Going Underground
Encyclopedia
"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.
", 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.
This line is a reference to the UK's commitment to nuclear weapons, implying (through the use of "I don't mind") a level of acceptance on the part of the general populace to the study ("textbooks") of annihilation. In contrast, the song also blasts the idea of using money that should be spent on healthcare on violence; You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns.
's The Majority Report
.
The song is played at the end of the film The Football Factory
.
Welsh rock band Lostprophets
have covered the song both in studio and live. the studio cover appears as a b-side to 4:AM Forever
and the Punk The Clock Volume 3 compilation.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
released a cover version as the opening track of their 1986 album Criminal Tango.
It is featured in the video game Rock Band
as of September 1st, 2009.
It was featured in the episode "Funhouse" (3x09) of the television program Lie to Me
.
I Am the World Trade Center
released a cover version on their 2004 album The Cover Up
.
The song provided the inspiration for the Nemesis the Warlock
character in the weekly comic book
2000 AD
.
The song was parodied in 2004 by the Amateur Transplants
as "London Underground", a humorous song full of abuse at the London Underground Strike.
The song was turned into "Go England" by Virgin Radio
for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
number-one chart single
Chart topper
Chart topper may refer to:*Record chart, a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time**Billboard charts, a ranking of the relative popularity of songs or albums in the United States...
by The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, 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 compilation/re-releases since then. The single's B-side was "Dreams of ChildrenDreams of Children
Dreams Of Children is a song which is the second part of The Jam's Double A-side single Going Underground, which successfully went to #1 in 1980...
", 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
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
tended to choose the more melodic "Going Underground" to play on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
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
This line is a reference to the UK's commitment to nuclear weapons, implying (through the use of "I don't mind") a level of acceptance on the part of the general populace to the study ("textbooks") of annihilation. In contrast, the song also blasts the idea of using money that should be spent on healthcare on violence; You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns.
Cultural impact
The song has been used as the theme song for Air America RadioAir America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
's The Majority Report
The Majority Report
The Majority Report is a talk radio program originally on the Air America Radio network hosted by film actress/comedienne Janeane Garofalo, and actor/comedian Sam Seder, until Garofalo left in July 2006. Garofalo was reportedly originally asked by Air America to host the program and suggested Seder...
.
The song is played at the end of the film The Football Factory
The Football Factory
The Football Factory is a 2004 English film directed by Nick Love and stars Danny Dyer, Tamer Hassan, Frank Harper and Neil Maskell. It is loosely based on the novel of the same name by John King....
.
Welsh rock band Lostprophets
Lostprophets
Lostprophets is a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, formed in 1997. Founded by vocalist Ian Watkins, bassist Mike Lewis, drummer Mike Chiplin and guitarist Lee Gaze, they were originally a side-project to hardcore punk band Public Disturbance. To date, Lostprophets have released four studio...
have covered the song both in studio and live. the studio cover appears as a b-side to 4:AM Forever
4:AM Forever
"4:AM Forever" is the fourth single from the album Liberation Transmission, the third studio album by Welsh alternative rock band Lostprophets. It was released on 23 April 2007.-Track listing:...
and the Punk The Clock Volume 3 compilation.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band is a British progressive rock group formed in 1971 by Manfred Mann.-Formation:Having started in the 1960s with a British band that had such hits as "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" and "The Mighty Quinn", then moving on to Jazz Fusion with Manfred Mann's Chapter Three, Manfred's third...
released a cover version as the opening track of their 1986 album Criminal Tango.
It is featured in the video game Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
as of September 1st, 2009.
It was featured in the episode "Funhouse" (3x09) of the television program Lie to Me
Lie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
.
I Am the World Trade Center
I Am the World Trade Center
I Am the World Trade Center is a synth-pop duo consisting of musician Daniel Geller and vocalist Amy Dykes. Geller creates almost all of the music using his laptop, occasionally using drum machines, keyboards, or other instruments.-History:Daniel Geller co-founded Kindercore Records with Ryan...
released a cover version on their 2004 album The Cover Up
The Cover Up
The Cover Up is the third album from I Am the World Trade Center the New York City based synthpop band. This is the first album released after the closure of the band's record label, Kindercore, which was co-founded by Dan Geller. Also, this is the first album conducted by Dan Geller and Amy Dykes...
.
The song provided the inspiration for the Nemesis the Warlock
Nemesis the Warlock
Nemesis the Warlock is a story created by writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill which appeared in the pages of the weekly comics anthology 2000 AD. The title character, a fire-breathing demonic alien, fights against the fanatical Torquemada, Grand Master of the Terran Empire in Earth's distant...
character in the weekly comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
2000 AD
2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
.
The song was parodied in 2004 by the Amateur Transplants
Amateur Transplants
Amateur Transplants are a London based, British parody musical duo consisting of medical professionals, Dr. Adam Kay and Dr. Suman Biswas , who came to prominence in 2005 with a song about the London Underground, parodying the Jam song "Going Underground"...
as "London Underground", a humorous song full of abuse at the London Underground Strike.
The song was turned into "Go England" by Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
.