Part of an irregular series of bite-sized posts about 7″ singles I own – shameless nostalgia from the days of vinyl. (Search ‘Backtracking’ to collect the set!)
THE SEX PISTOLS – God Save The Queen b/w Did You No Wrong (Virgin Records, 1977)
While Anarchy In The UK may be the defining statement of Brit-Punk, God Save The Queen is the best Punk single ever. I still vividly recall taking a sharp intake of breath as the needle hit the groove for the first time and the blast of rage-fuelled venom struck home.
Lyrically it is surprisingly sophisticated : “For when there’s no future, how can there be sin. we’re the flowers in the dustbin, we’re the poison in the human machine, we’re the future, your future”
With the iconic cut-up sleeve design by Jamie Reed this both looks and sounds like a statement of intent. The rejection of Royal Family in Jubilee year was symbolic of a trashing of the supposedly sacrosanct institutions that define the nation.
Johnny Rotten’s snarling “We mean it maaaaaaan” was and is also an unambiguous trashing of the Hippy dream – forget love and peace , screw Woodstock – the real New Age begins now. Continue reading
