Not Now John by Pink Floyd Lyrics Meaning – Deciphering the Echoes of Sociopolitical Dissent
Lyrics
(Fuck all that, fuck all that)
Got to compete with the wily Japanese
There’s too many home fires burning and not enough trees
(Fuck all that)
So fuck all that, we’ve gotta get on with these
(Gotta get on with these)
Can’t stop, lose job
Mind gone, silicon
Stroll on what bomb?
Get away, payday
Make hay, break down
Need fix, big six
Click, click
Hold on, oh no
Bingo (bingo)
Make ’em laugh, make ’em cry
Make ’em dance in the aisles
Make ’em pay, make ’em stay
Make them feel okay
Not now John, we’ve got to get on with the film show
(Gotta get on, gotta get on)
Hollywood waits at the end of the rainbow
(End of the rainbow)
Who cares what it’s about as long as the kids go
(As long as the kids go)
So, not now John, we’ve gotta get on with the show
(Gotta get on, gotta get on)
(Gotta get on, gotta get on, gotta get on)
Hang on John I’ve gotta get on with this
(Gotta get on, gotta get on)
Don’t know what it is, but it fits on here like, sss
Come at the end of the shift, we’ll go and get pissed
But not now John, I’ve gotta get on with this
(Gotta get on with this, gotta get on)
Hold on John, I think there’s something good on
I used to read books but
Could be the news or some other abuse
Could be reusable shows
Fuck all that, we’ve gotta get on with these
Gota compete with the wily Japanese
(Gotta get on, gotta get on)
No need to worry about the Vietnapeace
Gota bring Russian Bear to his knees
(Gotta get on)
Well, maybe not the Russian Bear, maybe the Swedes
We showed Argentina, now let’s go and show these
(Gotta get on, gotta get on)
Make us feel tough and wouldn’t Maggie be pleased?
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na
(Na, na, na, na, na, na, na)
(One, two, Free Four)
(One, two, Free Four)
S’cusi, dov’è il bar? (What?) (gotta get on)
Se parakalo, pou einai to bar?
S’il vous plaît, où est le bar? (Say it in English, fairy)
Oi, where’s the fucking bar John? (Oh, now you’re talking)
(Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the day) (gotta get on, gotta get on)
Down (gotta get on)
Go, Maggie
(Gotta get on, gotta get on)
Hammer, Hammer, Hammer, Hammer, now
Pink Floyd, a band synonymous with psychedelic rock and deeply conceptual music, takes a gritty detour with ‘Not Now John,’ a track that delves into the disillusionment and socio-political climate of the early ’80s. The song, which comes from their 1983 album ‘The Final Cut,’ serves as a powerful commentary on the forces of industry, international tensions, and cultural distractions.
While its chorus may initially come off as a cacophony of expletives, there’s a profound message embedded within the angst and urgency of Roger Waters’ lyrics. The song is a raw exposition of a society caught in the crossfires of cold corporate competition and the escapism provided by bread and circuses. Let’s unravel the thread of thought woven through this poignant Pink Floyd piece.
The Fragments of War’s Aftermath: A Deep Dive
‘Not Now John’ emerges from the ominous shadow of post-war Britain, an era that struggled with the Falklands War’s ramifications and the Thatcher government’s policies. The song’s narrative, while seemingly disjointed, captures the era’s zeitgeist with a cascade of images that reflect both domestic discontent and global unrest.
The refrain ‘gotta get on with these’ hints at the pressure to keep up with industrial and technological progress, as epitomized by the ‘wily Japanese.’ The lyrics are tinted with the anxiety of falling behind in an increasingly competitive world, while the mention of perennial ‘home fires’ suggests a society still grappling with internal strife and the neglect of domestic well-being.
Cultural Escapism and the Hollywood Mirage
The references to Hollywood and the film show in ‘Not Now John’ speak to the allure of entertainment as a means of distraction from harsh realities. The song cynically points out how the masses are led to ‘make them feel okay,’ underlining how such escapism commodifies art and culture for profit and pacification rather than authentic engagement or social change.
This critique of the entertainment industry is particularly pointed as it implies a neglect of substantive issues—’who cares what it’s about as long as the kids go.’ The provocative lyrics are a jolt to break the hypnotic trance of media and to consider the real-world consequences of our collective inattention.
Uncovering the Veiled Satire: Subtext in ‘Not Now John’
Waters’ lyricism in ‘Not Now John’ isn’t just a straightforward protest; it’s a satirical masterpiece. The enigmatic phrase ‘Not now John’ is like a brushstroke of apathy, painting a picture of a society too preoccupied with distractions to confront pressing matters.
Moreover, ‘Not Now John’ can be seen as a sobering commentary on the superficiality pervading human interactions, where even genuine expressions are muted by the urgency to keep the wheel of productivity turning. It decries the erosion of meaningful dialogue, as issues like the ‘Vietnapeace’ or the ‘Russian Bear’ are dismissed or trivialized amid the daily grind.
Memorable Lines and Their Resonance With Listeners
Lines like ‘Can’t stop, lose job’ and ‘Mind gone, silicon’ resonate with an almost nihilistic acceptance of the rat race, while ‘Make hay, break down’ conveys the never-ending cycle of work and its toll on mental health. ‘Need fix, big six, Click, click’ might represent the dependency on quick fixes and distractions to cope with life’s stresses.
Even the seemingly nonsensical interjections, such as the various ways of asking for the bar in different languages, speak to a search for relief, albeit temporary, from a world that’s increasingly homogenized and globalized, yet fragmenting in terms of human connection and understanding.
The Underestimated Power of Pink Floyd’s Political Prose
Not traditionally known for explicit political statements compared to its introspective looks at human psyche and society, Pink Floyd breaks this stereotype with ‘Not Now John.’ The song is a brazen manifestation of political sentiments, pushing the listener into the unsettling space where entertainment, politics, and wars collide.
As a closing note on the album ‘The Final Cut,’ ‘Not Now John’ encapsulates the thematic essence of the entire work. It’s a scream against apathy, a defiant stand against societal ennui, and a rally for engagement in an increasingly detached world.
