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The Jam — Going Underground
Album: single
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1090









Released: 1980
Length: 2:51
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Some people might say my life is in a rut,
But I'm quite happy with what I got
People might say that I should strive for more,
But I'm so happy I can't see the point.
Somethings happening here today
A show of strength with your boy's brigade and,
I'm so happy and you're so kind
You want more money - of course I don't mind
To buy nuclear textbooks for atomic crimes
And the public gets what the public wants
But I want nothing this society's got.


I'm going underground, (going underground)
Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound
Going underground, (going underground)
Well let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow

Some people might get some pleasure out of hate
Me, I've enough already on my plate
People might need some tension to relax
I'm too busy dodging between the flak
What you see is what you get
You've made your bed, you better lie in it
You choose your leaders and place your trust
As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns
And the public wants what the public gets
But I don't get what this society wants



We talk and talk until my head explodes
I turn on the news and my body froze
The braying sheep on my TV screen
Make this boy shout, make this boy scream!
Going underground, I'm going underground!
Comments (47)add comment
I've seen Paul Weller live twice and both times he was on stage for almost three hours, and no-one wanted him to leave.

At the Warfield in SF, the first half was with a full entourage and the second was him on a stool with a guitar, and it hurt when it was over because it was so fantastic.
Posted 5 months ago by bufallo    [ Reply ]
I can not believe how few The Jam songs are on here!  Sacrilege! 
Posted 2 years ago by david16    [ Reply ]
I’m a huge Paul W / Jam fan, but this ain’t my fav. Nonetheless, thanks BillG for the range
Posted 2 years ago by Montreal_Mort    [ Reply ]
I really like The Jam, but, this is not one of their best tunes!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 kretinburger wrote:

Sorry peeps.Cant stand it.That accent.****ing horrible.



Somebody get me an irn bru in order to swallow any further comments from cretin
Posted 3 years ago by GarrySR07    [ Reply ]
There is an excellent parody of this by a duo called Amateur Transplants, from back in 2005.

If you're a Londoner, you'll no doubt be familiar with it...
Posted 3 years ago by captbradders    [ Reply ]
Lyrics as perfect today as they were when written.
Posted 3 years ago by Greenman    [ Reply ]
I've recently gotten into this band a lot.  I missed them the first go around and I'm making up for lost time.  Such wit and so much fun. 
Posted 3 years ago by cmactavish    [ Reply ]
Lyrics couldn't be more poignant than for today (21 years later).
Posted 3 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Wow, I thought this was The Proclaimers!
I know, I know, Surrey VS Scotland, there's no way I should confuse them... And yet!
Posted 4 years ago by Mannick    [ Reply ]
I'm 21 again!
Posted 4 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
 daigoro wrote:

I love me some working class British accents in music! Agreed, much better than fake American blues/twang. Be loud and proud boys!
 

But he's sung American too, he switches according to the project.
Posted 4 years ago by MattRudely    [ Reply ]
Great Live Show! I have never heard John Cooper Clarke on RP. If Bill wishes Beasley Street would be welcome!
Posted 4 years ago by Chongo1959    [ Reply ]
Love this song - I pogo'd enthusiastically to this in my youth.
Posted 4 years ago by tomperth1    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:
In the election the SNP won 56 seats out of a total of 59 seats available in Scotland. 
 

Can we keep this stuff out of RP? I have to deal with enough British politic-angst in every other aspect of my life - please not this too!
Posted 5 years ago by captbradders    [ Reply ]
Paul Weller is a genius. This was a single only I think? Not on an album proper.
Posted 5 years ago by ToddyWoddy    [ Reply ]
 DaidyBoy wrote:
 
Would it be preferable to put on a fake American twang like so many of our artists do?  Mick, Reg, Richard Ashcroft and so on?  Or an Australian one like Kevin Wilson?  Or a fake Italian one like Joe Dolce?

Being proud of who they are was what The Jam were all about.  I don't recall anything about them being fake. ...


 
Joe Dolce?  What on Earth made you think of that guy?  I doubt many people even remember him, except Midge Ure and the members of Ultravox for his "Shaddap You Face" keeping "Vienna" from reaching number 1 on the UK charts.  
Posted 5 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 DaidyBoy wrote:
 
Would it be preferable to put on a fake American twang like so many of our artists do?  Mick, Reg, Richard Ashcroft and so on?  Or an Australian one like Kevin Wilson?  Or a fake Italian one like Joe Dolce?

Being proud of who they are was what The Jam were all about.  I don't recall anything about them being fake.  They certainly paid homage to those that came before, particularly the likes of Townshend, but they were one of the most dynamic and original bands of their generation.

 
I love me some working class British accents in music! Agreed, much better than fake American blues/twang. Be loud and proud boys!
Posted 6 years ago by daigoro    [ Reply ]
37 years old and right up to date:

You choose your leaders and place your trust
As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns
And the public wants what the public gets
But I don't get what this society wants
Posted 7 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 kretinburger wrote:
Sorry peeps.Cant stand it.That accent.****ing horrible.

  
Would it be preferable to put on a fake American twang like so many of our artists do?  Mick, Reg, Richard Ashcroft and so on?  Or an Australian one like Kevin Wilson?  Or a fake Italian one like Joe Dolce?

Being proud of who they are was what The Jam were all about.  I don't recall anything about them being fake.  They certainly paid homage to those that came before, particularly the likes of Townshend, but they were one of the most dynamic and original bands of their generation.


Posted 7 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Sorry peeps.Cant stand it.That accent.****ing horrible.
Posted 7 years ago by kretinburger    [ Reply ]
No lyrics? What a sad affair!

Here goes:

Some people might say my life is in a rut,
But I'm quite happy with what I got
People might say that I should strive for more,
But I'm so happy I can't see the point.
Somethings happening here today
A show of strength with your boy's brigade and,
I'm so happy and you're so kind
You want more money - of course I don't mind
To buy nuclear textbooks for atomic crimes
And the public gets what the public wants
But I want nothing this society's got.


I'm going underground, (going underground)
Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound
Going underground, (going underground)
Well let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow

Some people might get some pleasure out of hate
Me, I've enough already on my plate
People might need some tension to relax
I'm too busy dodging between the flak
What you see is what you get
You've made your bed, you better lie in it
You choose your leaders and place your trust
As their lies wash you down and their promises rust
You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns
And the public wants what the public gets
But I don't get what this society wants



We talk and talk until my head explodes
I turn on the news and my body froze
The braying sheep on my TV screen
Make this boy shout, make this boy scream!
Going underground, I'm going underground!
Songwriters: WELLER, PAUL JOHN

Brilliant Song! {#Clap} 

Posted 8 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
Consider playing some Rancid... a current punk band that;s pretty freakin good.
Posted 8 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
fukkin outstanding.
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
In the election the SNP won 56 seats out of a total of 59 seats available in Scotland. 
Posted 9 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
 DaidyBoy wrote:
Fabulous to hear The Jam here.  They spoke volumes for an entire generation of disaffected young people in Maggie's Britain.  Loved their sound, too.

 

It's too bad we only have 5 Jam cuts here at RP!

 

They have so many more awesome songs!


Posted 9 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 the_real_mccoy wrote:

Scotland voted 55% to 45% to stay in the UK.

The government greatly underestimated Scottish nationalist sentiment. BUT, the SNP's incredible rise in popularity is in part due to Tony Blair et al completely taking their collective eyes off the ball in Scotland by focussing on the 'Middle England' vote, getting them elected three times. The huge irony is that policies to achieve this arguably made the Labour government more Thatcherite than Thatcher herself.

I'm not sure how you voted Willie, but the nationalist/separatist movements in Europe at the moment for me are a big worry. Germans are protesting and counter protesting about 'Islamification', Le Pen in France, SNP/UKIP in the UK.

After the outrage in Paris yesterday, let's look to the wonderful things we have in common and stand together for freedom and democracy. 

 

The only reason the Labour party can form a UK government is that the have traditionally had almost total control of Scotland. However opinion polls are showing Labour could be wiped out in the spring general election with almost all the Scottish seats going to the nationalists (pro independence party). The irony is that the two main UK party’s Labour and Conservative are polling neck and neck so the Scottish Nationalists could end up controlling the UK government!

Anyone who thinks God doesn’t have a sense of humor doesn’t understand the way or the world works!


Posted 9 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
 the_real_mccoy wrote:

Scotland voted 55% to 45% to stay in the UK.

The government greatly underestimated Scottish nationalist sentiment. BUT, the SNP's incredible rise in popularity is in part due to Tony Blair et al completely taking their collective eyes off the ball in Scotland by focussing on the 'Middle England' vote, getting them elected three times. The huge irony is that policies to achieve this arguably made the Labour government more Thatcherite than Thatcher herself.

I'm not sure how you voted Willie, but the nationalist/separatist movements in Europe at the moment for me are a big worry. Germans are protesting and counter protesting about 'Islamification', Le Pen in France, SNP/UKIP in the UK.

After the outrage in Paris yesterday, let's look to the wonderful things we have in common and stand together for freedom and democracy. 

 
You are right, my friend.  It is all going a bit pear shaped I think.  Makes me wonder where they will build the wall for the great East/West divide.....
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Fabulous to hear The Jam here.  They spoke volumes for an entire generation of disaffected young people in Maggie's Britain.  Loved their sound, too.
Posted 9 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
Most Excellent, Cheers!
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:

This was their first number one single in the UK. In Margaret Thatcher’s 80’s Briton their music was the soundtrack to my life. I can’t think about one without without thinking about the other. 

If Scotland breaks away from the UK and becomes an independent country in next week’s referendum people will look back and say, the move to separation had it roots in what happened during the Thatcher years. 



 
Scotland voted 55% to 45% to stay in the UK.

The government greatly underestimated Scottish nationalist sentiment. BUT, the SNP's incredible rise in popularity is in part due to Tony Blair et al completely taking their collective eyes off the ball in Scotland by focussing on the 'Middle England' vote, getting them elected three times. The huge irony is that policies to achieve this arguably made the Labour government more Thatcherite than Thatcher herself.

I'm not sure how you voted Willie, but the nationalist/separatist movements in Europe at the moment for me are a big worry. Germans are protesting and counter protesting about 'Islamification', Le Pen in France, SNP/UKIP in the UK.

After the outrage in Paris yesterday, let's look to the wonderful things we have in common and stand together for freedom and democracy. 
Posted 9 years ago by the_real_mccoy    [ Reply ]
You made your bed, YOU BETTER LIE IN IT!
Posted 9 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
CLASH!!!
Posted 10 years ago by marmelock    [ Reply ]

This was their first number one single in the UK. In Margaret Thatcher’s 80’s Briton their music was the soundtrack to my life. I can’t think about one without without thinking about the other. 

If Scotland breaks away from the UK and becomes an independent country in next week’s referendum people will look back and say, the move to separation had it roots in what happened during the Thatcher years. 


Posted 10 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
Super Jam!
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 finoufk wrote:
does anyone know manfred mann's cover ?  a great different way to catch the tempo and the spirit of this song. I think..

 

I just listened to a live Mannfred Mann version of "Going Underground" on youtube.  I will agree it's a "radical re-do", but I can't really recommend it.  It's much like the Mannfred versions of Sringsteen's "Spirit in the Night" and "For You", which really don't work for me either.

I'm also somewhat ashamed to admit that I never heard Bruce's version of "Blinded by the Light" until well after the Mannfred version was a hit in the mid-70's, but at least that one is somewhat tolerable.
Posted 10 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
Wonderful band. I've always been confused by their marginal presence on RP. Bring on the Jam Bill.
Posted 10 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
does anyone know manfred mann's cover ?  a great different way to catch the tempo and the spirit of this song. I think..
Posted 10 years ago by finoufk    [ Reply ]
Finally a "new" Jam song on Radio Paradise! {#Hungry}
Posted 10 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
Awesome!  Haven't heard this on RP before...a FINE addition.
Posted 11 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Damn!  A Jam song got added TODAY, after many years of begging for more from the Woking power trio.

AND I MISSED IT!!


Well, way to go RP, as you picked an awesome single...here's some snippets from Wiki:


>>"Going Underground" is the first British number-one chart single by The Jam, released in March 1980. It went straight in at number one, a rare feat at the time, and spent three weeks at the top. It was the first of three instant chart-toppers for the group.<<

>>"Going Underground" was not released on any of the band's six studio albums, although it has appeared on many compilations and rereleases since then. The single's B-side was "Dreams of Children", which had originally been intended to be the A-side; following a mix-up at the pressing plant, the single became a double-A-side, and DJs tended to choose the more melodic "Going Underground" to play on the radio.

In March 2005, Q magazine placed "Going Underground" at number 73 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks, and in October 2006 placed it at number 98 in their list of the 100 Greatest Songs Ever.<<


>>The song includes several indictments of the British policy on arms, and challenges its relative emphasis compared with social provision. It also points a telling finger at the "public" (i.e. electorate).

You want more money of course I don't mind / To buy nuclear textbooks for Atomic crimes

The song also blasts the idea of using money, that could be spent on healthcare, on weapons:

You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns<<

    
Posted 11 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
Nothing wrong with playing The Jam anytime!
Posted 11 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
The Jam? Outstanding, of course{#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}
Posted 11 years ago by Zonkers    [ Reply ]
It's a pretty useless comment, but I think it's the first time I caught a song playing for the first time here at RP. And a good one!
Posted 11 years ago by mauguima    [ Reply ]
Very early Kink-ish. Dedicated follower of fashionable drum beats. 
Dance your ass off. 
 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
I haven't heard this tune in a while - sounds great.  Good memories.
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Something different...nice.  I think the RP playlist would really benefit from the addition of more, but not a lot more, lost gems like this one. 
Posted 11 years ago by black321    [ Reply ]