Poetic Punk: Lyrical Songwriting from the Punk Era

Let's take a look at some of the old punk bands of yore and some of the amazing poetic songwriting that came from some of the bands that were once labeled with the 'Punk' Monika back in the late 70's. On closer inspection some of these punk bands had truly inspired and poetic lyrical content in some of their songs. Sometimes it seemed to be hidden beneath a wall of sound as aggression and speed was usually the name of the game with the punk-scene of the time. So let's take a look at some of the gifted bands and snippets from some of the songs that have stayed with me even to this day. This is just to show that not all punk was snarling aggressive banality but that when done right could really connect on an emotional level.

1: Wire - I should have known better, 1979'

'In an act of contrition
I lay down by your side
It's not your place to comment
On my state of distress
For this is for real
I've tears in my eyes
Am I laughing or crying?
I suggest I'm not lying'

This from one of the more creative and artistic punk bands of the time. From the album '154' their songwriting was really starting to shine here. Most of the tracks on this album I know the lyrics to almost by heart. It shows an emotional depth. A suffering of the soul. For me they were in the same league as anything 'Joy Division' came up with, although not quite as depressing.

2: X-Ray-Spex - Germ Free Adolescence, 1978'

'Her phobia is infection
She needs one to survive
It's her built-in protection
Without fear she'd give up and die'

From my favorite Punk Album ever 'Germ Free Adolescence'. It's a simple lyric from a simple song but read it over a few times and it actually might strike quite deep chord with some people with nervous compulsive disorders.

3: Public Image - Public Image, 1978'

'Public Image
You got what you wanted
The public image belongs to me
It's my entrance
My own creation
My grand finale
My goodbye'

From the shy and retiring pen of 'John Lydon' came this superb post 'Sex Pistols' ditty to herald his new band 'P.I.L'. A quicker more concise and eloquently effective bit of music you'd be hard to find. Sometimes less is more and the short sharp sneering lyrics in this song are all the more effective for their brevity and power

4: The Jam - That's Entertainment, 1979'

'Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight
Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude
Getting a cab and traveling on buses
Reading the graffiti about slashed seat affairs
That's entertainment'

A highly descriptive slice of life of the working class youth of the late 70's Britain. A feeling of despair always present. The last line summing up the hopelessness of the Thatcher era youth.

So in summing up, it behooves you to give those old punk records a re-listen as you may be surprised at what lies beneath the fierce Punk attitude.