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Rating: When this album was released, let's face it, the band - as we knew it - no longer existed! Much water had passed under the bridge since that November 6, 1975, when the band first performed as Sex Pistols. The youthful zeal that had kicked off everything, aided by an iconoclastic attitude and the consequent search for new heroes, was naturally dissolving, facilitating the more influential record labels that skillfully embraced the mature and emerging talents of a movement that had always refused to transform into fashion. February 1979 marked, with events of proven historical significance, the band managed (yes, it really was like that...) by manager Malcolm McLaren, such as the departure of Johnny Rotten and even more so the disappearance of the one who would become the indelible icon of an era: Sid Vicious.
The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle appears on the market as a decent product, managing to reconcile more the needs of a soundtrack (of a feature film for which one had to wait until the following year) than those of an intriguing collection that objectively has little in common with a typical greatest hits. It will always be a joy to come across a fierce version of Anarchy in the U.K. and its worthy b-side on 45 rpm I Wanna Be Me, while the iaiaiaiaiaii of (I'm not) Your Stepping Stone is still able to make your butt and head jump as in the past, just as the funky bass that introduces Don't Gimme No Lip Child wouldn't even let you imagine how such a lyrical-musical vehemence could become pleasing to the ears. And speaking of rock'n'roll, the inevitable tributes (so to speak) to Bill Haley and His Comets and Chuck Berry could not be missing, respectively with Rock Around the Clock and Johnny B. Goode, also including a necessary tribute to the Who with a raw version of Substitute. In Something Else it's Sid Vicious who mimics Elvis Presley, then launches into a terrifying version of My Way, which, in addition to paving the way for the album, would also appear on Sid Sings, the first album by the bassist published posthumously in December 1979. The curious will certainly be intrigued by the quirky Who Killed Bambi or the unusual versions of God Save The Queen and EMI, even though the title track or Silly Thing will satisfy even the most demanding listener.
The film-documentary shot by Julien Temple in 1978, for which the album serves as a soundtrack, is more enjoyable and impactful. A fun and fictionalized retrospective wanted by the London manager, which will see some Sex Pistols in the roles of improbable actors alongside real characters like Ronnie Biggs (yes, the one from the Glasgow-London postal train robbery of 1963) and Edward Tenpole (who then managed to land a record contract because of this incredible participation!), will make those smile who never imagined seeing Johnny Rotten (only present with archival material) playing the role of Prince of Punk.
It may not be an essential vinyl, but for those who musically lived through the second half of the '70s, it offers the pleasant opportunity to take a dive back and rethink the days gone by, leaving for the younger and curious, a record capable of making them realize how it has become substantial over the years for understanding a (albeit brief) historical-musical period that, like it or not, represented the crossing between a before and an after.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 God Save the Queen (04:03)
God save the queen
The fascist regime
They made you a moron
A potential H bomb
God save the queen
She ain't no human being
And there's no future
In England's dreaming
Don't be told what you want, you want
And don't be told what you need
There's no future, no future
No future for you
God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves
God save the queen
'Cause tourists are money
And our figurehead
Is not what she seems
Oh God save history
God save your mad parade
Oh lord God have mercy
All crimes are paid
When there's no future, how can there be sin
We're the flowers in the dustbin
We're the poison in your human machine
We're the future, your future
God save the queen
We mean it man
We love our queen
God saves
God save the queen
We mean it man
And there's no future
In England's dreaming
No future
No future
No future for you
No future
No future
No future for me
No future
No future
No future for you
No future
No future
No future for you
02 Johnny B. Goode (02:31)
Paul (?): We'll play Johnny B. Goode; he'll sing Through My Eyes.
Other voice: (???)
Paul (?): Tell John. Tell him.
Johnny: What?
Paul (?): Tell him. (???)
Other Voice: They wanna play Johnny B. Goode while you sing Through my eyes.
Johnny: God! Awright, then.
Paul(?): Ready? Go!
Johnny:
If you could see... oh God, fuck off...
Ayanlouisiannayaya New Orleans
Awasabadababyanalittle key
Ayainanananananana Johnny B. Goode
Agogogogogogo Johnny B. Goode
Agogo, go Johnny, gogogogogo
I don't know the words!
Gogogogogogogogogogogyogyuh
Ayayayayastrah yayastrahyayaya
Ayayayayastrah andabanayaya
I wannawannabay, yayayaya
Let's gogo, ago Johnny gogogogo
Agogo, go go go go gogogogogogogogogogogogogogo
Go, Johnny, go, go
Go! Johnny B. Goode
Ayayayayayayayayayayayagwuah
Oh, fuck, it's awful!
Hate songs like that!
The pits!
Eeeeeeyayayayay eeeee!
Eeyeah!
Brrrrrah!
Brrrrrayayayayay!
Uah!
'ey, I know, oi, oi, Steve -- Roadrunner!
Roadrunner!
Roadrun...!
Should we do roadrunner?
'ey, that's fuckin' awful -- stop it.
Stop it; it's fuckin' awful!
Aaah! Torture.
Duh ug duh duh duh duh mah eyah
I donno the words!
I donno'ow it starts; I've forgotten it!
Hold on; stop the segment. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.
Check out what how it starts. What's the first line?
Paul: One, two, three, four, five, six!
Johnny: Alright, can you start at the beginning, then?
Paul: Roadrunner, roadrunner, (???)
Johnny: I can't hear you, Paul.
Paul: Roadrunner, roadrunner, go...
Johnny:
Going faster miles an hour
Euhlalalalala
Awith the radio on
Aroadrunner, roadrunner
Aeuhmuh faster miles an hour
Oh, God, I don't know it...
I drove past the Stop 'n' Shop
And I wah by the Stop 'n' Shop
An' I flarala wahbah Stop Shop
Have the radio on
Have touch with the modern world
I fell in love with the modern world
Fell in love with (???)
Have the radio on
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Agoin' faster miles an hour
Felt in touch with with modern world
In love with the modern world
Alright, here we go now
Goin' twenty-eight watta power
It's all cold here in the dark
Fifty thousand watts of power
Agoin' faster miles an hour
Awith the radio on
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Oh, God, I don't know it
It's fuckin' ridiculous
Wish I had the words...
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Agoin' faster miles an hour
I felt in touch with the modern world
I fell in love with the modern world
Rockin' modern lover, modern sound, ana mosaround
Modern rockin' runner around, mosaround rockin' modern runner in touch
An' a radio on
I got radio on
A roadrunner, roadrunner
Oh yeah er ah ee ah eh uh
Do we know any other fuckin' Beatles songs?
'Ey? Brrrrrrr!
'Ey? Do we know an...
'Ey? Do we know any other fucking songs that we can do?
Do we know any other songs that we can do? I can't think of any.
03 Road Runner (03:42)
Duh ug duh duh duh duh mah eyah
I donno the words!
I donno'ow it starts; I've forgotten it!
Hold on; stop the segment. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.
Check out what how it starts. What's the first line?
[Paul:] One, two, three, four, five, six!
[Johnny:] Alright, can you start at the beginning, here?
[Paul:] Roadrunner, roadrunner, it's not 'ard!
[Johnny:] I can't hear you, Paul.
[Paul:] Roadrunner, roadrunner, go...
[Johnny:]
Going bout thousand miles an hour
Euhlalalalala
Awith the radio on
Aroadrunner, roadrunner
Aeuhmuh faster miles an hour
Oh, God, I don't know it...
I drove past the Stop 'n' Shop
And I wak by the Stop 'n' Shop
An' I flarala wahbah Stop Shop
Had the radio on
Have touch with the modern world
I fell in love with the modern world
Fell in love with (WTF)
Have the radio on
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Agoin' bout a thousand miles an hour
Felt in touch with with modern world
In love with the modern world
Alright, here we go now
Goin' twenty-eight miles an hour
It's all cold here in the dark
Fifty thousand watts of power
Agoin' bout a thousand miles an hour
Awith the radio on
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Oh, God, I don't know it
It's fuckin' ridicularse
Wish I had the words...
Roadrunner, roadrunner
Agoin' bout thousand miles an hour
I felt in touch with the modern world
I fell in love with the modern world
Rockin' modern lover, modern sound, ana mosaround
Modern rockin' runner around, mosaround rockin' modern runner in touch
An' a radio on
I got radio on
A roadrunner, roadrunner
Oh yeah er ah ee ah eh uh
Do we know any other fuckin' peoples songs?
'Ey? Brrrrrrr!
'Ey? Do we know an...
'Ey? Do we know any other fucking songs that we can do?
06 Substitute (03:08)
You think we look pretty good together
You think my shoes are made of leather
But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
Substitute your lies for fact
I can see right through your plastic mac
I look all white, but my dad was black
My fine looking suit is really made out of sack
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
Substitute me for him
Substitute my coke for gin
Substitute you for my mum
At least I'll get my washing done
07 Don't Give Me No Lip Child (03:29)
Don't you give me no lip child
don't you talk back to me
you're no lip child
that ain't the way it's gonna be
If you wanna love true, true lovin'
you'd better stop
pushin' and a-shovin'
pushin' and a shovin'
Don't you give me no lip child
and I mean what I say
no lip child
or you'll be someone dead
breakin' outta my lovin'
you'd better stop
pushin' and a-shovin'
pushin' and a-shovin'
pushin' and a-shovin'
No more lip
No lip child
don't you talk back to me
you're no lip child
that ain't the way it's gonna be
breakin' outta my lovin'
you'd better stop
you'll be sorry
you'll be sorry
Oh give me no lip child
and I mean what I say
you're no lip child
you'll be someone dead
you're breakin' outta my lovin'
you'd better stop
you'll be sorry
you'll be sorry
you'll be sorry
No more lip
No lip
(repeat outro)
08 (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone (03:09)
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
You're trying to make your mark in society
Using all the tricks that you used on me
You're reading all those high fashion magazines
The clothes you're wearin' girl
are causing public scenes
I said
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
Not your stepping stone
Not your stepping stone
When I first met you girl you didn't have no shoes
Now you're walking 'round like you're front page news
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose
But you won't find my name in your book of Who's Who
I said
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
I I I I I'm not your stepping stone
Not your stepping stone
Not your stepping stone
10 Belsen Was a Gas (02:09)
Spoken: Ok this time for real...
"Belsen Was A Gasser"
Belsen was a gas I heard the other day
In the open graves where all the jews lay
Life is fun and I wish you were here
They wrote on their postcards to those held dear
Oh dear. oh dear, oh dear....
Dentist search their teeth for gold
Frisk the jews for bank notes rolled
when they found out what they got
Line them up and shoot the whole lot
Kill a man, be a man, kill a man...
Wonder what the Jews would say
If i told them Bormann was today
Would they say vendetta
You'd better ask Ernie Ledbetter
Ledbetter, Ledbetter, Ledbetter....
12 Silly Thing (02:50)
What you see, you can't get,
nothing's free, nothing's set,
Don't be fooled by the signs,
don't read in-between the lines.
What you gonna say,
what you gonna do,
man you missed out once again,
but i thought you knew.
(Chorus)
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
Trouble here, trouble there,
people stop, just to stare,
what's the use of wasting time,
just move on leave it all behind.
What you gonna say,
what you gonna do,
man you missed out once again,
but i thought you knew.
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
oh you silly thing, nothing but trouble that you bring,
and one of these days you're gonna die,
and people will say oh my oh my,
and people will say oh my my my.
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now,
Oh you silly thing, you've really gone and done it now.
14 I Wanna Be Me (03:03)
turn the page and it's the scoop of the century
don't wanna be L7
i had enough of this
this is brainwash
and this is a clue
to the stars who fooled you
tell me why you can't explain
you're only looking for vinyl
yeah didn't they fool you
thy wanna be you
gimme world war three
we can live again
you didn't fool me
i fooled you
you wanna be me
yeah you wanna be me
you wanna be someone
ruin someone
yeah didn't i foll you
i ruined you
yeah didn't i fool you
i sussed you out
i got you in the camera
and i got you in my camera
a second of your life
ruined for life
you wanna ruin me in your magazine
you wanna cover us in margerine
and now is the time
you got the time
to realise
to have real eyes
down down down down
i'll take you down on the underground
down in the dark
and down in the crypt
down in the dark
where the typewriter fit
down with your pen and pad
ready to kill
to make me ill
down wanna be someone
wanna be someone
need to be someone
you wanna be me
ruin me
a typewriter god
a black and white king
pvc
blackboard books
black and white
wanna be me
15 Something Else (02:09)
Look at that
Here she comes
Here comes that girl again
One of the cutest since I don't know when
But she don't notice me when I pass
She goes with all the guys from outta my class
But that can't stop me from thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin', man, she's something else
Look at that
'Cross the street
There's a car built just for me
To own a car would be a luxury
But right now I can't afford the gas
A brand new convertible is out of my class
But that can't stop me from thinkin' to myself
That car's fine lookin', man, it's something else
Hey, look at that
Just wait and see
Worked hard and saved my dough
I buy that car and then I roll up with Joe
Get me that girl and we go ridin' around
We look real sharp with the wide top down
I keep on dreamin' and thinkin' to myself
When it all comes true, man, that's something else
Hey, look at that
What's all this?
Never thought I'd do this before
But here I'm a-knockin' on her door
My car's out front and it's all mine
It's a '41 job not a '59
I got that girl and I'm thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin', man, she's something else
16 Rock Around the Clock (02:03)
One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock, rock
Five, six, seven o'clock, eight o'clock, rock
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, rock
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
Put your glad rags on and join me, hon
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes one
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
When the clock strikes two, three and four
If the band slows down we'll yell for more
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
When the chimes ring five, six and seven
We'll be right in seventh heaven
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
When it's eight, nine, ten, eleven too
I'll be goin' strong and so will you
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
When the clock strikes twelve, we'll cool off then
Start a rockin' round the clock again
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight
We're gonna rock, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
18 No One Is Innocent (03:01)
God save the sex pistols they're a bunch of wholesome blokes
They just like wearing filthy clothes and swapping filthy jokes
God save television keep the programms pure
God save William Grundy from falling in manure
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he's seen the light and he sold his soul to punk
God save Martin Boorman and nazis on the run
They wasn't being wicked God that was their idea of fun
God save Myra Hindley God save Ian Brady
Even though he's horrible and she ain't what you call a lady
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he's seen the light and he sold his soul to punk
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he's seen the light and he sold his soul to punk
God save politicians God save our friends the pigs
God save Idi Amin and god save Ronald Biggs
God save all us sinners God save your blackest sheep
God save the good samaritan and god save the worthless creep
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he's seen the light and he sold his soul to punk
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he's seen the light and he sold his soul to punk
Sold his soul Sold his soul Sold his soul to punk
19 C'mon Everybody (01:58)
Well c'mon everybody and let's get together tonight
I got some money in my jeans
And I'm really gonna spend it right
Well I've been doin' my homework all week long
Now to have some fifty and my folk are gone
Ooh! C'mon everybody
Oh well, my baby's number one
But I'm gonna dance with three or four
And the house will be shakin' from the bare feet
A-stampin' on the floor
Well when you here the music, you can't still
If your brother won't rock, your sister will
Ooh! C'mon everybody
Oh well, we really haven't money
But we gotta put a guard outside
If the folks come home
I'm afraid, they're gonna have my hide
There'd be no more movies for a week or two
No more runnin' 'round with the usual crew-who cares?
C'mon everybody
22 Friggin' in the Riggin' (03:35)
It was on the good ship Venus
By Christ, ya shoulda seen us
The figurehead was a whore in bed
And the mast, a mammoth penis
The captain of this lugger
He was a dirty bugger
He wasn't fit to shovel shit
From one place to another
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
There was fuck all else to do
Captain's name was Morgan
By Christ, he was a gorgon
Ten times a day sweet tunes he'd play
On his fuckin' organ
The first mate's name was Cooper
By Christ he was a trooper.
He jerked and jerked until he worked
Himself into a stupor
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
There was fuck all else to do
Hold on give it some bollocks
The second mate was Andy
By Christ he had a dandy
Till they crushed his cock on a jagged rock
From cumming in the brandy
The cabin boy was Flipper
He was a fuckin' nipper
He stuffed his ass with broken glass
And circumcised the skipper
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
There was fuck all else to do
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
There was fuck all else to do
The Captain's wife was Mabel
To fuck she was not able
So the dirty shits, they nailed her tits
Across the bar-room table
The Captain had a daughter
Who fell in deep sea water
And by her squeals we knew the eels
Had found 'er sexual quarters
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
Friggin' in the riggin'
There was fuck all else to do
23 You Need Hands (02:51)
You need hands to hold someone you care for....
When you fear...nobody wants to know you
You need hands to brush away the tears....
When you hold the brand new baby
You need tender hands to guide them all the way
You need hands to thank the Lord for living....
And forgiving us this day....
You need hands to show the world you're happy
And you need hands when you have to stop the bus....
But the hands that we love so dear
Are the hands that we love to hear
Are the hands that You give to us.....
Everybody holds the hands that You give to us...
24 Who Killed Bambi (03:01)
Gentle pretty thing
Who only had one spring
You bravely faced the world
Ready for anything
I'm happy that you lived
For your life is mine
What have I except to cry
Spirit never die
Birds of the air
Beasts of the earth
Overjoyed at Bambi's birth they gambolled in the glade
CHORUS
Who killed Bambi? x9
Murder murder murder
Someone should be angry
The crime of the century
Who shot little Bambi
Never trust a hippie
'Cause I love punky Bambi
I'll kill to find the killer
In that rotten roll army
All the spikey punkers
Believers in the ruins
With one big shout
They all cry out
Who killed Bambi?
CHORUS x2
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