Gang of Four

Return The Gift

4 Meanings

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Return The Gift Lyrics

Head away from the years
You're on the price list
Head away from the years
You're on the price list
Head away from the years
You're on the price list

Everything will stop your new changing
The grid will be filled
Go to Scotland no obligation
We'll send you an invitation
We'll send you an inside shower
We'll send you an inside shower

It's on the market
You're on the price list
It's on the market
You're on the price list
It's on the market
You're on the price list

In the spring who can say?
Please send me evenings and weekends
Shared by with the weeks
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends

Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends

Submitted by

lizardwings182 On Jun 21, 2002

Damaged Goods

Armalite Rifle

At Home He's A Tourist

Natural's Not In It

I Found That Essence Rare

Head away from the years
You're on the price list
Head away from the years
You're on the price list
Head away from the years
You're on the price list

Everything will stop your new changing
The grid will be filled
Go to Scotland no obligation
We'll send you an invitation
We'll send you an inside shower
We'll send you an inside shower

It's on the market
You're on the price list
It's on the market
You're on the price list
It's on the market
You're on the price list

In the spring who can say?
Please send me evenings and weekends
Shared by with the weeks
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends
Please send me evenings and weekends

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When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

lizardwings182

Submitter

2002-06-21 18:52:49

4 Meanings

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by BenjaminJA

7y ago

To me, although they lyrics are a bit opaque, this is a song about the existential crisis faced by workers. "It's on the market, you're on the price list" talks about how as workers, we essentially have to sell ourselves and our labour on the open market. I've always undertood the "please send me evenings and weekends" as a worker who desperately wants time off from the daily grind of selling his / her labour, and when one considers how this has always been a central issue with union organizing (ie the fight for the weekend and the 8 hour day) as well as GOF's generally Marxist inclinations, this interpretation makes more sense. Just my take. Great song though, that rhythm section is absolutely bangin here.

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by lev1025172 7y ago

@BenjaminJA You're pretty much spot-on with your interpretation about the worker being "on the price list" over their lifetime ("head away from the years") and their desire for free time ("evenings and weekends").

A couple of more unusual components; "Everything will stop your new changing" indicates how trapped they are in this situation, how they are disposable, " The grid will be filled", and thje limited options for holidays, retirement, or unemployment ("Go to Scotland no obligation/We'll send you an invitation").

As usually with GoF, a depressingly honest...

by RyDawg084 5y ago

@BenjaminJA I agree the rhythm section is out of control!!!

by futureimage

17y ago

I've always thought this is about the lack of free time (hence "Please send me evenings and weekends").

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by g0wthefl0w

19y ago

i'm not sure what this song means, but it's so amazing.

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Reply · 0 Share

by artmaven

18y ago

The grid will be filled

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