Daylight dawns, you wake up and yawn - Mr. Clean
A piece of toast from the one you love most - and you leave
You get the bus in the 8 o'clock rush
And catch your train in the morning rain
Mr. Clean - Mr. Clean
If you see me in the street - look away
Cause I don't ever want to catch you looking at me
Mr. Clean
Cause I hate you and your wife
And if I get the chance, I'll fuck up your life!
Mr. Clean
IS THAT SEEN!
Surround yourself with dreams, of pretty young girls
and anyone you want, but -
please don't forget me or any of my kind
cause I'll make you think again
When I stick your face in the grind
Getting pissed at the annual office do
Smart blue suit and you went to Cambridge too
You miss page 3, but the Times is right for you
And mum and dad are very proud of you
Mr. Clean
A piece of toast from the one you love most - and you leave
You get the bus in the 8 o'clock rush
And catch your train in the morning rain
Mr. Clean - Mr. Clean
If you see me in the street - look away
Cause I don't ever want to catch you looking at me
Mr. Clean
Cause I hate you and your wife
And if I get the chance, I'll fuck up your life!
Mr. Clean
IS THAT SEEN!
Surround yourself with dreams, of pretty young girls
and anyone you want, but -
please don't forget me or any of my kind
cause I'll make you think again
When I stick your face in the grind
Getting pissed at the annual office do
Smart blue suit and you went to Cambridge too
You miss page 3, but the Times is right for you
And mum and dad are very proud of you
Mr. Clean
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What a great song, probably one of their best. Obviously Weller criticizing the blue collar working man for obeying the systemlike he's told to. I love the opening.
I think this is about "yuppies" which were working class boys who made it big in the city and those who forget thier roots-- when he says "please dont forget me or any of my kind" and "you miss page three-but the times is right for you" his talking about when they used to read page three of "The Sun" which is working class paper and now reads "The times" which is like middle class broadsheet
more importantly page 3 is soft porn and the times is a serious paper
more importantly page 3 is soft porn and the times is a serious paper
this song was written a few years before the yuppie came in to being I think, also how many working class people back in the late 70s went to cambridge? its about his loathing of the middle class not a working class lad come good
this song was written a few years before the yuppie came in to being I think, also how many working class people back in the late 70s went to cambridge? its about his loathing of the middle class not a working class lad come good
This song shows Weller's passion for his belief a brilliant song I like the bit when he's telling him to look away so much anger Weller is a genius
"Read" Page 3???
"Getting pissed at the annual office do Smart blue suit and you went to Cambridge too You miss page 3, but the Times is right for you And mum and dad are very proud of you"
Pure genius, Weller and the boys at their best.
I'd hazard a guess that it's about The Jam's leftist views and the disgust at the Conservative middle classes.
Obviously about a boy who's competely abondoned his roots by getting miself a middle-class job in teh cit yand adopting that sort of life.
Clearly written when class tension was more obvious, but Weller's distaste and anger for such people seems to stand the test of time, because from my background growwiong up in the '90s, it was still clear to me that some of my peers/family were (and still are) envious of the 'successful' types. Those with nice houses, two cars on the drive, you name it.
Much of this song, especially the first verse and the ending prime example of Weller using imagery to illustrate his point, just like Tubestation. Paints a picture in your head. I can easily imagine the character waking up to toast from his missus, catching the train on a grey, damp day and getting plastered at his christmas do.
Isn't this criticizing the white collar workers, not the blue?
Weller and company were VERY blue collar. This is a fantasy about having a double life.
Weller doesn't like working-class people getting better lives through their own efforts and works. It apparently hurts his delicate working-class soul that these people have to wear a suit and actually work to earn money.