Music and British Identity: The Human League


Primary members: Martyn Ware, Ian Marsh, Philip Oakey; later Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall joined
Band Biography
Albums of focus: Reproduction (1979) and Travelogue (1980)
Songs for study:

"Path of Least Resistance" (live on BBC TV, 1979)
Faced with the choice
What would you say?
The path of least resistance
It seems the only way

But can we look a little further?
Too little far, I think
Self-belief's the answer
And not another drink

The safe method, the only way
You rationalise your course
Stay part of the crowd
And never find the source

Feel wanted, feel numb
Just stay as you are
The truth is - comfort kills
And you don't need that car

So sad, the early grave
When all the fun's for free
Start digging the early grave
And keep it warm for me

Faced with the choice
What would you say?
The path of least resistance
It seems the only way

But let's look a little further
Too little far, I think
Self-belief's the answer
And not another drink

The safe method, the only way
You rationalise your course
Stay a part of the crowd
And never find the source

Feel wanted, feel numb
Just stay as you are
The truth is, comfort kills
And you don't need that car

 

"Empire State Human" (live on British TV show, Mainstream, October 1979)

Since I was very young, I've realized
I never wanted to be human size
So I avoid the crowds and traffic jams
They just remind me of how small I am

Because of this longing in my heart
I'm going to start the growing art
I'm going to grow now and never stop
Think like a mountain, grow to the top

Tall, tall, tall, I want to be tall, tall, tall
As big as a wall, wall, wall, as big as a wall, wall, wall
And if I'm not tall, tall, tall, then I will crawl, crawl, crawl
Because I'm not tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall

Tall, tall, tall, I want to be tall, tall, tall
As big as a wall, wall, wall, as big as a wall, wall, wall
And if I'm not tall, tall, tall, then I will crawl, crawl, crawl
Because I'm not tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall

With concentration
My size increased
And now I'm fourteen stories high
At least

Empire State Human
Just a born kid
I'll go to Egypt to be
The pyramids

Tall, tall, tall, I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick, stone by stone)
As big as a wall, wall, wall, as big as a wall, wall, wall
(Growing till he's fully grown)
And if I'm not tall, tall, tall, then I will crawl, crawl, crawl
(Brick by brick, stone by stone)
Because I'm not tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall
(Growing till he's fully grown)

Tall, tall, tall, I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water, fetch more sand)
As big as a wall, wall, wall, as big as a wall, wall, wall
(Biggest person in the land)
And if I'm not tall, tall, tall, then I will crawl, crawl, crawl
(Fetch more water, fetch more sand)
Because I'm not tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall
(Biggest person in the land)

Brick by brick, stone by stone
Growing till he's fully grown
Brick by brick, stone by stone
Growing till he's fully grown

Tall, tall, tall, I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Fetch more water, fetch more sand)
As big as a wall, wall, wall, as big as a wall, wall, wall
(Biggest person in the land)
And if I'm not tall, tall, tall, then I will crawl, crawl, crawl
(Fetch more water, fetch more sand)
Because I'm not tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall
(Biggest person in the land)

Tall, tall, tall, I want to be tall, tall, tall
(Brick by brick, stone by stone)
As big as a wall, wall, wall, as big as a wall, wall, wall
(Growing till he's fully grown)
And if I'm not tall, tall, tall, then I will crawl, crawl, crawl
(Brick by brick, stone by stone)
Because I'm not tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall, tall
(Growing till he's fully grown)

Fetch more water, fetch more sand
Biggest person in the land
Fetch more water, fetch more sand
Biggest person in the land

 

 

"Circus of Death" (live on BBC TV, 1978)
Nine o'clock flight from Hawaii
The Trident is just touching down
We're waiting here on the tarmac
McGarrett is wearing a frown
He's here to help with a problem
A blood-spattered curse on our land
Please cast your eye over this map, sir
This business is quite out of hand

The circus of death is approaching
Its pathway is painted in red
Before it the frightened and helpless
Behind it a trail of the dead

The narcotic that forges their union is a substance known only to one
To the clown it is known as Dominion
It's a secret that he'll give to none
The drug which gives the clown power means the circus can never be stopped
And his dream can go on unhindered 'til the last human being has dropped

Spare me and my family
I've done you no wrong
Go away, please let us be
I've known you for too long

Think we'll ever find any real intelligent life out there?
Who cares?

"Blind Youth" (from Reproduction, 1979)

No future they say
But must it be that way?
Now is calling
The city is human

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

We've had it easy
We should be glad
High-rise livings
Not so bad

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

Dehumanization
Is such a big word
It's been around since
Richard the third

Dehumanization
It's easy to say
But if you're not a hermit
You'll know the city's okay

No future they say
But must it be that way?
Now is calling
The city is human

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

We've had it easy
We should be glad
High-rise livings
Not so bad

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

Blind youth take hope, you're no Joe soap
Your time is due, big fun come soon

"Almost Medieval" (from Reproduction, 1979)

There's something in your soul that makes me feel so old
In fact I think I've died about six hundred times
There's less of me now and more of me then
I'm moving back to the age of men

Jump off the tarmac there's no stagecoach speed limit
Outside the office hangs the man on the gibbet
Soft lenses, grow to glasses
Small world, dimly seen through cataracts
Your program, newspaper
So they say
Rumour spread by word of mouth, jump onto the escalator
Press the button on the lift, raise the dust on old stair carpets
Endless treads like waves of regret
Now it seems I'm going madder
Falling off this rotting ladder

Soft lenses, grow to glasses
Small world, dimly seen through cataracts
Jump onto the escalator
Press the button on the lift
Raise the dust on old stair carpets
Endless treads like waves of regret
Now it seems I'm going madder
Falling off this rotting ladder

Your program, newspaper
So they say
Rumour spread by word of mouth
Jump onto the escalator
Press the button on the lift
Raise the dust on old stair carpets
Endless treads like waves of regret
Now it seems I'm going madder
Falling through this rotting ladder

There's something in your soul that makes me feel so old
In fact I think I've died about six hundred times
There's less of me now and more of me then
I'm moving back to the age of men

Jump off the tarmac there's no stagecoach speed limit
Outside the office hangs the man on the gibbet
Jump off the tarmac there's no stagecoach speed limit
Outside the office swings the man on the gibbet

"Being Boiled" (from Reproduction, 1979)
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying, stop your sericulture
Little people like your offspring
Boiled alive for some gods stocking
Buddha's watching, Buddha's waiting

Just because the kid's an orphan
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
Children don't forget this torture
Just because you call her "Mother"
Doesn't mean that she's your better

Once more with the voice of Buddha
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim

"Life Kills" (from Travelogue, 1980)
When you fall into your seat
You know you feel you might be dying
As the breath rasps in and out
Of your burning throat

You can't control your lungs because you're so tired
You're half awake with one arm in your coat

Well thank god that there is someone there to drive you
You know you couldn't make it on your own
He helps you through the door
You sit down on the floor
And you're asleep before you are alone

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

For a while it seems exhaustion has subsided
The day is over and the moon is high
But your period of work is predecided
Funny how the hours of freedom seem to fly

Well thank god that there is someone there to drive you
You know you couldn't make it on your own
He helps you in the door
You sit down as before
Another shift to pay another loan

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

Repeat

"Do or Die " (live on Central Television's "Over the Top," 2 January 1982)
Those cocky little fires you started in the night
The Independent claims that just meant "Hold me tight"
The bruises on your body that you swore were from a fight
I'll pass at your insistence

Alsatians fall unconscious at the shadow of your call
One glance from your direction and the government will fall
Whole continents of misery don't bother you at all
But for me you have persistence

Run all day, run all night
Do or die, do or die
Got to run for your life
Do or die, do or die

I'd like to leave so would you kindly look the other way
You tell me to be honest but I've nothing left to say
Just like your feet my goddess, my brain has turned to clay
An end to all resistance

Run all day, run all night
Do or die, do or die
Got to run for your life
Do or die, do or die

Run all day, run all night
Do or die, do or die
Got to run for your life
Do or die, do or die

Run all day, run all night
Do or die, do or die
Got to run for your life
Do or die, do or die
Run all day, run all night
Do or die, do or die
Got to run for your life
Do or die, do or die

 

 

 


 

GRAFFITI STUDY WALL: MUSIC & VIDEOS
SEX PISTOLS
KRAFTWERK
THE CLASH
PUBLIC IMAGE LTD.
JOY DIVISION
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
AU PAIRS
COCTEAU TWINS
ARTERY
HUMAN LEAGUE
HEAVEN 17
THE SPECIALS
CABARET VOLTAIRE
TEARS FOR FEARS
DEPECHE MODE
THE SOUND
THE GLOVE
THE CURE
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS
GANG OF FOUR
NEW ORDER
U2
THE POLICE
CRASS
NEW MODEL ARMY
ELVIS COSTELLO
SPLIT ENZ
THE THE
XTC
THE EXPLOITED
DISCHARGE
THE SMITHS
THE HOUSEMARTINS
RADIOHEAD
PORTISHEAD
PET SHOP BOYS
M Y BLOODY VALENTINE
SLOWDIVE
CRASH MUSIC
MUSIC OF THE TROUBLES

VIDEOS:

SEX PISTOLS
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (LIVE)
THE CURE (LIVE)
COCTEAU TWINS (LIVE)
NEW ORDER (LIVE)
PORTISHEAD (LIVE)
JOY DIVISION MINI-DOCUMENTARY
NUCLEAR WAR PREPAREDNESS: PROTECT & SURVIVE MANUAL