Sowing the Seeds of Love

Its all about politics and moral ideals - but sung in such a 'sweet' and upbeat way which totally clashes with the lyrics - yet it works!

I think that "kick out the style, bring back the jam' has a double meaning. On the surface, its saying bring back substance into music, and get rid of all these pop acts who are just there to look good. Delving deeper, it could be about the band the Jam. The Jam were all about politcs and depicted such intense social realism in their songs. Then Wellar left and formed the Style Council, and even though some songs were about politcal issues (Walls Come Tumbling Down for eg), they weren't known as a particularly political band. So the lads could be saying, bring back such bands that told you the truth and fought on the issues through their music. I may be completely wrong about this - that's just my perspective!

Seriously? I was right about the Jam/Style Council bit?!

Wow, I never knew it was true, just how I represented the song to be - that's cool though :) I'm glad that's what it meant then just the literal meaning! And now I'm all chuffed with myself!!

pop and political epic - it was released and written in 1989 when Britain was going a period of major change - people were getting sick of Margaret Thatcher in power and all the stiflings they had to endure.

Ecstacy and house music was just starting to creep in, hence 'sowing the seeds of love' - people were starting to be nicer to each other and embrace this love culture that was starting

I never used to like this song as it was far too Beatles-like for me, but over the years I've listened and its grown on me. I think its about being your own person and not letting the people in power dictate how you should live your life.

This song also must have influenced Oasis' 'All Around the World' - heard the song? seen the vid? Its just like it! More recently I reckon its influenced Panic at the Disco's 'Nine in the Afternoon' - go listen to it.

These bands can bang on about how the Beatles have inspired them but I think they should really give a nod to Tears for Fears....one of the most underrated bands ever!

Im still trying to figure out what this song means but i do know its wonderful and it has some political meaning.

I agree, it definately has a political slant. Perhaps it's just expressing frustration over messed up politics as well as the fact that the public does nothing about it.

It's a pop epic. Pure and simple.

This is a song with a very 70s attitude, perhaps 15 years late in the making. :) "Sowing the Seeds of Love" really means just spreading peace and love everywhere, as a means of overcoming political woes and whatnot. But, of course, it's also a lovey-dovey reference to sex.

I think the song deals with the mental numbness of the general public, how they turn to religion for their answers instead of informing themselves about what happens ("They look to the skies for some kind of divine intervention") and how the songwriters believe people should make more of an effort to inform themselves and figure out their place in society ("Read it in the books, in the crannies and the nooks there are books to read!")

"Politician Grannie with your high ideals, have you no idea how the majority feels?" - This refers to the misrepresentation by a nation's political force of what its people really want, and the songwriters think it's "high time" they "shook up the views of the common man" - in other words, get people aware that their governments don't always fairly represent them. Perhaps they are using this song to do so!

"Without love and a promised land, we're fools to the rules of the Government plan" - Ok, we've established that we need to be more aware of what our government is really doing, but what will motivate us to take action? Love! They are saying that without hope, people continue to be numb, but with love, people open up and start thinking about their surroundings more, and then will work together to make a better society. (A bit hypocritical in my opinion, as this seems just as ideological as the "politician grannie" that the songwriters make fun of.)

The end of the song basically sums it up... people will be happier, more loving, and less greedy if they just spread the love around.

Suddenly I felt the urge to put a flower in my hair.

The song reminds me of the Beatles and the sorts of things they would say in some of their more political songs. Make love, not war basically.

This is a very political song.

butterflykiss84 was right on about the Jam/Style Council reference. Roland and Curt have said that's what it was about.

"Politician Granny" is a reference to Margaret Thatcher, who was the PM in the UK at the time the song was written. The boys weren't very big fans of hers. :)

And in general yeah, I think it's a song about people needing to get involved. Wake up and smell what your government is doing in your name. So many people just blindly follow without even really knowing what the implications are. They should educate themselves - there are a ton of resources out there - read them in the books in the crannies and the nooks. :)