The Eton Rifles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "The Eton Rifles" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Jam | ||
| from the album Setting Sons | ||
| B-side(s) | See Saw | |
| Released | 3 November 1979 | |
| Format | 7" vinyl | |
| Genre | Mod revival | |
| Label | Polydor (UK) | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Jam singles chronology | ||
| When You're Young (1979) |
The Eton Rifles (1979) |
Going Underground (1980) |
"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Released on 3 November 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit when it entered the United Kingdom singles chart at #3.
It was backed by the B-side "See Saw".
[edit] Lyrics
"The Eton Rifles" are a cadet corps of Eton College, a prestigious English public school in Berkshire. The song itself is a sarcastic homage to class war and the rivalry between boys at Eton and the neighbouring working class schoolboys, as perceived in the 1970s.
The song's lyrics, in common with many Jam tracks, contain several puns on English life and colloquialisms, including:
"Sup up your beer and collect your fags, There's a row going on down near Slough"
Literally, "drink up your beer and collect your cigarettes" - likely referring to a gathering in a pub. A 'fag' is also a British slang term for a young public schoolboy who must perform chores for an older student. Slough is a neighbouring Berkshire district to Eton and the lyric is possibly a pun, as Slough has been perceived as a more humble or even down-at-heel location, while Eton retains a popular image of prestige, particularly due to the College.
"What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?"
A reference to school uniform and badges, particularly the influence of the "old school tie", where in many areas of life, being an alumnus of a prestigious school would make it easier to get into jobs or positions of authority in society.
"Tore down the House of Commons in your brand new shoes"
The House of Commons, the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, contains many public school alumni, including those of Eton. Hence the reference to "tearing down" (or rushing to) there.
