Suspect Device Lyrics
It's a suspect device that's left 2000 dead
Their solutions are our problems
They put up the wall
On each side time and prime us
And make sure we get fuck all
They play their games of power
They mark and cut the pack
They deal us to the bottom
But what do they put back?
Don't believe them
Don't believe them
Don't be bitten twice
you gotta suss, suss, suss, suss, suss out
Suss suspect device
In the name of liberty
Why don't they all just clear off
Why won't they let us be
They make us feel indebted
For saving us from hell
And then they put us through it
It's time the bastards fell
Don't believe them
Question everything you're told
Just take a look around you
At the bitterness and spite
Why can't we take over and try to put it right
But a suspect device can score an own goal
I'm a suspect device the Army can't defuse
You're a suspect device they know they can't refuse
We're gonna blow up in their face
What a great fucking song. Definitely SLF's best, these guys are pissed off and sick of the system. Their message is clear and meant to be followed. Note: The orignal version is much better than the single.
well, since slf came about in northern ireland in the late 1970's, so this song is probably about the violent conflict between nationalist (mostly catholic) and union factions (mostly protestant).
"They put up the wall"
referring to the peace lines, a series of walls separating catholic and protestant neighborhoods in several cities in northern ireland.
"They take away our freedom In the name of liberty Why don't they all just clear off Why won't they let us be They make us feel indebted For saving us from hell And then they put us through it It's time the bastards fell"
I'm not sure which side they're taking, nationalist or unionist. it could go either way or even neither way.
Neither way. They object to the system and the endless fighting and the authority and the self proclaimed heroes who do nothing for the people they claim to be fighting for. Wasted Life goes into more detail.
Neither way. They object to the system and the endless fighting and the authority and the self proclaimed heroes who do nothing for the people they claim to be fighting for. Wasted Life goes into more detail.
Stiff Little Fingers pretty much thought paramilitary organisations on both sides, the Army and the RUC were all as bad as each other.
Stiff Little Fingers pretty much thought paramilitary organisations on both sides, the Army and the RUC were all as bad as each other.
@russrebellion SLF resolutely took neither side in the Troubles - they were neither Unionist nor Republican. Their stance was that the whole thing was a stupid meaningless fight that ruined the lives of a generation of Northern Irish people.
@russrebellion SLF resolutely took neither side in the Troubles - they were neither Unionist nor Republican. Their stance was that the whole thing was a stupid meaningless fight that ruined the lives of a generation of Northern Irish people.
I might be wrong but I've always assumed that the "Sus-sus-sus-sus-pect device" chorus was a reference to the highly controversial "sus laws" that were in force in the UK in the late 70s/early 80s. Essentially, you could be arrested if a police officer merely suspected that you might be thinking of committing a crime. Yes, seriously...(the law was repealed in the 80s)
@smallard Thanks for the interpretation! I was just 4 years old, when this song was published, luck of late birth! This is one of the greatest punk songs I like!
@smallard Thanks for the interpretation! I was just 4 years old, when this song was published, luck of late birth! This is one of the greatest punk songs I like!
Funnily when I first heard this, I thought of a Smartphone as a suspect device (because I thought it might be of the last decade, as a post punk song, Spotify knows me better than I myself, there is so much music out there which still needs to be discovered....). But the law in UK in the early Thatcher years was completely bullshit. I have the feeling today the liberty or...
Funnily when I first heard this, I thought of a Smartphone as a suspect device (because I thought it might be of the last decade, as a post punk song, Spotify knows me better than I myself, there is so much music out there which still needs to be discovered....). But the law in UK in the early Thatcher years was completely bullshit. I have the feeling today the liberty or freedom is again in danger....most people just don't care about personal freedom and rights as long as it feels fluffy and creamy enough. The golden cage problem, if you are not aware,...
@smallard A "suspect device" was a phrase used during The Troubles. It refers to a bomb. In these lyrics it symbolizes the singer as a "suspect device". A man so angry about the situation he is a bomb about to explode.
@smallard A "suspect device" was a phrase used during The Troubles. It refers to a bomb. In these lyrics it symbolizes the singer as a "suspect device". A man so angry about the situation he is a bomb about to explode.
@smallard Hi mate, nope, I grew up in NI during the Troubles conflict there, and a "suspect device" was any concealed object which might be a bomb. The termin originated in N Ireland during the Troubles. It was commonly used in news reports of the period in N Ireland, e.g., "The centre of X town was sealed off by the army while attempts were made to defuse a suspect device". Jake Burns' deliberate stammering was just something done for effect, in the best rock tradition of e.g. The Who's deliberate stammer on "My Generation"...
@smallard Hi mate, nope, I grew up in NI during the Troubles conflict there, and a "suspect device" was any concealed object which might be a bomb. The termin originated in N Ireland during the Troubles. It was commonly used in news reports of the period in N Ireland, e.g., "The centre of X town was sealed off by the army while attempts were made to defuse a suspect device". Jake Burns' deliberate stammering was just something done for effect, in the best rock tradition of e.g. The Who's deliberate stammer on "My Generation"
First time I ever heard this song, it was in a bootleg video and the Casualties were covering it. I was 14 and "punk as fuck" and I got so excited I nearly pissed my pants. This song is excellent and always brings those feelings back to me- brings me back to when music meant everything to me.
I was 15, me and my mate stu were dogging school, drinking home made wine and razzin' around the local dirt roads on a Yamaha dirt bike. I really felt pumped up, anti establishment and punking mental. It's no co-incidence that we pushed and kicked a workmen's Portaloo down a railway embankment while we were particularly strung out on one mission.
Fight the power mate! how fecking heroic, taking away a working class bloke's place to shit.
Fight the power mate! how fecking heroic, taking away a working class bloke's place to shit.
WoW man, so few comments on a brilliant song. i love how its so straightforward, no bull sh*t. This song tuned me into the punk of the 70's, new york and uk: clash, ramones, pistols, new york dolls, blondie, iggy pop, patti smith, richard hell, all of it. When i heard this song, little over a year ago, it got me to thinking, the government really doesnt help us, it helps the rich and ditches the poor!
socialism my friends! the way of perfection
Socialism is more oppression mate. Nothing top down empowers people. Viva la CNT.
Socialism is more oppression mate. Nothing top down empowers people. Viva la CNT.
The government can't possibly take care of everyone's little problems. Stop whining and do something about it yourself
Problem being when they create the problems mate.
Problem being when they create the problems mate.
You guys are lucky the first SLF song I heard was Can't get away with that shudders it alsmot turned me off but then I head this song and its fucking amazing.
The government can't take care of everyone's little problems? Well, im glad then that they pour their efforts into a useless war and play with american lives like they were nothing. Certainly the benefit of the rich and powerful is far more importnat than dealing with actual problems at home.
Great song, all you have to do is listen to it once and you'll understand its meaning.