History: Sham 69 formed in 1976 (the 12 November issue of NME notes they were rehearsing at this time, although only Pursey would remain from this early line-up 12 months later). Sham 69 lacked the art school background of many British punk bands of the time, and brought in football chant back-up vocals and a sort of inarticulate political populism. The band had a large skinhead following (left wing, right wing and non-political), which helped set the tone for the Oi! movement. Their concerts were notoriously plagued by violence, and the band ceased live performances after one of their gigs at Middlesex Polytechnic in 1978 was broken up by National Front skinheads fighting and rushing the stage. Sham 69 released their first single, "Ulster", on Step Forward Records in August 1977, and its success in the independent charts prompted Polydor to sign the band.
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Swampy Lyrics
Sham 69
Swampy, he went underground
He didn't get lost, he just couldn't get found
A camera in the sky, a video deep
But Swampy he was there for a week
If your heart don't beat, you won't see
What Swampy did for you and me
And yes you've got a family from Twyford Downs to Newbury
You better run to the forest
Bend with the wind
Don't say a word get safety pinned
Run to the forest
Bend with the wind
Don't say a word get safety pinned
Well Swampy he was not alone
Muppet and the girls had a mobile phone
Some down a hole
Some up a tree
And a very nice man from the BBC
If your heart don't beat, you won't see
What Swampy did for you and me
And yes you've got a family from Twyford Downs to Newbury
You better run to the forest
Bend with the wind
Don't say a word get safety pinned
Run to the forest
Bend with the wind
Don't say a word get safety pinned
Swampy he'll be doing time
If someone don't pay the fine
Five hundred pounds sets him free
To find another motorway and climb a tree
But Swampy he was there for a week
If your heart don't beat, you won't see
What Swampy did for you and me
And yes you've got a family from Twyford Downs to Newbury
You better run to the forest
Bend with the wind
Don't say a word get safety pinned
Run to the forest
Bend with the wind
Don't say a word get safety pinned