Where Are They Now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the Australian TV show see Where Are They Now (TV program)
- For Nas song, see Where Are They Now (song)
"Where Are They Now" is a song recorded by English Oi!/punk rock band Cock Sparrer in 1982, from their album Shock Troops. The lyrics comment on the previous six years of the punk subculture. The song portrays the early years of the punk movement in a negative light, bemoaning the lack of follow-through by the leading figures. It also comments on the band members' own naivete, exhorting listeners to not make the same idealistic mistakes. Its lyrics mention several punk legends. In an interview with the fanzine Schizoipunx from July 27, 2006, Mickey Beaufoy of Cock Sparrer stated:
Julie Burchill and Tony Parsons were rebellious "punk" journalists from the late 70’s. Joe is the late, great Joe Strummer, Jimmy is Jimmy Pursey and Rotten was Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols - and the song, which was written in 1982 was about what we saw as the quiet death of Punk - as none of these people were active then - but I am glad to say that the scene has recovered since then - but people still love that song so we keep it in the set as a warning that we have to keep at it or all this great music could disappear.[1]
The lyrics "Rotten on the telly, showing what a few choice words can do" refer to the Sex Pistols' lead singer Johnny Rotten and the Grundy incident, in which Rotten and other Sex Pistols swore on live television, sending Britain into an uproar.
[edit] Lyrics
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- I believed in Julie when she said how easy it could be
- And I believed in Tony and his written words of anarchy
- And I believed in Joe when he said we had to fight
- And I believed in Jimmy when he told us to unite
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- [Chorus]
- Where are they now
- Where are they now
- Where are they, six years on and they've all gone
- Now it's all gone sour
- Where are they now
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- Hollywood nights in Soho
- Writing on the wall of The Roxy loo
- Rotten on the telly
- Showing what a few choice words can do
- Was it ever worth it
- Causing all the fuss
- You know, I believed in them
- Don't you believe in us
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- [Chorus]
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- No more kids are innocent
- We will get fooled again
- Only faces ever change
- The song remains the same
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- Was it ever worth it
- Causing all the fuss
- You know, I believed in them
- Don't you believe in us
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- [Chorus]
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- Where are they now...
