"Anarchy in the U.K." (B-side "I Wanna Be Me") was the first single by the punk band the Sex Pistols. It was released on November 26, 1976, and is thus frequently considered to be the first punk single (although The Ramones released Blitzkrieg Bop a year earlier). It only reached number 38 on the UK pop charts before EMI stopped pressing it on January 6, 1977, but its long-term influence was substantial. The group's follow-up single, "God Save The Queen", reached number 2. Both songs later appeared on the album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols.
The song's lyrics espouse a nihilistic, emotive, and violent concept of anarchy that does not correspond to the views of any major trend of anarchist philosophy. The lyrics mention several political/paramilitary organizations prominent at the time, comparing them to the UK: the MPLA, the UDA, and the IRA. The lyrics can be interpreted as satirical, mocking not only the government but also directionless or purely fashionable rebellion.
A French version called "Anarchie Pour Le U.K.", which featured background themes of French music, was part of the soundtrack to the Sex Pistols film, The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle.
The song was covered by Megadeth on their 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!, with famously incorrect lyrics ("...and other council tendencies" was sung as "...and other cunt-like tendencies.")
Last updated: 05-19-2005 00:39:29
