X-Ray Spex's other distinctive musical element was Poly Styrene's voice, which has been variously described as "effervescently discordant" and "powerful enough to drill holes through sheet metal". As Mari Elliot, Poly had released a reggae single for GTO Records in 1976, "Silly Billy", which had not charted. Born in 1957 in Brixton, London, of Somali-English parentage, Poly Styrene became the group's public face, and remains one of the most memorable front-women to emerge from the punk movement. Poly Sytrene also became one of the first high-profile black people in punk rock. She wore braces on her teeth and once stated that "If anybody tried to make me a sex symbol I would shave my head tomorrow".
X-Ray Spex existed from mid-1976 to 1979, during which time they released five singles - "Oh Bondage, Up Yours", "Identity", "The Day the World Turned Day-Glo", "Germ Free Adolescents", and "Highly Inflammable" - and one album, Germ Free Adolescents. The album and title single reached 30 and 19 in their respective charts, although "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" is regarded as their most enduring artifact, both as a piece of music and as a phrase. The song was not originally on the album, although later CD releases added it as the final track. The group did play a fortnight's residency at New York's CBGB's even though Germ Free Adolescents was not released in America until 1992. Exhausted by touring, Poly Styrene left the band in 1979 to release a solo album, Translucence, before joining the Hare Krishna movement (as did Lora Logic, in a coincidental move, who left the band aged 16 in 1977 to form a new group called Essential Logic).
Without Styrene, the group lost its momentum and split up. Hurding and London went on to form Classix Nouveaux, while Paul Dean retired from musical activities.
In 1991 re-grouped X-Ray Spex played a surprise sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy. Uniquely, this version of the group did not include Poly Styrene, and according to an interview with Lora Logic: "...that was a mistake. They put that together with another singer and I played with them for a tour but you can't really have it without Poly."
The group reformed more successfully in 1995 with a line-up of Styrene, Dean and Logic to release a new album Conscious Consumer. Although heralded as the first in a trilogy, the album was not a commercial success. Styrene later explained that touring and promotional work suffered an abrupt end when she was run over by a fire engine in central London. The group disbanded, but subsequent releases include a compilation of the group's early records, a live album, and an anthology of all the aforementioned.
Jak Airport later worked for the BBC's Corporate and Public Relations department under his real name, Jack Stafford; he died in August 2004.
Discography
Singles
"Oh Bondage, Up Yours", 1977
"The Day The World Turned Day-Glo", 1978 #23 UK
"Identity", 1978 #24 UK
"Germ Free Adolescents", 1978 #19 UK
"Highly Inflammable", 1979 #45 UK
Albums
Germ Free Adolescents, 1978
Conscious Consumer, 1995
Poly Styrene later went on to reform X-Ray Spex with a 30 year anniversary sell-out gig at The Roundhouse, Camden, London September 6th 2008 with original bass player Paul Dean, Jak Airport sadly no longer with us was replaced by Saxby guitarist for Arnold, saxophone was provided by Flash formerly of Rip Rig & Panic and finally drummer Sid (Sidation) Truelove from Rubella Ballet and Flux of Pink Indians, hand picked by Poly for his authentic resemblance to B.P. Hurdings original punk style completing the line up for one of the most long awaited gigs of the last three decades. This performance will be available to buy on DVD and live album in November 2009 on Future Noise Music, for more info go to www.futurenoisemusic.com
Polystyrene sadly lost her battle with cancer and passed away 26/04/11
www.x-rayspex.com// http://www.myspace.com/xrayspexrealofficialpage
X-ray Spex
Melancholy
X-Ray Spex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her son the bull who the fields should plough is being slaughtered
The human child in the womb who is never born for being unwanted
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
Kali Kali
My mother, the earth, man treats like dirt, her resources being exhausted
My brother, the sun, he still shines on
He'll continue to shine for some time to come
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
Kali Kali
Lamentation Lamentation Lamentation (repeat)
Heavenly Father still waters the grains
Seems like tears fall as it rains
Little boy blue come blow on your horn
The sheeps in the meadow the cows in the corn
Oh sweet friend of mine from an ancient nursery rhyme
From a distant land once upon a time
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
Kali Kali
In the song “Melancholy,” X-Ray Spex is exploring themes of environmental degradation and human suffering. The lyrics suggest that nature is being exploited and destroyed by humans, as evidenced by the references to the earth being treated “like dirt” and resources being “exhausted.” This environmental destruction is linked to human suffering, as the mother cow is being tortured and the son bull is being slaughtered. Moreover, the lyrics touch on the issue of unwanted pregnancies, where the child in the womb is not given a chance to be born. The chorus “Melancholy in the Age of Kali” is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the sadness and despair that surrounds the state of our planet.
Line by Line Meaning
My mother the cow who still feeds me now is being tortured
The Earth, which provides resources for human beings to survive, is being exploited and destroyed.
Her son the bull who the fields should plough is being slaughtered
Nature and its ecosystem, which coexist for the benefit of all creatures, are being ravaged and destroyed by human activities.
The human child in the womb who is never born for being unwanted
Human life, which is valued and celebrated, is being sacrificed and disregarded due to societal and cultural issues.
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
A sense of sadness and sorrow in the present era of society that is marked by conflicts and problems.
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
A sense of sadness and sorrow in the present era of society that is marked by conflicts and problems.
Kali Kali
An invocation of the goddess Kali, who represents destruction and transformation, to provide clarity and insight into the current state of society.
My mother, the earth, man treats like dirt, her resources being exhausted
Man's constant exploitation and consumption of the earth's resources have led to depletion and degradation of the planet.
Ant-like astronauts, of the human race, scratch and scar the moon's beautiful face
Even the moon, a celestial body that is distant and seemingly untouched by human beings, is being treated as another object for exploitation and modification.
My brother, the sun, he still shines on
Despite the chaos and destruction of current society, the natural world still goes on and the sun continues to shine.
He'll continue to shine for some time to come
The natural world will outlast the current societal problems and issues, and will continue beyond the present era.
Lamentation Lamentation Lamentation (repeat)
A call for mourning and sadness in response to the current state of society's treatment of the natural world.
Heavenly Father still waters the grains
Despite the destruction and problems of society, there is still a guiding force that provides for the basic needs of human life.
Seems like tears fall as it rains
Even nature's processes, such as rainfall, can be viewed as a reflection of society's problems and a sign of sadness.
Little boy blue come blow on your horn
A desire to call attention to the current problems in society and raise awareness of the need for change.
The sheeps in the meadow the cows in the corn
A reference to the importance of natural ecosystems and their role in sustaining life and providing food.
Oh sweet friend of mine from an ancient nursery rhyme
A longing for a simpler, more innocent time when society was not plagued by the problems of today.
From a distant land once upon a time
A reference to the historical and cultural roots of societal problems, and a reminder that change is possible through a deeper understanding of these issues.
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
A sense of sadness and sorrow in the present era of society that is marked by conflicts and problems.
Melancholy in the Age of Kali
A sense of sadness and sorrow in the present era of society that is marked by conflicts and problems.
Kali Kali
An invocation of the goddess Kali, who represents destruction and transformation, to provide clarity and insight into the current state of society.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind