Going Underground by The Jam

Going Underground was the first single by The Jam and it was released in March 1980. It went straight in at number one in the British charts, a rare achievement at that time, and spent three weeks at the top. It was the first of three instant chart-toppers for the group.

The Jam were an English mod revival band of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Although they shared the angry young men outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam had a different image, wearing Mod style neatly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes. They also incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock influences, rather than rejecting them. The raw and energetic beat that one identifies with punk rock was consistent throughout their songs.

The band had 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their breakup in 1982, including 4 number one hits. As of 2007, they remained the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, hit number one on the UK album charts. When the group split up, all 18 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 60.

The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk rock, pop punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image.

The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam's original compositions, and he played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band's songs; including the hits Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles and Town Called Malice.

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Going Underground - The Jam - Single Released March 1980

Some people might say my life is in a rut,

But I'm quite happy living with what I got

People might say that I should strive for more,

But I'm so happy I can't see the point.

Somethings happening here today

A show of strength with your boy's brigade and,

'm so happy and you're so kind

You want more money - of course I don't mind

To buy nuclear textbooks for atomic crimes

And the public gets what the public wants

But I want nothing this society's got -

I'm going underground, (going underground)

Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound

Going underground, (going underground)

Well let the boys all sing and the boys all shout for tomorrow

Some people might get some pleasure out of hate

Me, I've enough already on my plate

People might need some tension to relax

Me? I'm too busy dodging between the flak

What you see is what you get

You've made your bed, you better lie in it

You choose your leaders and place your trust

As their lies put you down and their promises bust

It's the kidney machines that pay for officer guns

And the public wants what the public gets

But I don't get what this society wants

I'm going underground, (going underground)

Well the brass bands play and feet start to pound

Going underground, (going underground)

So let the boys all sing and let the boys all shout for tomorrow

We talk and we talk until my head explodes

I turn on the news and my body froze

Braying sheep on my TV screen

Make this boy shout, make this boy scream!

Going underground, I'm going underground!

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