| XTC – Making Plans For Nigel Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| @[doodleboy:8211] I think Nigel symbolizes 'Joe Six Pack' and my gut feeling is that the original lyrics were "He has his future in a British still" I think the song is a social commentary on the evil social engineering undertaken to dumb down the average working Joe, lower his expectations, and make him numb to his own suffering and misery . Hence, he is easily pacified via all the food additives and other poisons like alcohol and adulterated water and vaccines etc. At a guess the real meaning of the song has been concealed, and the real lyrics concealed, because these guys were co-opted by the system. Nigel has his whole future awaiting him in alcoholism and poverty, and he will even be happy with it , because that is all that he can expect in today's world. He'll shut up and stay in his place, 'his world';, if he knows what's best for him. So its not his parents speaking, its the societal planners, the top think tanks, who have plans for Nigel. The term 'British still" is particularly brilliant , because it implies a class thing, ie: Nigel cannot even afford the imports , he's got to drink the cheap British swill, and the powers that be are quite content with that too, because they quite intend to make a lot of money on the arrangement. Another subtly implied angle is that Nigel will never escape his class confinement, so 'his world' will be limited to Britain. He will never taste freedom. The line "he must be happy, he must be happy in his world" is also brilliant, with double meaning. Meaning of course that Nigel is confined to his standing in life and if he is to be happy at all, he is going to have to be happy with the way things are , 'his world', so to speak. He HAS to be happy in his world , because there is no escape from his poverty and oppression. And 'his world' is one in which other people plan his future for him, limit his future possibilities etc. I'm starting to realize why I always loved this song , those biting words are fascinating. At a guess 'British Steel' and 'British Still' were interchanged as the song evolved. I think it is mocking of the apathy of the working classes as well. They are too easily satisfied, too apathetic, accepting to the point of being almost mentally retarded, which of course many alcoholics and working class peole are , essentially. Mentally impaired due injuries, substance abuse, malnutrition etc. the various vagaries of poverty and ignorance. So the song implies that Nigel is retarded enough to go along with it all. | |
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