How is it possible that Paul Weller is a Tory?

[CanuckAmok]

How can a man who writes this be a conservative?:

LITTLE BOY SOLDIERS - Paul Weller
Its funny how you never knew what my name was,
Our only contact was a form for the election.
These days I find that you don't listen,
These days I find that we're out of touch,
These days I find that I'm too busy,
So why the attention now you want my assistance -
what have you done for me?
You've gone and got yourself in trouble,
Now you want me to help you out.
These days I find that I can't be bothered,
These days I find that its all too much,
To pick up a gun and shoot a stranger,
But I've got no choice so here I come - war games.
I'm up on the hills playing little boy soldiers,
Reconnaissance duty up at 5:30.
Shoot shoot shoot and kill the natives,
You're one of us and we love you for that.
Think of honour, Queen and country.
You're a blessed son of the British Empire,
God's on our side and so is Washington.
Come out on the hills with the little boy soldiers.
Come on outside - I'll sing you a lullabye,
And tell the tale of how goodness prevailed.
We ruled the world - we killed and robbed,
The fucking lot - but we don't feel bad.
It was done beneathe the flag of democracy,
You'll believe - and I do, yes I do - yes I do -
Yes I do -
These days I find that I can't be bothered,
To argue with them - well, what's the point?
Better to take your shots and drop down dead,
then they send you home in a pine overcoat.
With a letter to your mum
Saying 'find enclosed one son, one medal' - and a note to say he won.

"Smithers-Jones"
Here we go again, it's Monday at last,
He's heading for the Waterloo line.
To catch the 8am fast, its usually dead on time,
Hope it isn't late, got to be there by nine.
Pin stripe suit, clean shirt and tie,
Stops off at the corner shop, to buy The Times
'Good Morning Smithers-Jones'
'How's the wife and home?'
'Did you get the car you've been looking for?' (repeat)
Let me get inside, let me take control of you,
We could have some good times,
All this worry will get you down,
I'll give you a new meaning to life - I don't think so.
Sitting on the train, you're nearly there
You're a part of the production line,
You're the same as him, you're like tin-sardines,
Get out of the pack, before they peel you back.
Arrive at the office, spot on time,
The clock on the wall hasn't yet struck nine.
'Good Morning Smithers-Jones',
'The boss wants to see you alone'.
'I hope its the promotion you've been looking for' (repeat)
'Come in Smithers old boy'
'Take a seat, take the weight off your feet'.
'I've some news to tell you'
'There's no longer a position for you' -
'Sorry Smithers-Jones'.
Put on the kettle to make some tea
It's all a part of feeling groovy
Put on your slippers turn on the TV
It's all a part of feeling groovy
It's time to relax now you've worked your arse off
But the only one smilin' is the sun tanned boss
Work and work and work and work til you die
Cause there's plenty more fish in the sea to fry.


"Life at a Top Peoples Health Farm"
Dads gone down the dog track, engels’ laying cables
Brothers with his student friends plotting in the stables
They’re preparing for power and how to win
I’m covered in solaire and preparing to swim
Old iron! old iron! - I heard the bobby shout
As he brought his friendly truncheon down with
With a God almighty clout.
Mothers playing bingo, she’s hoping for a big win
She buys the daily papers to see how 10% live
My cousins’ greatest wish, is to one day buy a farm
And turn it into a health club with top people charm
Any evening, any day - I’m singing to myself
I’ll pack up all my clothes and dough and piss off somewhere else.

My ol’ man was a dust person until he got the shove
Now the iron heel he talked about is backed by the iron glove
Brothers bought new glasses, shaped like leon trotsky’s
They look very nice on the mantlepiece, next to the royal family
I’m laying back with the radio on, in time to hear the archer’s
An everyday tale of country folk mixed up in prostitution.

Like all good stories with a happy end, which I’ll now give to you
Our cousins wish was granted and so his dream came true
His gas shares doubled, while his telecoms soared
Til he had enough money, to chair his own board
And thank you margaret thatcher, may you never come to harm
He now serves cocktails and lettuce at a top peoples health club farm.

[mr blur]

1. I guess that...

it's like saying, How can a young, exciting, vital songwriter become a dull, washed-out old fart? Endlessly repeating other peoples' ideas, trading on the past and boring us to death. In fact, just like a Tory.

[asthmaticeog]

2. BAM.

Well said - spare no sentiment for that fucking beat-ass old dullard!

We'll always have the old Jam records, at least.

[RandomKoolzip]

4. Weller's not a Tory.

Dude was borderline Communist in the 80's. The Style Council, no matter how much they sucked musically, were part of the Red Wedge faction of musicians which included the Redskins, etc.

Paul Weller is NOT A TORY. He once gave an interview in the late 70's claiming to be, but that was just to piss off some journalist. His words were taken out of context.

And, yes, his current muse is a weak one compared to the old Jam canon, but his voice is in top shape these days.

[asthmaticeog]

5. I stand corrected, then, for believing the Tory thing.

However, I will not back down from the "beat-ass old dullard" remark.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. Bruce Foxton wrote "Smithers-Jones."

Breaking my DU silence for this one.....can't let this go on.

Paul Weller is not a Tory. He's what they call a "Little Englander," but he's no racist/fascist.

I think a lot of that shit about Weller claiming to be a Tory is from an interview he gave in freakin' 1977 where he pledged to vote Tory just to piss off some journalist who was taking the piss on him for being suburban and working class.


Please post a link to a CURRENT news item which claims that PAul Weller is (not WAS) a Tory. The Style Council was freakin' RED WEDGE, fer crissakes!!! Weller is emphatically NOT a Tory.

[CanuckAmok]

6. Foxton did write "Smithers-Jones"

But I didn't want to split hairs.

No current link; the Weller Tory thin was something alluded to here a couple of weeks ago, and It's been under my skin ever since.

[mitchum]

7. I'm more horrified that Bryan Ferry is a Tory

Bryan, you're the son of a freakin' coal miner. You wouldn't have gotten to go to art college if the Tories had their way.