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Up the Down Escalator Lyrics
I'm gazing at faces
Staring blankly at me
I suppose it's just the sign of the times
They tell me tomorrow will never arrive
But I've seen it end a million times
I lost my direction while dodging the flak
Oh give me a hint or something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
How long will they wait
No!
There must be something wrong boys
Obnoxious actions
Obnoxious results
Teachers who refuse to be taught
Distorted pictures
And dizzy, dizzy people
Rush by me at the speed of thought
Sitting at tables
And throwing the scraps
For Christ's sake leave them something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
Will they hesitate
No!
There must be something wrong boys
They're dragging me down
Eden
There's no Eden anyway
They're dragging me down
You either swim or you drown
Staring blankly at me
I suppose it's just the sign of the times
They tell me tomorrow will never arrive
But I've seen it end a million times
Oh give me a hint or something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
How long will they wait
No!
There must be something wrong boys
Obnoxious results
Teachers who refuse to be taught
Distorted pictures
And dizzy, dizzy people
Rush by me at the speed of thought
And throwing the scraps
For Christ's sake leave them something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
Will they hesitate
No!
There must be something wrong boys
They're dragging me down
There's no Eden anyway
You either swim or you drown
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It describes a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the world around the protagonist. They feel lost and directionless, and they also feel resentment towards those who hold power, who sit at their tables and throw scraps at the rest of the world. The line "For Christ's sake leave me something" expresses a sense of desperation and anger towards those who hold power and wealth. The use of the phrase "the flick of a switch" gives the idea that people can be easily controlled and manipulated, with their very existence erased at the whim of those in power.
The repeated line, "There must be something wrong boys," adds a sense of emphasis and frustration. That something is not right in the world is repeated, highlighting the protagonist's sense of unease and discomfort with their surroundings. The closing line, "You either swim or you drown," expresses a sense of urgency and the idea that people must either fight against the current or be pulled under. The song seems to be a commentary on the state of the world and the feelings of powerlessness and frustration that many people feel when faced with the inequalities and injustices of the world.
This is the first song I heard from the Chameleons and I was instantly hooked. IMHO...The best - BEST! - overlooked bands of the 80s. They don't have one song that is worth fast-forwarding through. Which can't be said of most bands. LOVE The Chameleons!!!
Mark's note from the official site:
"The title was actually Reg's suggestion for a band name before we settled on The Chameleons, I liked it so much I remembered it and it just seemed apt for this particular idea. A further inspiration came from Dave when he told me he'd seen an item about a very young child genius who written something like "Someone told me tomorrow never comes, but I've seen it end lots of times." 'Escalator' deals with helplessness in a world gone stark, raving mad."
this was the song that got me into The Chameleons and then I went out and bought everything including aby bootleg CD of theirs that I could find.