In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Never ever wanted to be with you,
The only thing you gave me was the boredom I suffocated in,
Adrift in cheap towns don't stop the rain,
Numbed out in piss towns,
Just want to dig their graves
Motown, Motown junk
I laughed when Lennon got shot,
Twenty one years of living and nothing means anything to me.
Motown junk a lifetime of slavery,
Songs of love echo underclass betrayal,
Stops your heart beating for one to ten seconds,
Stops your brain thinking for one to ten seconds,
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk, Motown junk
I don't want cause I just get,
All your slut heroes offer is a fear of the future,
Past made useless cause I'm dying now,
Communal tyranny, a jail that bleeds our wrists.
Motown, Motown junk
I laughed when Lennon got shot,
Twenty one years of living and nothing means anything to me.
Motown junk a lifetime of slavery,
Songs of love echo underclass betrayal,
Stops your heart beating for one to ten seconds,
Stops your brain thinking for one to ten seconds,
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk a lifetime of slavery,
Songs of love echo underclass betrayal,
Stops your heart beating for one to ten seconds,
Stops your brain thinking for one to ten seconds,
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk, Motown junk
We live in urban hell,
We destroy rock and roll.
The only thing you gave me was the boredom I suffocated in,
Adrift in cheap towns don't stop the rain,
Numbed out in piss towns,
Just want to dig their graves
Motown, Motown junk
I laughed when Lennon got shot,
Twenty one years of living and nothing means anything to me.
Motown junk a lifetime of slavery,
Songs of love echo underclass betrayal,
Stops your heart beating for one to ten seconds,
Stops your brain thinking for one to ten seconds,
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk, Motown junk
I don't want cause I just get,
All your slut heroes offer is a fear of the future,
Past made useless cause I'm dying now,
Communal tyranny, a jail that bleeds our wrists.
Motown, Motown junk
I laughed when Lennon got shot,
Twenty one years of living and nothing means anything to me.
Motown junk a lifetime of slavery,
Songs of love echo underclass betrayal,
Stops your heart beating for one to ten seconds,
Stops your brain thinking for one to ten seconds,
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk a lifetime of slavery,
Songs of love echo underclass betrayal,
Stops your heart beating for one to ten seconds,
Stops your brain thinking for one to ten seconds,
Motown junk, Motown junk
Motown junk, Motown junk
We live in urban hell,
We destroy rock and roll.
Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe, edited by yossarian9, manic4manics
Motown Junk Lyrics as written by Nicholas Jones James Bradfield
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The title, 'Motown Junk', doesn't really refer to the original Tamla Motown label, which, as stated above was a JDB favourite. It was the limp-wristed derivative of it that was always on the radio during the 80's, the George Michael shite that they were attacking. Nicky hated love songs, feeling that they were plain irrelevant and people should be singing about issues and politics. Richey additionally felt that by making everyone obsessed with falling in love they were being weakened.
The first verse is simply describing their dejection in their hometown, Blackwood.
I wish I could remember what the 168 seconds reference was to...is it to how long the blast of Hiroshima lasted?
'I laughed when Lennon got shot', a line is for shock value but another expression of their contempt for originality and attempt to 'BOMB THE PAST' etc.
The second verse is pretty impenetrable. It's pretty much nihilistic ranting, with that ultra 1977 punk first line, and that further attack on the misery of modern life as the final line.
168 seconds is...2 minutes 28 - now i remember hearing something often about a perfect single being 2 minutes something in length, it would make sense in context in that your heart/brain is being stopped for the rough time of a Motown single. shrugs.