The Jam- Going Underground Anti-Establishment hits Number One
In March 1980, The Jam went to Number One in the U.K. Charts for the first time with the single ‘Going Underground.’ The song has since gone on to be a firm favourite amongst Jam fans and the wider public.
This song reaching number one highlighted a problem with society in the U.K. Paul Weller has stated that this song was an anti-establishment song, it talked about the powers at be and indicated at an obsession with war rather than the people. Lyrics like ‘You'll see kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns’ highlight this obsession.
The Jam also talk about the general public, and their desire for a particular government. Conservative at the time with lyrics like ‘And the public gets what the public wants But I want nothing this society's got’. It highlighted a need for change within society and the song is still prevalent today.
Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler did something punk couldn’t do 3 years previously they sent their message to the top of the charts and made a brilliant pop song in the process. A timeless piece of music still relevant in 2022 as much as it was in 1980.