Classic first single by The Adverts, a British punk band of the late 1970s. The band were probably best known at the time for featuring the fantastic, panda-eyed Gaye Advert on bass, but were one of the most interesting and overlooked bands of the time.
Written by lead singer T.V. Smith in twenty minutes, the song is a self-deprecating take on the situation many early punk bands found themselves in, as noted by Jon Savage in his book England's Dreaming: "The Roxy (the most famous London punk club) was a bear-pit, where inexperienced groups had to make their impact on a difficult audience composed of their peers and competitors. The quality of their performance was immediately reflected, not only by the club's mirrors, but by the hostile reactions, or worse, silence, from the floor.
The lyrics also echo Rozanov's definition of nihilism: "The show is over. The audience get up to leave their seats. Time to collect their coats and go home. They turn round...no more coats and no more home."
I wonder what we´ll play for you tonight
Something heavy or something light
Something to set your soul alight
I wonder how we´ll answer when you say
"We don´t like you - go away,
Come back when you´ve learnt to play"
I wonder what we´ll do when things go wrong
When we´re halfway through
Our favourite song
We look up and the audience has gone
Will we feel a little bit obscure
Think "we´re not needed here,
We must be New Wave
They´ll like us next year"
The Wonders don´t care
We don't give a damn!
(repeat)