For a similar song by XTC about reaching outside your comfort zone, please consider reacting to "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her." Possibly my favorite song by them.
Put your knuckles down = stop fighting, and also "to knuckle down" means to start working hard. So it's basically "stop fighting and get on with the job of living together in peace".
"Knuckle Down" is a turn of phrase, exactly like you said at the end, meaning to lean into something, get serious, get it done. The pun here is that he's using it two ways - knuckle down and get serious about being more loving, and "put your knuckles down", ie: don't be a knuckle-dragger, don't be aggressive. And yup, this track rocks! What a frickin' album!
Great stuff... I think you nailed the point. I also think Andy's guitar playing is so underrated, as well He's not only a fabulous songwriter / lyricist but guitarist, too. Dave Gregory is amazing and really adds so much to the band (so glad he came aboard after the first two albums)... and he and Andy worked so well together.
I may have mentioned it on a previous English Settlement vid, but Tower Records declared this the best guitar album of the 80s. Obviously just an opinion, but there’s so much amazing guitar work (esp. acoustic) on the album.
One of the best tracks on the album. The title is a pun on the phrase 'knuckle down' as in 'get some work done' and a plea for an end to racial violence - i.e. knuckles being used to inflict harm. Andy isn't just playing with the word 'boys' he's referring to a sub-genre of punk called 'oi!' which by 1982 had been taken over by some pretty unpleasant people.
It's a message to racists saying put your knuckles down (i.e. lower your fists, stop fighting) and learn to love people that look different to you - we're all humans, we should all try to get along.
Interesting take on the lyrics. Never thought of the ape reference. I thought it just meant: put away your fists, stop fighting, we're all the same, boys (gorillas).
That is it, IMO. Put your knuckles down is lower your fists and stop fighting. We're all pretty much the same. Jump forward to XTC's Omnibus (off Nonsuch) and you get pretty much the same message. Stop bickering because we look different or think different. Learn to exist rather than learning to hate or fight or whatever.
Put your fists down and get along. We are all the same and in this together. With all the suffering around the globe right now this track is more relevant now then ever.
Absolutely love this song and was sure it would be a single but they released the brilliant but non commercial No Thugs! Just great tune and sweet lyrical theme and that joyful Caribbean rhythm. Always makes me feel good and hopeful the world will see we are all the same underneath the surface
@@Kevvinm Yes, Beat Crazy is a great album that I only moderately enjoyed at the time of its release. I really liked its first side which I found very successful but wasn't too keen on its B side which isn't bad at all in hindsight! 😉
I always thought to "knuckle down" meant to get on with it, get to work on something, get down to business. I see here in the comments it can mean to "put down the knuckles of violence" - but also that there are some votes for the "roll up your sleeves" version of it. (Hmmm ... I suppose there's a version of "roll up your sleeves" that means to get ready to fight, so maybe there's just a divide in the world between the people with an impulse to grab the handles of that wheelbarrow, and hoick it over yonder again, and those inclined to duelling and feuding.) It's pretty clear that your reading of the sentiment expressed is right, though, so in that case it could even mean both things at the same time. Great sentiment. Looks like for some people it's hard to follow, though. (I think that's largely because by killing off a conflict or a prejudice, or by sewing up one's wounds and not inviting the flies back in to keep them fresh, it chokes off what boils down at its crudest to income streams for the kind of chancer that lives of such things. Keep people fighting, and reap some kind of personal reward. The hyaena feeds when the lion kills, and also when the lion dies. Something I'd have to say has been the context of my entire life, if I think about it, with a bit of 20:20 hindsight here and there. So it's almost a survival imperative, and not just "the nice thing to do". A necessity, even for those with a strong inclination to get the knuckles back up on the slightest impulse.) Gorillas are far more in danger of being "dragged off by humans". Or pushed out of the way. My sister in law sold four of her kidneys to go and see the gorillas in Rwanda, once, and tells me they're very quiet, very gentle creatures, so I've heard direct accounts verifying the stories from afar of the gentle nature of the greatest apes.
I think a wiki search would have straightened out the message here but you brought your own interpretation and it was just as valid. Getting down to brass tacks with brass knuckles. S’funny that quite often I hear things here that have been missed like the guitar noodle ending, pretty cool. I know what’s playing at work today…
"I think I'm sophisticated. 'Cause I'm living my life like a good homosapien.But all around me, everybody's multiplying. 'Till they're walking round like flies man. So I'm no better than the animals sitting in their cages, at the zoo man. 'Cause compared to the flowers, and the birds, and the trees, I'm an Apeman, I'm an Ape, Apeman"! --Ray Davies---The Kinks. Peace & Love-- oi!
This song is “peace”, restated (in my opinion). In general, I believe the phrase “knuckle-down” is used to refer to hard work if you are English. However, I feel like the band is using the phrase, in this case, in the context of this song, to describe the mental sacrifice/work that may be required for humans to treat each other with love and respect. When it comes to human relationships there is a thin line between love and hate , but the fence that keeps you from getting from the hate side to the love side is 1,000 feet tall…so you may have to get out your shovel or climbing gear and knuckle down. There also is a racial component obviously. However l, believe this is an example that supports the theme but it’s not a foundational theme. It’s just a great common example of a situation where you may need to struggle and let go of your ego and/or your other prejudices. You may have preconceived and misguided beliefs about groups of people and it might require effort to overcome! Nice all around job JP. I’d like to hear your take on the song Leisure on English Settlement as well. Please and thank you.
In a nutshell, 'knuckle Down & stop being a knuckle dragger'. Said it many, many times before but XTC was criminally under-rated. They were one of the most sophisticated & original bands of all time. The lyrics are very British, learn your Brit slang, & you'll get XTC!
@@pentagrammaton6793I'm starting to doubt my sanity, I'd have sworn it went yesterday. Even worse (possibly), I'm sure i checked again it wasn't there just before i posted my original post... but yes, i can see it there now ! Unless somehow i looked at the wrong post, I've a few conversations going on at the mo, so i'll have to assume maybe it was that... go figure :)
For a similar song by XTC about reaching outside your comfort zone, please consider reacting to "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her." Possibly my favorite song by them.
This is my favorite song from my favorite album from my favorite band .
XTC THE ONLY BAND THAT MATTERS
XTC are an incredible group. Well worth taking a very long deep dive.
Put your knuckles down = stop fighting, and also "to knuckle down" means to start working hard. So it's basically "stop fighting and get on with the job of living together in peace".
Amen.
"Knuckle Down" is a turn of phrase, exactly like you said at the end, meaning to lean into something, get serious, get it done. The pun here is that he's using it two ways - knuckle down and get serious about being more loving, and "put your knuckles down", ie: don't be a knuckle-dragger, don't be aggressive. And yup, this track rocks! What a frickin' album!
Great stuff... I think you nailed the point. I also think Andy's guitar playing is so underrated, as well He's not only a fabulous songwriter / lyricist but guitarist, too. Dave Gregory is amazing and really adds so much to the band (so glad he came aboard after the first two albums)... and he and Andy worked so well together.
I may have mentioned it on a previous English Settlement vid, but Tower Records declared this the best guitar album of the 80s. Obviously just an opinion, but there’s so much amazing guitar work (esp. acoustic) on the album.
One of the best tracks on the album. The title is a pun on the phrase 'knuckle down' as in 'get some work done' and a plea for an end to racial violence - i.e. knuckles being used to inflict harm. Andy isn't just playing with the word 'boys' he's referring to a sub-genre of punk called 'oi!' which by 1982 had been taken over by some pretty unpleasant people.
It's a message to racists saying put your knuckles down (i.e. lower your fists, stop fighting) and learn to love people that look different to you - we're all humans, we should all try to get along.
Yet another AP song that tries to end hostility while putting a smile on your face. How refreshing.
Interesting take on the lyrics. Never thought of the ape reference. I thought it just meant: put away your fists, stop fighting, we're all the same, boys (gorillas).
That is it, IMO. Put your knuckles down is lower your fists and stop fighting. We're all pretty much the same. Jump forward to XTC's Omnibus (off Nonsuch) and you get pretty much the same message. Stop bickering because we look different or think different. Learn to exist rather than learning to hate or fight or whatever.
and 'the smartest monkies' @@kevinrice70
Put your fists down and get along. We are all the same and in this together. With all the suffering around the globe right now this track is more relevant now then ever.
Absolutely love this song and was sure it would be a single but they released the brilliant but non commercial No Thugs! Just great tune and sweet lyrical theme and that joyful Caribbean rhythm. Always makes me feel good and hopeful the world will see we are all the same underneath the surface
I like this relaxed and debonair white reggae, which somehow reminds me of the Joe Jackson Band from the album Beat Crazy.
Great album!
@@Kevvinm Yes, Beat Crazy is a great album that I only moderately enjoyed at the time of its release. I really liked its first side which I found very successful but wasn't too keen on its B side which isn't bad at all in hindsight! 😉
Feel good song.
Thanks for this !! Everybody should experience XTC, your missing out if you don't!!!
and 'dukes of stratosphear'
I always thought to "knuckle down" meant to get on with it, get to work on something, get down to business. I see here in the comments it can mean to "put down the knuckles of violence" - but also that there are some votes for the "roll up your sleeves" version of it.
(Hmmm ... I suppose there's a version of "roll up your sleeves" that means to get ready to fight, so maybe there's just a divide in the world between the people with an impulse to grab the handles of that wheelbarrow, and hoick it over yonder again, and those inclined to duelling and feuding.) It's pretty clear that your reading of the sentiment expressed is right, though, so in that case it could even mean both things at the same time.
Great sentiment. Looks like for some people it's hard to follow, though. (I think that's largely because by killing off a conflict or a prejudice, or by sewing up one's wounds and not inviting the flies back in to keep them fresh, it chokes off what boils down at its crudest to income streams for the kind of chancer that lives of such things. Keep people fighting, and reap some kind of personal reward. The hyaena feeds when the lion kills, and also when the lion dies. Something I'd have to say has been the context of my entire life, if I think about it, with a bit of 20:20 hindsight here and there. So it's almost a survival imperative, and not just "the nice thing to do". A necessity, even for those with a strong inclination to get the knuckles back up on the slightest impulse.)
Gorillas are far more in danger of being "dragged off by humans". Or pushed out of the way. My sister in law sold four of her kidneys to go and see the gorillas in Rwanda, once, and tells me they're very quiet, very gentle creatures, so I've heard direct accounts verifying the stories from afar of the gentle nature of the greatest apes.
I think a wiki search would have straightened out the message here but you brought your own interpretation and it was just as valid. Getting down to brass tacks with brass knuckles.
S’funny that quite often I hear things here that have been missed like the guitar noodle ending, pretty cool.
I know what’s playing at work today…
I'd love to hear a version of this that's a bit slower on the fade. That almost-inaudible guitar solo at the end rips!
"I think I'm sophisticated. 'Cause I'm living my life like a good homosapien.But all around me, everybody's multiplying. 'Till they're walking round like flies man. So I'm no better than the animals sitting in their cages, at the zoo man. 'Cause compared to the flowers, and the birds, and the trees, I'm an Apeman, I'm an Ape, Apeman"! --Ray Davies---The Kinks. Peace & Love-- oi!
I think he's saying put your fists down. Drop your aggression and defenses. However, Lovely song ain't it?
Happy
This song is “peace”, restated (in my opinion).
In general, I believe the phrase “knuckle-down” is used to refer to hard work if you are English. However, I feel like the band is using the phrase, in this case, in the context of this song, to describe the mental sacrifice/work that may be required for humans to treat each other with love and respect. When it comes to human relationships there is a thin line between love and hate , but the fence that keeps you from getting from the hate side to the love side is 1,000 feet tall…so you may have to get out your shovel or climbing gear and knuckle down.
There also is a racial component obviously. However l, believe this is an example that supports the theme but it’s not a foundational theme. It’s just a great common example of a situation where you may need to struggle and let go of your ego and/or your other prejudices. You may have preconceived and misguided beliefs about groups of people and it might require effort to overcome!
Nice all around job JP. I’d like to hear your take on the song Leisure on English Settlement as well. Please and thank you.
In a nutshell, 'knuckle Down & stop being a knuckle dragger'. Said it many, many times before but XTC was criminally under-rated. They were one of the most sophisticated & original bands of all time. The lyrics are very British, learn your Brit slang, & you'll get XTC!
Stop beating the shit out of each other... Knuckles Down😊
The UK was very tribal back then and racism was rife...hence the whole 2-Tone thing.
There's nothing worse than cod reggae, which is a shame as I love a nice piece with me chips.
Titter!
I saw what you said about Dolly Parton 🙂 I was going to add, 'my thoughts entirely'', but when i refreshed it'd gone 😄😄.
@@jfergs.3302had it really? Haha! CENSORSHIP!! 🤣
It's all still there, I checked.
@@pentagrammaton6793I'm starting to doubt my sanity, I'd have sworn it went yesterday. Even worse (possibly), I'm sure i checked again it wasn't there just before i posted my original post... but yes, i can see it there now !
Unless somehow i looked at the wrong post, I've a few conversations going on at the mo, so i'll have to assume maybe it was that... go figure :)