Formed in 1976, as the UK Subversives, in London, United Kingdom the origin… Read Full Bio ↴Formed in 1976, as the UK Subversives, in London, United Kingdom the original line up consisted of Harper, Nicky Garrett (guitar), Pete Davies (drums) and Paul Slack (bass), although the line-up of the band changed frequently. Their style combined the energy of punk and the rock and roll edge of the then thriving pub rock scene.

Early success was found with singles such as "Warhead", "I Live in a Car", and "Tomorrow's Girls", with several of their songs managing to enter the United Kingdom's Top Forty. Their biggest selling album came with 1980's Crash Course.

With the arrival of new bassist Alvin Gibbs and drummer Steve Roberts in the early 1980s, the songs took on a heavier sound, faster, better quality. But always the punk views. The band has continued to perform, being one of the last surviving bands of Britain's punk era. They have toured constantly over the years.

Now in 2015, with the addiition of Jet on guitar and Jamie Oliver on drums, UK Subs have just released their 25th studio album 'Yellow Leader' to a crescendo of critical acclaim, bringing the band to the final step in their 40 year old mission - to record and release every official album in alphabetical order from A to Z.

Hollywood
UK Subs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Film the streets, film the city
It ain’t big, it ain’t pretty
Anti-septic, clean and sterile
Wasted youth, distorted truth

I hate Hollywood

I hate the way you walk

I hate the way you talk
I hate your empty smile
I hate your sense of style

I hate Hollywood

I hate Hollywood
And I hate Hollywood

Overall Meaning

The UK Subs's song Hollywood is a scathing critique of the glamorous image that Hollywood projects to the world. The first stanza points out the stark differences between the real streets and city of Hollywood and the sanitized version that is presented through films and TV shows. The lines "anti-septic, clean and sterile, wasted youth, distorted truth" suggest that the image of Hollywood is manufactured to the point that it bears no resemblance to reality. The repeated refrain "I hate Hollywood" is a condemnation of the superficiality and shallowness that is associated with the entertainment capital of the world.

The second stanza is a more personal attack on the inhabitants of Hollywood. The singer hates the way people in Hollywood walk, talk, smile, and dress. These lines are a critique of the excessive focus on appearance and the pressure to conform to a certain image in Hollywood. Despite the singer's disgust, it's clear that Hollywood holds a powerful allure, as evidenced by the repeated refrain. The song is a pre-punk indictment of a culture that would later be critiqued by the likes of the Sex Pistols and the Clash.

Line by Line Meaning

Film the streets, film the city
Record the surroundings, capture the environment in video

It ain’t big, it ain’t pretty
The place is not grand, nor beautiful

Anti-septic, clean and sterile
Free of germs, sanitised and lifeless

Wasted youth, distorted truth
Young people being thrown away, and the reality that is shown is twisted

I hate Hollywood
Strong feeling of dislike for the place called Hollywood

I hate the way you walk
Dislike for the way the people in Hollywood walk

I hate the way you talk
Displeasure with the conversational style of the people of Hollywood

I hate your empty smile
Dislike towards the insincere smiles of the people of Hollywood

I hate your sense of style
Disapproval towards the fashion choices of Hollywood

I hate Hollywood
Strong feeling of antipathy towards Hollywood

I hate Hollywood
Detestation towards the place called Hollywood

Writer(s): Jackie Fox, Oliver Jao Smith, Joan Jett, Steven Jones, Kim Fowley Copyright: Peermusic Ltd., Mushroom Music Int. B.V., Chrysalis Music Ltd.

Contributed by Ava J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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