True it's about breaking the law, but there are more lyrics than simply the chorus and I’ve always felt the song was more personal to the band.
They're from Sheffield, which at one time was one of, or possibly the largest steel-producing city in Britain hence the name of the album "British Steel" (1980) which this song features on.
Thatcher’s Tory party came to power in 1979 having gained support by saying that they would increase Britain’s industry and make sure that even with the collapse of its empire post WWII, it would continue to be one of the greatest nations both economically and politically on Earth, the "Golden future" we had all be promised
However this was not the case Thatcher quickly set about deconstructing Britain’s industries steel, ship building, oil drilling and coal mining were all sold and instead bought in cheaper from over seas. Only gaining a second term in the wake of victory in the Falklands conflict.
No doubt people who worked in these industries felt cheated like they'd had "Every promise broken" as if no one did care if they did "live or die".
Obviously with millions out of work, neither trained for new jobs nor offered them, crime rates soured in these once industrial cities hence "Breaking the Law".
To those who lived in cities which main economies were banking, insurance and the like and had thus not been affected Halford says, "You don't know what this is like" and "[if you found yourself in a similar situation] You'd be doing the same thing too".
This song may seem relatively straightforward however it's actually a massive protest against Thatcher’s government and the collapse of British industry.
@Powers I fully agree, on the same album there was the song "United". To me Priest showed to be supporting the British working class against the destruction people experienced because of neo-liberal politics.
@Powers I fully agree, on the same album there was the song "United". To me Priest showed to be supporting the British working class against the destruction people experienced because of neo-liberal politics.
True it's about breaking the law, but there are more lyrics than simply the chorus and I’ve always felt the song was more personal to the band.
They're from Sheffield, which at one time was one of, or possibly the largest steel-producing city in Britain hence the name of the album "British Steel" (1980) which this song features on.
Thatcher’s Tory party came to power in 1979 having gained support by saying that they would increase Britain’s industry and make sure that even with the collapse of its empire post WWII, it would continue to be one of the greatest nations both economically and politically on Earth, the "Golden future" we had all be promised
However this was not the case Thatcher quickly set about deconstructing Britain’s industries steel, ship building, oil drilling and coal mining were all sold and instead bought in cheaper from over seas. Only gaining a second term in the wake of victory in the Falklands conflict.
No doubt people who worked in these industries felt cheated like they'd had "Every promise broken" as if no one did care if they did "live or die".
Obviously with millions out of work, neither trained for new jobs nor offered them, crime rates soured in these once industrial cities hence "Breaking the Law".
To those who lived in cities which main economies were banking, insurance and the like and had thus not been affected Halford says, "You don't know what this is like" and "[if you found yourself in a similar situation] You'd be doing the same thing too".
This song may seem relatively straightforward however it's actually a massive protest against Thatcher’s government and the collapse of British industry.
This is pretty much the best comment about a song I ever read..., thanks for the insights and please write a book( really ).
This is pretty much the best comment about a song I ever read..., thanks for the insights and please write a book( really ).
@Powers I fully agree, on the same album there was the song "United". To me Priest showed to be supporting the British working class against the destruction people experienced because of neo-liberal politics.
@Powers I fully agree, on the same album there was the song "United". To me Priest showed to be supporting the British working class against the destruction people experienced because of neo-liberal politics.