The Eton Rifles

The Jam

About The Eton Rifles

"The Eton Rifles" was the only single to be released from the album Setting Sons by The Jam. Recorded at Townhouse studios and released on 26 October 1979, it became the band's first top ten hit in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 3. It is also the only official Jam single for which a video was not recorded. The song was produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and The Jam, and was backed by the B-side "See-Saw".


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Sup up your beer and collect your fags
There's a row going on down near Slough
Get out your mats and pray to the West
I'll get out mine and pray for myself

Thought you were smart when you took them on
But you didn't take a peep in their artillery room
All that rugby puts hairs on your chest
What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?

Hello-hurrah
What a nice day for the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hurrah
I hope rain stops play for the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles

Thought you were clever when you lit the fuse
Tore down the House of Commons in your brand new shoes
Composed a revolutionary symphony
Then went to bed with a charming young thing

Hello-hurrah
Cheers then mate, it's the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hurrah
An extremist scrape with the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles

What a catalyst you turned out to be
Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea
Left me standing like a guilty schoolboy

What a catalyst you turned out to be
Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea
Left me standing like a naughty schoolboy

We came out of it, naturally the worst
Beaten and bloody, and I was sick down my shirt
We were no match for their untamed wit
Though some of the lads said they'd be back next week

Hello-hurrah
It's the price to price to pay to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hurrah
I'd prefer the plague to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles

Hello-hurrah
It's the price to pay to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Hello-hurrah
I'd prefer the plague to the Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles

Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles
Eton Rifles, Eton Rifles

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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 clothes, and they incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock and R&B influences rather than rejecting them, placing The Jam at the forefront of the mod revival movement. more »

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Written by: Paul John Weller

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"The Eton Rifles" was written by Paul Weller and performed by his band, "The Jam". The single was released in 1979 and is the band's first top-ten hit.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by a real event. It tells the story of a street clash between local slum youths and students from Eton College, a prestigious British educational institution.
Chart Performance
"The Eton Rifles" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and spent a total of eleven weeks on the chart.
Album Placement
The song is a track from the band's fourth studio album, "Setting Sons".
Political Significance
The song has political overtones. Eton is usually associated with Britain's upper class, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince William. The song represents the class struggle in the UK.
Non-Understanding by David Cameron
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron once revealed that "The Eton Rifles" was one of his favorite songs. However, Paul Weller stated that Cameron couldn't have understood the song as it portrayed the dichotomy between the working class and privileged elite.
Music Style
The song infuses elements of pop, punk, and new wave. This combination was one of the defining factors of The Jam's unique sound.
Symbolic Title
The term "Eton Rifles" signifies the cadet force of Eton, emphasizing the class symbolism present throughout the song.
Tribute Track
"The Eton Rifles" was covered by the British band "The Ordinary Boys" as a b-side to their single "Boys Will Be Boys" in 2006.
Legacy
The song remains one of The Jam's most popular and enduring tracks, maintaining its relevance due to its political and social commentary.

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