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.
Live in a Car
UK Subs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah I live in a car
Well I ain't got not television set no stereo
'cause I live in a car
Well don't try to call me up on the telephone
'cause I won't be home
Yeah I live in a Car
Yeah I live in a car
I ain't got no yard no ID card
'Cause I live in a car
Cops tryin'a get me
But I don't care, I'm never there
Well I live in a car
2 3 4
The lyrics of UK Subs's song "I Live in a Car" tell the story of a person who lives in a car without any of the modern comforts of life like a television set, stereo or yard. The singer is so used to living in a car that he/she doesn't even bother to have a telephone, thereby nullifying any attempt to get in touch with him/her. The singer doesn't seem to have any qualms about law enforcement authorities constantly pursuing him/her, because they are not around to be caught. The song ultimately conveys a sense of resignation and ennui that comes with living in such an extreme circumstance.
The song is a satire about the working-class life in Britain during the punk movement of the 1970s. It reflects the grim reality of an ever-present class-struggle that led many working-class people to be homeless and become what they called ‘rough-sleepers’. The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the dehumanisation and the consequences of Thatcherism, which created a socio-political and economic environment where class-inequality was at an all-time high. For many British citizens, homelessness was not a choice but a daily reality due to the lack of social safety nets and affordable housing.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I live in a car
I currently reside inside a motor vehicle
Yeah I live in a car
Yes, indeed, I do live inside a car
Well I ain't got not television set no stereo
I have no form of entertainment such as TV or music
'cause I live in a car
This lack of entertainment is due to my living situation
Well don't try to call me up on the telephone
Please refrain from attempting to contact me via phone
'cause I won't be home
As I mentioned earlier, I am currently living in a car
Yeah I live in a Car
I think it bears repeating that my current place of residency is a car
I ain't got no yard no ID card
Due to my living situation, I do not possess a yard or identification card
'Cause I live in a car
Once again, let me reiterate that this is all because I am currently living inside a car
Cops tryin'a get me
The local police department has been attempting to apprehend me
But I don't care, I'm never there
Their efforts are futile as I am not present in any fixed location
Well I live in a car
I hope I have made this clear by now, but I would like to state again that I am residing in a car
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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I had no idea this song existed. I’m middle aged and washed up like the rest of you rudies
Chud wears make up like a girl
Spread the word. I still want that jam I’m owed
He’ll know who it is
This 0i!✊is for you
Stay rude
0i!
ISAACS Line !
Just watched a vid about working people who have to live in their cars and it reminded me of this song that i use to listen to when i was a teenager punk rocker, now in my 50's and it still sounds good 😁👍
Jason Misfit
I live in a van in me grandmums driveway haha I love this song!
AV9000
Where do you live now?
Maitre Mark
I drove around Australia in 2021 - 27000 kilometers and I lived in my car and sung about it along to this song ;)
exiledupnorth
I live in a pissed up daze, but yeah, this song is ace!
Francis Walsh
May be my favorite Punk Song. Never gets old
strigiformed
This will be me tomorrow. I'm gonna miss having a bed
davebrucelee2011
Great track.
Marcos Garza
These guys came down here in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas back in October of 2010. I was so close to see them.
Kris Davis
Frank Zappa said he liked this song.