mistreatment, with the singer describing how the relationship leaves them feeling hurt and confused, singing "Hey baby, it's always the same / You kiss my body, then you kick in my brain."
Despite the pain, the singer still goes back to their lover, only to be hurt again - this is evidenced by the line in the third verse that says "Money, honey, you're causin' me pain / I don't know why you do it, but you're doin' it again." The song captures the cyclical nature of unhealthy relationships, where a person might be aware they are being mistreated but are unable to break free. The guitar, which is given a shoutout with the words "Hey, watch that guitar" towards the end, drives the song forward with speed and intensity, aptly capturing the urgency of the singer's plea.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah Yeah Yeah
The singer repeats 'Yeah' three times to show his excitement and enthusiasm.
Listen honey hear what I say,
The singer is telling his lover to listen to his words and pay attention to his feelings.
I give you my love an' then you throw it away.
The singer expresses his frustration that his lover does not appreciate the love and affection he offers.
Well -
The singer uses this word to transition to the next verse or chorus.
Hey baby it's always the same,
The singer is complaining that his lover's behavior is predictable and repetitive.
You kiss my body then you kick in my brain.
The singer describes how his lover gives him physical pleasure but also causes emotional pain and confusion.
Money honey that hurts,
The singer blames his lover's greed and materialism for causing him pain and discomfort.
Money honey that hurts,
The singer repeats this line to emphasize the importance of money in his relationship with his lover.
Money honey your causin' me pain,
The singer clarifies that it is his lover's obsession with money that is causing him harm and distress.
I don't know why you do it but you're doin' it again.
The singer expresses confusion and frustration that his lover continues to prioritize money over their relationship.
Well -
The singer again uses this word to transition to the final chorus.
Yeah Yeah Yeah
The singer repeats the chorus to emphasize his feelings of excitement and enthusiasm despite his lover's behavior.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HEATHER L KINLEY, JENNIFER KINLEY, MARCUS HUMMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
woayerrrr
My Favorite album - still - 30 years on - and I am 51 - delicious !!!
boqna popova
Long live punk rock = )
Hollandia777
That's the best question I've ever met hier! One of my favorite punk hits - short, energetic and right in the center!
Guy in YouTube comments
Best song that could have been written by a twelve-year-old.
Sheri’s Shenanigans
Oh yeah yeah yeah!!!! Love these guys❤️so much fun!!!
Cindy Mett
Fuck yeah this is excellent early punk rock. PLAY IT LOUD
耳のマタタビ屋neco.neco.music
Thank you punk rock and you!!!
Daniel Retana
Punk is not dead -:D
Zack Huckins
even johnny rotten could remember these lyrics hehe vibrators are kickass
LivBird8
Seeing them in 2 weeks - STOKED!