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Funeral Pyre Lyrics
Down in amongst the streets tonight
Books will burn, people laugh and cry in their turmoil
(Turmoil turns rejoiceful)
Shed your fears and lose your guilt
Tonight we burn responsibility in the fire
We’ll watch the flames grow higher!
But if you get too burnt, you can’t come back home
And as I was standing by the edge
I could see the faces of those led pissing their selves laughing
(And the flames grew)
Their mad eyes bulged their flushed faces said
The weak get crushed as the strong grow stronger
We feast on flesh and drink on blood
Live by fear and despise love in a crises
(What with today’s high prices)
Bring some paper and bring some wood
Bring what’s left of all your love for the fire
We’ll watch the flames grow higher!
But if you get too burnt - you can’t come back home
And as I was standing by the edge
I could see the faces of those led pissing their selves laughing
(And the flames grew)
Their mad eyes bulged their flushed faces said
The weak get crushed as the strong grow stronger
In the funeral pyre
We’ll watch the flames grow higher
But if you get too burnt - you can’t come back home
(Well I feel so old, when I feel so young
Well I just can’t grow up to meet the demands)
Books will burn, people laugh and cry in their turmoil
(Turmoil turns rejoiceful)
Shed your fears and lose your guilt
Tonight we burn responsibility in the fire
We’ll watch the flames grow higher!
But if you get too burnt, you can’t come back home
I could see the faces of those led pissing their selves laughing
(And the flames grew)
Their mad eyes bulged their flushed faces said
The weak get crushed as the strong grow stronger
Live by fear and despise love in a crises
(What with today’s high prices)
Bring some paper and bring some wood
Bring what’s left of all your love for the fire
We’ll watch the flames grow higher!
But if you get too burnt - you can’t come back home
I could see the faces of those led pissing their selves laughing
(And the flames grew)
Their mad eyes bulged their flushed faces said
The weak get crushed as the strong grow stronger
We’ll watch the flames grow higher
But if you get too burnt - you can’t come back home
(Well I feel so old, when I feel so young
Well I just can’t grow up to meet the demands)
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer
Paul John Weller, Rick Buckler, Bruce Foxton
Duration
3:29
Producer
The Jam
Release date
May 29, 1981
Sentiment
Positive
Submitted by
planetearth On Apr 14, 2004
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the last great jam song, no keyboards, no organs no keyboards no female backing singers just 3 blokes hammering out dark, electrifying music
Weller must have been channeling something here. Surprised no one has mentioned David Cameron and his mooted love of the Jam in connection with this record. They tend to mention Eton Rifles for obvious reasons, but this record seems much more apposite with mention of the 'crisis' and the rich looking cheerfully on. It's hard not to think of Osborne's grin and his perpetual ski-ing holidays. Probably an attempt to mimic the apocalyptic feel of London Calling, but it tops it because this record genuinely has a strange and spooky feeling to it. Agree with sivilla, if only they'd gone out on this instead of the insipid white soul stuff, their reputation would be much higher. It's like the funeral pyre is for punk idealism or leftism in pop or the group itself, since after this, the ambition of pop and what could be done with it was narrowed. In this, it's similar to Strange Town, another Jam high water-mark.
A nice dose of anti-Thatcherism.
Doesn't the low budget video of this song shows the burning of the books, Nazi censorship in the early 1930s? I've never really thought of this song as being a political song, but it may be about stifling new ideas and freedom of thought.
Doesn't the low budget video of this song shows the burning of the books, Nazi censorship in the early 1930s? I've never really thought of this song as being a political song, but it may be about stifling new ideas and freedom of thought.
I also read somewhere that Foxton and Buckler came up with the tune (like many Jam tunes, but with this one they actually put their foot down for credit!) while Weller wrote the lyrics. The 1983 Snap! album has a slightly different mix (although the difference is minimal), as none of the band were very happy...
I also read somewhere that Foxton and Buckler came up with the tune (like many Jam tunes, but with this one they actually put their foot down for credit!) while Weller wrote the lyrics. The 1983 Snap! album has a slightly different mix (although the difference is minimal), as none of the band were very happy with the original. The bass line and drumming on this song are top rate, but it has not really stood the test of time like many Jam songs. Do you agree?
It reminds me of Kristallnacht, with the Nazis ritually burning all the Jewish books in Germany on huge bonfires.
@manic4manics I think it’s about the book burnings the Nazi student union carried out in 1933 in city centres across Germany. Kristallnacht was a night of attack’s upon Jewish people and especially property. The song warns us about fascism and our habit of putting our faith in and following leaders: ,...tonight we’ll put responsibility on the fire” and as the song fades out Weller repeats the lines “and I feel so old and I feel so young but I just can’t grow up enough to meet life’s demands”
@manic4manics I think it’s about the book burnings the Nazi student union carried out in 1933 in city centres across Germany. Kristallnacht was a night of attack’s upon Jewish people and especially property. The song warns us about fascism and our habit of putting our faith in and following leaders: ,...tonight we’ll put responsibility on the fire” and as the song fades out Weller repeats the lines “and I feel so old and I feel so young but I just can’t grow up enough to meet life’s demands”
Fascism is what people turn to when...
Fascism is what people turn to when they don’t want to think or face reality. When facing life with its complexities and challenges is too much. Following a leader like Hitler, or today with Trump, Orban, Duterte is reassuring people are recreating the relationships they had as small children with their parents. Much easier go through life being told what to think.
@manic4manics Kristalnacht wasnt the book burnings. It was when Jewish businesses and homes were ransacked.
@manic4manics Kristalnacht wasnt the book burnings. It was when Jewish businesses and homes were ransacked.
This is about the racism of the early 80's in Britain, the NF marches, the race riot in South London. The 'fire/burning books' that Weller sings of, represents the hatred between whites and blacks, and the throwing away of earlier unity of the late 60's when everyone was listening to reggae.
"As I was standing by the edge, I could see the faces of those who led pissing themselves laughing"
That basically means all the hatred was orchestrated by the government (or the Illuminati) and they were loving the results (The riots and the hatred)
This is really one of those songs you can read on many levels here. In addition to the above, he's lamenting about how Thatcher and her cronies in effect killed a lot of the hope and desire for reforms that punk and post-punk brought to the UK. "Those who lead" had won, and thus got to piss themselves laughing.as punk and post-punk fell into the abyss.
And on another level, he could be comparing Thatcher's government to the Nazis. The protests and riots were often met with brutality by the police at the time. Thatcher wanted to repress the protests, just like Hitler wanted to quash any dissent amongst his ranks.
And on another level, he could be comparing Thatcher's government to the Nazis. The protests and riots were often met with brutality by the police at the time. Thatcher wanted to repress the protests, just like Hitler wanted to quash any dissent amongst his ranks.
Could be why so many soles are committing suicide these days, it's a way of culling people who struggle to fit in to society, probably on benefits, the last verse sums up the song, you get to a certain age without establishing enough worth to see you through old age.
@Sammy seemore
@Sammy seemore
@Sammy seemore
@Sammy seemore
@Sammy seemore I think it's called gangstalking these days fueled by hate and gread driven by Google and social platforms to enact organised crimes on victims, yes a resemblance to the nazis(zetzersun)
@Sammy seemore I think it's called gangstalking these days fueled by hate and gread driven by Google and social platforms to enact organised crimes on victims, yes a resemblance to the nazis(zetzersun)