Going Underground

"Going Underground"
Single by The Jam
B-side	Dreams of Children
Released	10 March 1980
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	December 1979
Genre	Punk rock, Mod Revival
Length	2:50
Label	Polydor (UK)
Writer(s)	Paul Weller
Producer(s)	Vic Coppersmith-Heaven
The Jam singles chronology
"The Eton Rifles" (1979) "Going Underground" (1980) "Start!" (1980)

Going Underground, back of single cover

"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.

Song profile

"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.

Lyrics

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

References

External links

• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics