Wire's debut album, Pink Flag (1977), contains songs which are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach, unorthodox structures, and several songs are under a minute in length; "Field Day For The Sundays" is only 28 seconds long.
Chairs Missing followed in 1978, and found Wire stepping back from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag, with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Many of the songs had bassist Graham Lewis on lead vocals.
In 1979, creative differences pulled the band in different directions, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The LP came packaged with an EP of a different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Colin Newman's post-Wire solo albums ("5/10", "We Meet Under Tables"), while others were released by Gilbert and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ("And Then...", "Ritual View"). The band disbanded for the first time in 1980
Between 1981-85 Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and non-Wire collaborative projects such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985, the group reformed as a "beat combo" (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music or even possibly beatniks), with greater use of electronic musical instruments. It released It's Beginning To And Back Again (IBTABA) in 1989, a "live" album of mostly re-worked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck, heavily re-arranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", became the band's biggest charting single.
Gotobed left the band in 1990, after the release of the album Manscape. After his departure, the band dropped one letter from its name, becoming "Wir" (still pronounced "wire"), and released The First Letter in 1991. Once again, the band disbanded in 1992 There followed a further period of solo recordings, during which Newman founded the Swim ~ label, and later Githead with his wife (ex-Minimal Compact bassist Malka Spigel), while Wire remained an occasional collaboration. It was not until 1999 that Wire again became a full-time entity.
With Gotobed back in the line-up (now using his birth name, Robert Grey), the group initially reworked much of their back catalogue for a performance at Royal Festival Hall on 26 February 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs and an album Send (2003) followed, as well as collaborations with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. In 2004 the band split once more.
In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were re-released with original vinyl track listings. Rumours abounded of a renewal of activity to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's debut as a 4 piece and the re-release of Pink Flag in 2007. A third Read & Burn EP was released in November, 2007.
A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47 was released in July 2008. Bruce Gilbert was not involved in this recording, although according to Colin Newman, he did feature in a minimal capacity on the third Read and Burn EP. 2011 saw the release of the band's twelfth studio album Red Barked Tree.
Mr. Suit
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm tired of being told what to think
I'm tired of being told what to do
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Take your fucking money and shove it up your arse
'Cause you think you understand, well it's a fucking farce
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Oh!
And if you turn and walk out that door
And take your fucking money, let me tell you what it's for
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
The lyrics to "Mr. Suit" by Wire are a direct attack on authority figures who attempt to control and manipulate people for their own gain. The singer is tired of being told what to think and do and fed up with "fucking phonies," which could refer to those in power who pretend to be something they're not. The repeated refrain of "no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit" is a clear rejection of the titular character, who symbolizes conformity and control.
The singer urges Mr. Suit to take his money and shove it up his arse, indicating that they value individualism and rebellion over material success. The line "let me tell you what it's for" suggests that Mr. Suit doesn't know what's truly important in life and is misguided in his pursuit of wealth and power. Instead, the singer calls for authenticity and honesty, rejecting the phoniness that pervades society.
"Mr. Suit" is a powerful critique of conformity and manipulation, with the singer standing up against those who seek to control them. The song is a call to reject authority and embrace individuality, encouraging listeners to think for themselves and question those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of being told what to think
I am frustrated with constantly being commanded to hold specific opinions
I'm tired of being told what to do
I am weary of being directed in my actions and behaviors
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
I am fed up with insincere people and specifically referring to the person being addressed as a phony
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
An emphatic refusal to conform to the expectations of a professional or corporate environment represented by someone wearing a suit
Take your fucking money and shove it up your arse
A strong rebuke to the idea that financial wealth is the key to understanding life
'Cause you think you understand, well it's a fucking farce
The singer sees through the facade of someone who claims to have it all figured out and dismisses their understanding as fraudulent
And if you turn and walk out that door
A warning to the addressee that they will not be cowered into conformity or subservience
And take your fucking money, let me tell you what it's for
The artist is challenging the idea that money is the key to happiness and suggesting that it is not a meaningful pursuit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Repeatedly refusing to accept the trappings of a corporate, professional environment as a way of life
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Repeating the earlier sentiment and emphasizing once again that the addressee is seen as insincere and fraudulent
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE CLIFFORD GILBERT, COLIN JOHN NEWMAN, GRAHAM LEWIS, ROBERT SELWYN GOTOBED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CippiCippiCippi
One-two-three-four!
I'm tired of being told what to think
I'm tired of being told what to do
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Alright
Take your fucking money and shove it up your arse
'Cause you think you understand, well it's a fucking farce
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Oh!
And if you turn and walk out that door
And take your fucking money, let me tell you what it's for
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
One-two-three-four!
I'm tired of being told what to think
I'm tired of being told what to do
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Alright
Take your fucking money and shove it up your arse
'Cause you think you understand, well it's a fucking farce
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
Oh!
And if you turn and walk out that door
And take your fucking money, let me tell you what it's for
I'm tired of fucking phonies, that's right I'm tired of you
Alright, no, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
No, no, no, no, no, no, Mr. Suit
@shuaigejamesisrock
this whole album is an absolute fucking gem... everything else is just angry... this is intense and tits out
@Akira625
Just found out that the Ministry song “Thieves” was partially inspired by this.
@colbyshea5915
I knew there was a song that borrowed from Mr Suit, I was listening to Wire yesterday and was trying to figure out who. I had narrowed it down to a Ministry or Misfits song. Didn’t know which, just knew it was something I first heard in the 90’s. Mystery solved!
@colbyshea5915
Something similar in Green Hell too (Misfits). I’m not sure if Wire get enough credit for their contributions to music
@Blastomat
@@colbyshea5915 It's also pretty similar to "Queen Wasp" by the Misfits.
@vivaldireal1741
TMIATTTT is a fantastic album. That makes me appreciate it even more
@silasmarner7586
We covered this in 1979. We were painfully hip kidz in a punk band back then.
@waaben
Arguably the first 'hardcore punk' song - inspired 100s of bands. Stunningly good :)
@vivaldireal1741
Arguably the first hardcore punk album in general
@guillaumegrosdidier1745
@@vivaldireal1741 No... But Proto- Hardcore punk, perhaps !