Seattle is an interesting song in many ways. First of all, it rocks: there’s some really good guitar work here. Secondly, I really feel this is one of John Lydon’s best vocal performances, with lots of pith and rage that works well against the squealing guitars and funky bass. Finally, it’s curious as to what it’s about; Rumor has it that the song was written after the band had a negative experience in Seattle, but I cannot substantiate those rumors in any way. In many ways, it’s generic enough to cover a lot of different scenarios.
And of course, the lyrics:
Don’t like the look of this old town
What goes up must come down
Character is lost and found
On unfamiliar playing ground
Get out of My World
What in the world
Shoe boxed around the rifle range
Have all your functions rearranged
Your mind and body gagged and bound
On a new familiar playing ground
The ordinary will ignore
Whatever they cannot explain
As if nothing ever happened
And everything remained the same again
What in the world
What in the world
What in the world
Get out of my world
Get out of my world
Get out of my world
Open your mouth now
Secret signs and knowing looks
These happy days will cook the books
Happy to take the misery
This mortal life can bring to me
Don’t like the looks of this town
What goes up must come down
Character is lost and found
On unfamiliar playing ground
What in the world
What in the world
What in the world
What in, get out, get out
Get out of my world
What in the world
Palaces, barricades, threats meet promises
Teen Angst rocks. It’s also humorous too. The lyrics really do a great job of giving a sarcastic look at what’s really going on in the minds of most angsty youth–what they really want is fast cars, everything to go their way, and to get laid. Pretty much the same ambitions of all teens over the last millennium.
The song does indeed rock, but it’s also catchy, and you can sing along to it or dance to it or both. It’s just a fun song to play at a party or sing in the kitchen at 3am at the same party.
And of course, the lyrics:
I don’t know what the world may need,
But I’m sure as hell that is starts with me.
And that’s a wisdom,
I’ve laughed at.
I don’t know what the world may want,
But a good stiff drink it surely don’t.
So I think I’ll go and fix myself a tall one.
Cause, what the world needs now
Is a new kind of tension.
Cause the old one just bores me to death.
Cause, what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head.
I don’t know what the world may need,
But a V8 engine is a good start for me.
Think I’ll drive to find a place,
To be surly.
I don’t know what the world may want,
But some words of wisdom could comfort us.
Think I’ll leave that up to someone wiser.
Cause, what the world needs now
Are some true words of wisdom
Like La La La La La
Cause, what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head.
I don’t know what the world may need,
And I never grasped your complexities.
I’d be happy just to get your attention.
And, I don’t know what the world may want,
But your long, sweet body lying next
To mine could certainly raise my spirits.
Cause what the world needs now
Is a new Frank Sinatra
so I can get you in bed.
Cause what the world needs now
Is another folk singer
Like I need a hole in my head.
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