Oh Bondage Up Yours! Lyrics
Chain me to the wall
I want to be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
I consume you all
Chain gang, chainmail
I don't think at all
Trash me, crash me
Beat me until I fall
I want to be a victim to you all
This is a feminist song about being sick of being how you're meant to be, as a girl, tied to a future you didn't choose, and the masochistic role you are meant to play as a slave to your husband, your family, and society's expectations. Sick of being open to scrutiny by others, who make sure you are performing as you should be, as anyone who has a duty to society and a duty to behave a certain way feels. You want to do what they demand, to be accepted, but for a woman this means to 'be seen and not heard', so she screams this in the mostly gratingly and feminine way she can, throwing back those standards in a bid for freedom and turning that girly voice into something else more uncomfortable and intruding, and thus liberating.
She explains the meaning of the song in this interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8hAqdx7g4M Your interpretation is a tad off I'm afraid
She explains the meaning of the song in this interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8hAqdx7g4M Your interpretation is a tad off I'm afraid
I'm one hundred percent with asstronaut. X Ray Spex have spoke out on the meaning of this song and, (yes surprisingly), it's not about bondage in sex. It's about bondage by society, and being bonded into roles, stereotypes, etc. etc.
The last two comments are the only right ones. Why do you think Marion Elliot renamed herself Poly Styrene? It was to say to everyone; "Consuming has created me, do you like the product?"
I agree with asstronaut et. al. that this song is primarily about consumerism... But I would take it a step further and say it specificly refers to consumerism within the punk scene and the punk "uniform" of bondage pants and spikes etc. By the late 70's, merchandisers had begun to capitalize on the punk phenomenon (Malcolm McLaren & Vivienne Westwood, anyone?) and you could go into some stores and purchase ripped shirts, collars, and (of course) bondage pants.
seeing a pair of bondage pants in a store window actually inspired her to write this song, so you are correct.
seeing a pair of bondage pants in a store window actually inspired her to write this song, so you are correct.
what a sweet song.
Exactly, have2mints. And it's a pretty kick-ass song, too.
I think this song has surprisingly little to do with sex and may be best explicated by a quote from Poly Styrene herself: "We live in a consumer society, and if you don't consume, it consumes you."
Whatever it means, the line "some people think little girls should be seen and not heard" is clear. Feminism. It reminds me of Bikini Kill, not as raw as BK, but the sax gives X-RS a magic touch. The lyrics are sarcastic, of course.
The sax solo sounds like a third chair elementary school student in band practice. Pretty cool
Wow, you guys completely missed the meaning of the song. This song eagerly steam rolls over the idea of women being treated like sex objects. It's sarcastic of course.