Empire Song
Killing Joke
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Back to square one, and the old school backfire It's just begun, let's watch the blind eyes turning Stains on the wall, been waiting far too long now Nice day, blue sky, I watch them shrug their shoulders Tighten the grip (getting tighter) Now see the ball is rolling We take delight, it's been a long wait for this moment. Back to square one, another empire backfire Back to square one, another empire backfire SIgn of the time, blood pressure running high now Nowhere to dance, which channel can you turn to? We take delight, we watch them shrug their shoulders Let's take delight, it's been a long wait for this moment. Back to square one (now it's my turn) Another Empire backfire Back to square one (now it's your turn) And the old school backfire...
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Written by: JAZ COLEMAN, MATTHEW FERGUSON, MARTIN GLOVER, KEVIN WALKER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Background"Empire Song" is a song by the English post-punk rock band Killing Joke. It was included as the opening track on the band's third studio album, "Revelations", released in 1982.
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Unique SoundKnown for its aggressive, driving rhythm, "Empire Song" reflects Killing Joke's typical sound—a fusion of post-punk, industrial, and new wave music.
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Band Line-upThe original recording featured the classic Killing Joke line-up of Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Kevin "Geordie" Walker (guitar), Martin "Youth" Glover (bass), and Paul Ferguson (drums).
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Chart Performance"Empire Song" peaked at No. 43 on the UK Singles Chart and was the band's fourth top 50 hit.
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Lyrics and ThemesThe song focuses on themes of political and social commentary, a common theme in Killing Joke's music. The lyrics of "Empire Song" discuss global imperialism and power dynamics.
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Musical Style"Empire Song" demonstrates Killing Joke's tendency to incorporate diverse musical influences, blending elements of dub, funk, and electronic music with heavy guitar-driven rock.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Empire Song" continued Killing Joke's tradition of featuring dramatic, often disturbing visual imagery, reflecting the band's dark, confrontational musical style.
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Live PerformancesDespite its release over three decades ago, "Empire Song" remains a fixture in Killing Joke's live performances. It is often used as a set opener due to its intense energy.
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Album ProductionThe "Revelations" album was co-produced by Killing Joke and Conny Plank, a famous German record producer who had worked with bands like Kraftwerk and Neu!
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Influence and LegacyMany bands, including Nirvana and Metallica, have cited Killing Joke as a major influence. "Empire Song" is often noted as exemplifying the band’s powerful, distinctive sound that has resonated with numerous other alternative and heavy metal bands.
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Citation
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"Empire Song Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/15274611/Killing+Joke/Empire+Song>.
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