we worked our way up from east end pubs to gigs and back stage passes ex-boxing champs, west end clubs, americans in dark glasses driving ten grand cars, they drink in hotel bars they're even making money in bed. they wouldn't be no loss, they aint worth a toss it's about time they all dropped dead (chorus) take 'em all take 'em all put 'em up against a wall and shoot 'em short and tall, watch 'em fall, come on boys take 'em all well tough shit boys, it aint our fault your record didn't make it we made you dance, you had your chance, but you didn't take it well, i gotta go make another deal sign another group for the company i don't suppose we'll ever meet again you'd better get back to the factory
this song was about EMI records. the label that signed the sex pistols. they wanted cock sparrer first and they said they were in it for the fans and not the money and they would never sign to a major label. and when the sex pistols signed they made this song about what they coulda had but didnt take for the fact that it would ruin the personal connection they feel with there fans
@ihaveyourkid I know this is over a decade since you wrote this and probably won't see it but from what I heard you're mostly right, but the deal changer was they met to sign the deal in a pub but the rep wouldn't buy them all a pint. That's the personal connection which lost it as they're all east end lads.
Shock Troops/Runnin' Riot in '84 Bloody Minded: The Best of Cock Sparrer Live: Runnin' Riot Across the USA Shock Troops Alive and Loud Back Home Live and Loud Runnin' Riot: Across the USA Shock Troops [Limited Edition]