Yourself

On the Manics 'Everything Live' VHS tape from the mid 90s, in the closing bars of Motown Junk, James Dean Bradfield rants 'we live in urban hell, with new fragrances of Paco Raban aftershave every weekend.' Although Richey and Nicky write the lyrics, the band's durability lies in the strength of their shared beliefs. Otherwise JDB wouldn't be a band with two guys who could hardly play their instruments (in the early days at least). Modern capitalism is a meaningless empty and degrading ritual that preys on people's deepest insecurities, hence 'free scent burns your skin' - exploding the advertising myth that aftershave enhances your attractiveness to the opposite sex, when all you're actually doing is degrading yourself- 'everyone is perfect and you're so lame.' One of the greatest things about the Manics is that they gain relevance over time unlike most bands which fade with the zeitgeist. I stand in Boots thinking 'which man moisturiser should I buy' and hating myself for attaching any importance to such things. Wherever Richey is now, thank god he gave us these lyrics before he went.

It's mainly about self disgust. it depends how u look at it whether ur singing about yourself or to someone else. But is still about disgust. Altho from what the manics have said it is about self disgust. Looking in the mirror every day trying to convince yourself you look ok just so you can get throught the day. When deep inside you know your just a flabby piece of shit.

On the Manics 'Everything Live' VHS tape from the mid 90s, in the closing bars of Motown Junk, James Dean Bradfield rants 'we live in urban hell, with new fragrances of Paco Raban aftershave every weekend.' Although Richey and Nicky write the lyrics, the band's durability lies in the strength of their shared beliefs. Otherwise JDB wouldn't be a band with two guys who could hardly play their instruments (in the early days at least). Modern capitalism is a meaningless empty and degrading ritual that preys on people's deepest insecurities, hence 'free scent burns your skin' - exploding the advertising myth that aftershave enhances your attractiveness to the opposite sex, when all you're actually doing is degrading yourself- 'everyone is perfect and you're so lame.' One of the greatest things about the Manics is that they gain relevance over time unlike most bands which fade with the zeitgeist. I stand in Boots thinking 'which man moisturiser should I buy' and hating myself for attaching any importance to such things. Wherever Richey is now, thank god he gave us these lyrics before he went.

Pretty straightforward, I think. This song is one of my favorites, I wish that MSP still wrote songs of this style.

I think it's about the desire to conform, and to be accepted. The line about rituals depresses the hell out of me - get up, fit in, same old routine, routine, routine.

Sort of. I think its saying that there's all these rituals and routines, everyone does them, and we all hate it, but because it's what everyone else does, we think we have no choice but to do the same. The fact that we're subjecting ourselves to all this crap and not enjoying it, that makes us feel bad about ourselves, because we feel that this should be the sort of thing we aspire to, only when we acchieve it, it doesn't feel all that good.

It can be interprated as vanity. How you're never satisfied with your own appearence and personality so try harder and harder to fit in. Leading to depression and ignorance.

Been there

Well I think everyone can relate to this song. It's pretty straightforward - sounds definitely like a Richey lyric.

The Manics are just all geniuses. The lyrics are all pure political poetry, and the music in this track is one of my very favourites :)

This song actually scares me because its just so true and i love the "of yourself" part,such powerful lyrics and music! Hail the manics for best songs ever!