David, the wind blows
The wind blows
Bits of your life away
Your friends all say
"Where is our boy? Oh, we've lost our boy"
But they should know
Where you've gone
Because again and again you've explained that
You're going to
Oh, you're going to
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
England for the English!
England for the English!
David, the winds blow
The winds blow
All of my dreams away
And I still say
"Where is our boy?
Ah, we've lost our boy"
But I should know
Why you've gone
Because again and again you've explained
You've gone to the
National, ah
To the National
There's a country; you don't live there
But one day you would like to
And if you show them what you're made of
Oh, then you might do
But David, we wonder
We wonder if the thunder
Is ever really gonna begin
Begin, begin
Your mom says
"I've lost my boy"
But she should know
Why you've gone
Because again and again you've explained
You've gone to the
National
To the National
To the National Front disco
Because you want the day to come sooner
You want the day to come sooner
You want the day to come sooner
When you've settled the score
Oh, the National [Repeat: x5]
The wind blows
Bits of your life away
Your friends all say
"Where is our boy? Oh, we've lost our boy"
But they should know
Where you've gone
Because again and again you've explained that
You're going to
Oh, you're going to
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
England for the English!
England for the English!
David, the winds blow
The winds blow
All of my dreams away
And I still say
"Where is our boy?
Ah, we've lost our boy"
But I should know
Why you've gone
Because again and again you've explained
You've gone to the
National, ah
To the National
There's a country; you don't live there
But one day you would like to
And if you show them what you're made of
Oh, then you might do
But David, we wonder
We wonder if the thunder
Is ever really gonna begin
Begin, begin
Your mom says
"I've lost my boy"
But she should know
Why you've gone
Because again and again you've explained
You've gone to the
National
To the National
To the National Front disco
Because you want the day to come sooner
You want the day to come sooner
You want the day to come sooner
When you've settled the score
Oh, the National [Repeat: x5]
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
National Front Disco Lyrics as written by Alain Gordon Whyte Steven Morrissey
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Anyone who thinks this songs is racist can only be seen as simple, ignorant and somewhat hateful.
It's a song exploring why normal people do stupid things for example joining the National Front.
"The winds blow ...
All of my dreams away"
This lyric is one of three that sums up the meaning of this song. We all feel that our dreams have 'Blown Away' and some people cling to the first thing the see that will possibly make it all better. In Davids case, The National Front.
"We wonder if the thunder
Is ever really gonna begin"
And this is the point in the song when you realise that 'David' isn't racist or even particularly right wing. He knows that racism doesn't help but he feels dejected and empty that the world in general is of no use and there is no way for him to actually make it better.
"..but one day you would like to
And if you show them what you're made of"
This is summing up the fact that we all want to make a mark and do something with ourselves but there appears to be no way to.
Just think about it.
also wanting thatcher on a guillotine.
He famously played this song, wrapped in a Union Jack, with several National Front members at the front of the audience and it was NME's coverage of this (rather criticising poor Mozza) that lead to his refusal to speak to them for over ten years!
It's definitely not racist. Moz seems to enjoy flirting with the controversy that people create through their failure to read the lyrics properly. Songs like 'We'll Let You Know' and 'Asian Rut' also share the 'racist' label, simply because people can't see the fact that he's being deliberately ironic and sometimes just patriotic! Where's the harm in loving your country?!
Well, let's look at the lyrics. National Front- ultra right wing conservative group, that is clear enough. Why a disco- a place for dance and fun. Perhaps the "David" in the song finds it a fun and exciting political party. The others in the song, David's mother, friends and even Morrissey himself seem to think he is making a mistake-"where is our boy, we've lost our boy". But the David in the song doesn't see it that way at all- he isn't lost, he has arrived- he embraces his new views and new party.
What is confusing about the song and I think the reason it generated controversy is the music of ths song- footstomping, energetic, uplifting and exciting- it seems to celebrate the National Front. Also, irony works best if it gives you a wink and a nod that there is something wrong with the subject matter or showing absurd negative consequences of one's views or actions. There really is neither other than observer's worrying that 'David' is lost. I mean for instance, if Morrissey substituted 'Labour Party' for National Front, nobody would have batted an eye at the lyrics. So I can see why Morrissey caught flack for this song.
My favourite part of this song is 'there's a country, you don't live there, but someday you would like to, and if you show them what you're made of, you might do.' This line makes me feel for a fleeting moment that maybe there's something to be said for the NF (BNP now) and that's what's so great about the song, you really sympathise for David and his views.
In a recent interview (I'm loosely paraphrasing) Morrissey said that in certain parts of London you can walk down the street and not hear an English accent and that he thinks that this is a real shame. You can't dismiss someone as racist or fascist because he wishes there was less immigration and thinks that British culture is being diluted. Although it is a bit strange since Morrissey's family were immigrants...
- Oscar Wilde
This song is very obviously critical of the National Front. It's classic Morrissey, pushing dark vocals against a lively melody. The protagonist, "David," is portrayed as a bit of a loser,
"The wind blows
Bits of your life away"
whose friends and family are mourning the fact that he's been lost to this fascist (disco) party,
"Where is our boy? Oh, we've lost our boy"
which gives him someone to blame for his troubles (i.e. minorities),
"You want the day to come sooner
When you've settled the score"
and promises to remake England into the country he wishes it was, one where he thinks things would go his way.
"There's a country; you don't live there
But one day you would like to
And if you show them what you're made of
Oh, then you might do"
But of course, like most white-supremacist organizations, the National Front Party (wittily represented as a disco party) is all talk, no real answers.
"But David, we wonder
We wonder if the thunder
Is ever really gonna begin"
Anyone who listens to this and thinks it supports the National Front is probably dim enough to be a member. Morrissey has made unfortunate comments about race (among other topics), but this song isn't one of them.