Music and British Identity: New Model Army

Primary members: Justin Sullivan (aka Slade the Leveller), Stuart Morrow, Rob Heaton
Band Biography
Albums of Focus: Vengeance (1983)
Songs for study:

 

"Spirit of the Falklands" - from Vengeance (1982)

The natives are restless tonight, sir
Cooped up on estates with no hope in sight
They need some kind of distraction
We can give them that
'Cause they'd die if they only had something to die for
They'd kill if they only had something to kill for
They'd cheer if they only had something to cheer for
Yeah, we can give them that
So it's off to war we go (I never believed it)
Bring out all the flags (I never believed it)
Fight the good fight

It's working like a dream, sir
Half the nation are hooked on the bait
Waiting for the next victorious instalment
Yeah, we can give them that
'Cause it's no surprise that young men are heroes
It's no surprise that young men are strong
It's no surprise that young men are foolish
We've known that all along
Exciting pictures on News at Ten (I never believed it)
Read all the crap on all the front pages (I never believed it)
Fight the good fight

Chorus:
There's dead men in the South Atlantic
Doesn't it warm your hearts?
To think that they died for you and me
Oh God, what a farce, what a farce

And now it's the repeats
Mention the Falklands and the Falklands' spirit
Show the pictures again and again
Till the next war comes around
'Cause we'll die if we only have something to die for
We'll kill if we only have something to kill for
We'll cheer if we only have something to cheer for
Oh yes the next war (I never believed it)
See the propaganda in TV fiction (I never believed it)
Enemies with horns and tails

There are dead men in the South Atlantic
Doesn't it warm your hearts?
To think that they died for you and me
Oh God, what a farce, what a farce
There's crippled men back home in England
It's meant to warm our hearts
To think they fought for peace and freedom
Poor boys, what a farce, what a farce

 

"Vengeance" - from Vengeance (1983)

Escaped the net in '45, hiding out in South America
Protected by money and powerful friends
Hoping the world has forgotten by now
All the things that you did in the Nazi Death camps
The people that you tortured and killed
You can live you life in expectant fear
Sure some day you'll be made to pay

I believe in justice
I believe in vengeance
I believe in getting the bastard

Man walks over dressed in flashy clothes
With an empty heart and a head full of money
Puts his arm around the lad of fifteen years
Talks sort of close like a long-lost brother
"It's really cool, all the pop stars do
If you don't try a little you'd really be a fool
Tell you what I'll do, I'll make the first one free
And when you want some more just come back to me"

I believe in justice
I believe in vengeance
I believe in getting the bastard

Top-dog fascist gets the boys in the corner
Plants poison where there was just confusion
Walks away scot-free and laughing
Rides on the tide as the cancer grows
And the business man on corruption charges
With millions of dollars in dirty money
Gets just a thousand pound fine after months in court
While the lawyers get fat and the law gets bought

Ch: I believe in justice
I believe in vengeance
I believe in getting the bastard

"Smalltown England" - from Vengeance (1983)

Turn left at the lights about 50 yards down
There's a pub in the corner and I'll meet you inside
About quarter to eight and we'll go into town
And find out what everybody's been saying about us

Smalltown walls have eyes and ears
Stories fly thick and fast round here
Truth and lies are all the same
Whatever you do don't rock the boat
You've got to play the game, play the game

Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

The incrowd know that the shell is thin
So they all protect the cage they're in
Get drunk and stoned and wrecked again
No tears of rage, no cries of pain
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
In smalltown England
Because the world outside the pint in hand
Is all so hard to understand
And if visions of the world come clear
They're not allowed to interfere

Is it a crime to want something else?
Is it a crime to believe in something different?
Is it a crime to want to make things happen?
To spit in the faces of the cynical fools

The smell of hot food from the takeaway curry
Diesel fumes from a passing lorry
Waiting in the queue in the pouring rain
For the chip shop up on Bowling Lane
Well, last week we all got really smashed
We couldn't stand up, it was a real laugh
And this week's going to be just the same
And the next and the next, again and again
They say you've got to have fun while you're young
'Cause they can't believe there's anything else except this