John Wetton (vocals, bass), Bill Bruford (drums), Eddie Jobson (keyboards, violin) and Allan Holdsworth (guitar) formed U.K in July of 1977. Wetton had played with Bruford in King Crimson and Jobson in Roxy Music. In November of 1978, Bruford and Holdsworth formed Bruford and Terry Bozzio, formerly with Frank Zappa, joined on drums. The band lasted until June, 1980. Wetton went on to join Asia.
Apocalypse
U.K Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
They watchin the time
They see the demise
They running inside
Too late
For the odd
Future
We living in it
No closer to god
Too lazy to get it done
They taking our jobs
Robbing all of the peters
And killin the Paul’s
Susie ain’t tough enough
Replacing the bod
Revolution is here
Should they televise
I don’t think you would watch it
Cuz it’s filled with lies
Somebody pick up a phone
Who you gonna call
Ghostbusters is gone
Leaving us to die
Gun don’t even work
Cuz they broke inside
Computers is all black
They missing a drive
All we want is to live
Releasing our pride
All we want is to live
Releasing our pride
All we want is to live
Just before we die
All we want is to live
Releasing our pride
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
They seein the tears
Controlling the fear
Somebody out of the crowd
Just gave it a cheer
Hate of the own kind
Coming from a peer
Jump in holy water
See the end is near
Apocalyptic Roberts
On a frontier
Climbing over the wall
Just to leave here
Families broken up
Children left behind
Three strikes is the rule
For the color blind
Shoot up ya education
For the colored mind
Laughing at at an assault
While you online
Tell me what you envision
Thru a 3rd
If all we seein is death
From a birds eye
All we want is to live
Releasing our pride
All we want is to live
Releasing our pride
All we want is to live
Just before we die
All we want is to live
Releasing our pride
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
Look
What’s happenin
It like the whole world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Comin to a tragic end
It’s like the world
Seen it all coming again
In the song "Apocalypse" by U.K, the lyrics depict a sense of impending doom and a world on the brink of catastrophe. The repeated phrase, "It's like the whole world comin to a tragic end," emphasizes the overwhelming feeling of despair and inevitability. The singer observes the signs of the world's demise and expresses a sense of resignation as they have seemingly witnessed it all before.
The lyrics discuss societal issues and a bleak future. The line "Too late for the odd future, we living in it" suggests that the present is already filled with challenges and there is no hope for a better tomorrow. The song points to a lack of progress and a society that is losing touch with spirituality, as indicated by the line "No closer to god." Furthermore, the lyrics address the loss of jobs, the corruption of institutions, and the deterioration of human values, with names like "peters" and "Paul's" symbolizing the common people being targeted and harmed.
The song also speaks to the media's role in exacerbating the sense of hopelessness. It questions whether people would even tune in to a revolution or uprising, as the media perpetuates falsehoods and hides the truth. The reference to Ghostbusters being gone signifies the absence of heroes or saviors, leaving humanity to face its destruction alone. Additionally, the mention of dysfunctional technology, such as broken guns and missing computer drives, paints a picture of a world that is falling apart at its core.
The lyrics also touch on themes of division, discrimination, and the failure of justice. The lines refer to tears and fear being controlled by an unseen force, while hatred within one's own community is celebrated with a cheer. The song calls attention to the societal injustices faced by marginalized communities, such as people of color, with references to broken families, discriminatory laws, and the denial of education.
Overall, "Apocalypse" portrays a world that is on the verge of collapse due to corruption, injustice, and a disconnect from spirituality. The repeated plea for a chance to live and reclaim dignity reflects a desire for a better future, despite the seemingly inevitable tragic end that the world is hurtling towards.
Line by Line Meaning
Look
Pay attention and observe
What’s happenin
What is occurring
It like the whole world
It feels as though the entire world
Comin to a tragic end
Is heading towards a disastrous conclusion
It’s like the world
It seems as if the world
Seen it all coming again
Has anticipated and witnessed this situation before
They watchin the time
They are monitoring the passing of time
They see the demise
They perceive the downfall
They running inside
They are fleeing indoors
Too late
Past the point of intervention
For the odd
For those who stand out or are different
Future
The upcoming period
We living in it
We are currently experiencing it
No closer to god
No nearer to a higher power
Too lazy to get it done
Too unwilling to accomplish tasks
They taking our jobs
They are stealing our employment
Robbing all of the peters
Stealing from every individual
And killin the Paul’s
And murdering the innocents
Susie ain’t tough enough
Susie is not strong or resilient
Replacing the bod
Substituting the body
Revolution is here
A rebellion has arrived
Should they televise
Whether they should broadcast it on television
I don’t think you would watch it
I don't believe you would view it
Cuz it’s filled with lies
Because it contains falsehoods
Somebody pick up a phone
Someone answer a call
Who you gonna call
Who will you contact
Ghostbusters is gone
The Ghostbusters are no longer available
Leaving us to die
Abandoning us to perish
Gun don’t even work
Firearm does not function
Cuz they broke inside
Because it is damaged internally
Computers is all black
Computers are all offline
They missing a drive
They lack a critical component
All we want is to live
Our only desire is to survive
Releasing our pride
Letting go of our ego
Just before we die
Right before our demise
They seein the tears
They are witnessing the tears
Controlling the fear
Managing the fear
Somebody out of the crowd
Someone from the group
Just gave it a cheer
Just expressed approval
Hate of the own kind
Hatred towards their own kind
Coming from a peer
Coming from someone of equal status
Jump in holy water
Immerse in sacred liquid
See the end is near
Recognize that the end is approaching
Apocalyptic Roberts
Doomsday proclamations
On a frontier
At the forefront
Climbing over the wall
Scaling over the obstacle
Just to leave here
Simply to depart from this place
Families broken up
Families torn apart
Children left behind
Young ones abandoned
Three strikes is the rule
A policy of harsh punishment
For the color blind
For those who cannot see color
Shoot up ya education
Destroy your education
For the colored mind
For the minds of those who are not white
Laughing at an assault
Finding amusement in an attack
While you online
While you are connected to the internet
Tell me what you envision
Inform me of your envisioned future
Thru a 3rd
Through a third person
If all we seein is death
If all we are perceiving is mortality
From a birds eye
From a high vantage point
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Erik Polk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@keithgordon620
Wow, when the tempo changed I got goose pimples...Awesome song that builds to a momentous climax.
@robrock4822
WOW this ROCKS luv it luv it
@jorgecoello5454
Que bandota escuchandola desde colombia simplemente ..heavy
@zinek1994
epic
@mljansson
I like it...
@cougarmarauder2297
80's THE LOST PARADISE
@badmoonofmartyr8548
Pink Floyd meets metal...?
@CarlosAMC96
Tun Tun Tunnnn Tun Tunn Tun Tun Tunnn Tun Nice, thanks for upload.