The Jam – Going Underground

Some people might say my life is in a rut
But I'm quite happy with what I got
People might say that I should strive for more
But I'm so happy I can't see the point
Somethings happening here today
A show of strength with your boys brigade
And I'm so happy and you're so kind
You want more money of course I don't mind
To buy nuclear textbooks for atomic crimes

And the public gets what the public wants
But I want nothing this societys got
I'm going underground (going underground)
Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound
Going underground (going underground)
Well let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow

Some people might get some pleasure out of hate
Me, I've enough already on my plate
People might need some tension to relax
Me, I'm too busy dodging between the flak

What you see is what you get
You've made your bed, you better lie in it
You choose your leaders and place your trust
As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns

And the public wants what the public gets
But I don't get what this society wants
I'm going underground (going underground)
Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound
Going underground (going underground)
So let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow

We talk and talk until my head explodes
I turn on the news and my body froze
The braying sheep on my TV screen
Make this boy shout, make this boy scream!

Going underground
Going underground!
I'm going underground!
I'm going underground!

These braying sheep on my TV screen
Make this boy shout, make this boy scream!

Going underground (going underground)
Well, let the brass bands play and feet start to pound
Going underground (going underground)
Well, let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout
Going underground (going underground)
Well, let the brass bands play and feet go pow, pow, pow
Going underground (going underground)
So let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout for tomorrow


Lyrics submitted by tallan

"Going Underground" as written by Paul John Weller

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Going Underground song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • +5
    General CommentHow does it get better than:
    "You choose your leaders and place your trust
    As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
    You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns"?
    wmorrison August 24, 2009   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • +3
    General CommentA brilliant song against the jingoistic war-mongering and materialism/"aspiration" appropriated by our press and politicians; but chiefly their prioritising warfare over welfare and how it makes you want to opt out altogether and go 'underground'. A testament to how good it is, is its relevance today - just look at how we're told our NHS has become "unaffordable" whilst non-renewal of the costly, useless, unusable, nuclear warheads AKA trident is off the table.
    Lonelyascanbeon December 16, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThe modfather's greatest song.

    I think it's about somebody who doesn't care for society and what it has to offer, so vows to do things his way
    Comrade_Liaron April 02, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song was voted number 28 on the Greatest Number 1's of all Time on Channel 4...great song, I love it! My favourite part is "What you see is what you get, you've made your bed, you better lie in it" :D
    Libertine1on May 19, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI love the last bit.

    Going Underground! Weeoo-weeooo-weeoo-weeoo!

    Sorry - bad attempt at cool guitar noise.
    strider3005on July 25, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentGreat song would I be correct in saying it about England and Thatcher ect? Great song really sums up the anti society feelings that we all get. I love the opening line.
    Cpt-Sensibleon October 21, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment"You choose your leaders and place your trust
    As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
    You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns"

    Weller is a godly lyricist.
    Ghost C2Con February 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Commenthow come all the jams songs hae so little posts??
    in there time they were the greatest band around!
    the song is simple, its about nuculear holocaust "you want more money of cousre i don't mind, to buy nuculear textbooks for atomic crimes" is reffering to the goverment spending the taxpayers money on weapons of mass destruction, and "going underground is talking about how when nuculear war brakes out we will alll have to hide underground from the toxic poisons and the earths surface.
    seargent pepperon August 17, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIt's about him not understanding why the government does things like build nuclear bombs going underground is getting away from society.
    teds-mate-billon August 21, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI doubt this song will ever lose relevance. While it may've been written in the late 70s about the UK, it's just as relevant about any of the super powers of the world when it comes to the talk of rockets, guns, and nuclear arms. And it's still relevant 30 years later. That makes this a great song (besides it just being awesome). Anything that stands that test of time and is still relevant is something that is well-written.
    pocketthesauruson October 17, 2009   Link

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