Eighties

Killing Joke

Eighties, I'm living in the eighties
Eighties, I have to push, I have to struggle
Eighties, get out of my way, I'm not for sale no more
Eighties, let's kamikaze 'til we get there

And we sang
You do it this way

Eighties, by day we run by night we dance, we do
Eighties, I'm in love with the coming race
Eighties, I've got the best, I'll take all I can get
Eighties, I'm living for the eighties

Eighties, I'm living in the eighties, I push
Eighties, I'm living
Eighties, I'm living in the eighties, I struggle
Eighties, I'm living

Eighties, I'm living
Eighties, I'm living in the eighties
Eighties, I'm living in the eighties, I push
Eighties, push, push, struggle

Eighties, I'm living
Eighties, eighties, I'm living
Eighties, I'm living in the eighties, I push


Lyrics submitted by numb

Eighties Lyrics as written by Kevin Walker Jeremy Coleman

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Eighties song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +3
    General CommentThis song is actually about Margerat Thatcher's legacy as prime minister in Britain: it's a comment on the lassaiz faire politics of the 1980s under Margaret Thatcher, and how everyone suddenly had to compete and struggle just to make a living: "I'm in love with the coming race"... "I take all I can get".

    Killing joke have always had political undercurrents to their music, and been critical of right wing leaders.

    Its one of my favorite songs by Killing Joke, the main guitar riff still sends shivers up my spine
    devotionon April 30, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Commentwhat happened was killing joke sued nirvana and then the lawsuit was dropped when cobain killed himself
    zombiesraftermeon May 22, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentNirvana stole he riff, but Joke have stolen a fair few riffs themselves (certainly some of the early bass riffs). Killing Joke skillfully played the whole thing for maximum publicity in my view (and why not?) at a time when they weren't doing so well, paving the way for their comeback with Pandemonium. Dave Grohl later made friends with Jaz and drummed on one of their albums.
    DwarfCowboyon May 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI'm guessing it's an overview on the eighties through the eyes of killing joke. With of course the trademark killing joke sarcasm and tone. Listen to this track, you'll understand why killing joke now receive royalties for nirvana's "come as you are", hehe.

    ps. I'm shocked no one has hardly posted on these killing joke tracks, and someone needs to add seeing red on here, i cant find the lyrics ANYWHERE.
    sammyramoneon May 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSo true, sammy. This band was way too important to bands that made it big to be so obscure.
    Agentlemonheadon June 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI heard they were gunna sue Nirvana and all that shit, and Kurt Cobain just said something like sure, i stole that riff, so what?
    They dropped the charges.
    GiJofuson February 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's from 1985, a year that not much songs like "Eighties" came out. New wave era ended about 2 years earlier and Post punk was no longer relevant, and i think the song is about killing joke's feeling about their music.
    I mean, in the charts at that time, The Europop-trash style was dominant, and killing joke style was not so popular in 1985.
    JpnGhton March 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti wished i lived in the 80s as well..
    Cure.on March 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentLife Goes on by The Damned came out before Killing Joke 80's in 1982. That's where this riff originates from.
    thechad103on May 09, 2022   Link

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