Wire — I Should Have Known Better
Album: 154Avg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 388
Length: 3:50
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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In an act of contrition
I lay down by your side
It's not your place to comment
On my state of distress
For this is for real
I've tears in my eyes
Am I laughing or crying?
I suggest I'm not lying
I haven't found a measure yet to
Calibrate my displeasure yet so
To ignore my warning
Could be your folly
The judgement is harsh
I offer no plea
Valuing the vengeance which you treasure
I've redefined the meaning of vendetta
The procession's disordered
You protect your possessions
In light of your actions
I question your love
May I make an observation
Your bite is worse than my aggression
I should have known better
I should have known better
Than to become a target
Albeit a target which moves
No offer of terms or concessions
For statements or confessions
You don't feel warm, I pass close by
You shiver, I whisper
Excuse me, what's your problem?
Oh, I see
I should have known better
I lay down by your side
It's not your place to comment
On my state of distress
For this is for real
I've tears in my eyes
Am I laughing or crying?
I suggest I'm not lying
I haven't found a measure yet to
Calibrate my displeasure yet so
To ignore my warning
Could be your folly
The judgement is harsh
I offer no plea
Valuing the vengeance which you treasure
I've redefined the meaning of vendetta
The procession's disordered
You protect your possessions
In light of your actions
I question your love
May I make an observation
Your bite is worse than my aggression
I should have known better
I should have known better
Than to become a target
Albeit a target which moves
No offer of terms or concessions
For statements or confessions
You don't feel warm, I pass close by
You shiver, I whisper
Excuse me, what's your problem?
Oh, I see
I should have known better
Comments (61)add comment
The smartest side of punk and post punk, still ahead of the pack today. Masters.
Wow, this does not sound at all like it is 40 years old!
I have been there. Not all inventions are good ideas.
good punk band ie 12XU And progressed on to other good stuff. Check out the live version of Drill. Serious industrial noise. They even had the guts to do it on the Late Show in the US in 1987 (see youtube Wire meets Suzanne Sommers ) Yes sir I like it
More Wire please, especially from 154: Map Ref.
Wow, Wire on RP! Thanks guys <3
Time is...
fleeting;
Madness takes...
its toll
fleeting;
Madness takes...
its toll
Vorgruppe von Roxy Music beim Konzert im Deutschen Museum München 1979
kingart wrote:
It teeters on self-parody because of the singing. Sounds like chanting. The plummy accent doesn't help either.
Vaguely, or more than, sounds like it should have been in the Rocky Horror soundtrack. I can almost see Tim Curry chewing the scenery. And maybe double duty on a Spinal Tap spoof.
good track, though.
good track, though.
It teeters on self-parody because of the singing. Sounds like chanting. The plummy accent doesn't help either.
DaMoGan wrote:
Me too!
Our local version of VH1 channel recently aired one of their 80s vids, 'Eardrum Buzz', complete with silly 80s dancing - I actually thought they were trying to parody their peers of the day.
They looked so full of themselves I thought 'ok let's check Wiki to see if these idiots ever got anywhere' and was amazed to read that they were so influential.
It's fun clicking on the wiki links for artists/bands with generic names. I just learned a bunch about wire!
Me too!
Our local version of VH1 channel recently aired one of their 80s vids, 'Eardrum Buzz', complete with silly 80s dancing - I actually thought they were trying to parody their peers of the day.
They looked so full of themselves I thought 'ok let's check Wiki to see if these idiots ever got anywhere' and was amazed to read that they were so influential.
Superb band & a big influence on many others around the scene. Play more, please.
He should have known better than to release this so-called 'song'.
i think that this reminds me of television etc.
i like it!
i like it!
Zep wrote:
Roxy wishes
Indeed, nothing fashionable in this music. Pure and raw emotions instead of 'Brian Ferry' posing.
Roxy wishes
Indeed, nothing fashionable in this music. Pure and raw emotions instead of 'Brian Ferry' posing.
Vaguely, or more than, sounds like it should have been in the Rocky Horror soundtrack. I can almost see Tim Curry chewing the scenery. And maybe double duty on a Spinal Tap spoof.
good track, though.
good track, though.
jagdriver wrote:
Roxy wishes
A Roxy Music knockoff.
Roxy wishes
yuel wrote:
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
wow-
such a low rating for a great track from an even greater band.
such a low rating for a great track from an even greater band.
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
wow-
such a low rating for a great track from an even greater band.
such a low rating for a great track from an even greater band.
Good Joydivisionic piece! 6.
I'm flying! This set ist fantastic.
Wow! A track I REALLY enjoy from a band that I can't say I've ever heard of before. I'm going to have to follow the RP link to Amazon and buy some of their back catalogue. I note from their Wiki entry that the band's still going nearly 40 years on.
It's fun clicking on the wiki links for artists/bands with generic names. I just learned a bunch about wire!
Thank you RP for playing this song.
The album '154' is a great piece of work of a highly creative band of the late seventies.
Wire didn't follow musical trends. Instead of that they guided and influenced many other bands.
To me, a text quote from a song of their album 'Pink Flag' says it all:
"It's not hard to see another unique event
When you miss the beginning and you miss the end"
The album '154' is a great piece of work of a highly creative band of the late seventies.
Wire didn't follow musical trends. Instead of that they guided and influenced many other bands.
To me, a text quote from a song of their album 'Pink Flag' says it all:
"It's not hard to see another unique event
When you miss the beginning and you miss the end"
Along with all the other "reminds me of" suggestions, may I add Ultravox (the early incarnation with John Foxx, not the synth crap that came later).
FlatCat wrote:
that's a classic that should be on the playlist.
Do the Strand!
that's a classic that should be on the playlist....well, now i know where andrew eldritch found his inspiration for the sisterhood!..
Do the Strand!
rdo wrote:
Reminds me of Echo & The Bunnymen!
Dark and dangerous.
reminds me of Joy Division
Reminds me of Echo & The Bunnymen!
Dark and dangerous.
Good lord! 
I used to play this on college radio in 1980. 
Whew! Some of the rhymes are juvenile, but what a great driving baseline. Speaking of baselines - how about playing Shriekback "My Spine is the Baseline."
I used to play this on college radio in 1980. Whew! Some of the rhymes are juvenile, but what a great driving baseline. Speaking of baselines - how about playing Shriekback "My Spine is the Baseline."Haven't heard this gem in years. I wasn't aware Bill had it in the mix. I should have knon better!
lmic wrote:
I thought for a second it was Tim Curry. Oddly enough, that's okay with me.
Sounds like something from Rocky Horror!
I thought for a second it was Tim Curry. Oddly enough, that's okay with me.
Well that was odd. I was about to tell Bill that this song was mis-titled but then I realized Pink Flag was playing out of my own library. Nevermind. 
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Totally - I came over to give it an 8, and noticed I had it rated already....as a 3!
Wow my own opinion of this goes up and down... most songs I rate and leave it there forever. I came here to give this an 8 and see I gave it a 7 already... and in the comments I said I bumped it from a 6. I think next time it'll probably start back down (just a prediction for the time capsule there).
Totally - I came over to give it an 8, and noticed I had it rated already....as a 3!
reminds me of Joy Division
You should have known better than to play such trite drivel.....
Oh good lord... pretentious and silly.
Reminds me of Fischer Z - same era - same cool sound. 
Wow my own opinion of this goes up and down... most songs I rate and leave it there forever. I came here to give this an 8 and see I gave it a 7 already... and in the comments I said I bumped it from a 6. I think next time it'll probably start back down (just a prediction for the time capsule there).
WOW. Apparently RP listeners don't "get" Wire. They were a great band and this is a great song!
Wire stretched the boundaries of punk, especially on their first three albums. Incredible, ironic lyrics. This landmark album is an excellent example.
Oh well. Guess you had to be there. These guys were the real deal. Read this to get some entertaining background on this highly influential band:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_(band)
Had to give it a 10 just to bump it up a bit!
.
Wire stretched the boundaries of punk, especially on their first three albums. Incredible, ironic lyrics. This landmark album is an excellent example.
Oh well. Guess you had to be there. These guys were the real deal. Read this to get some entertaining background on this highly influential band:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_(band)
Had to give it a 10 just to bump it up a bit!
.
I can't agree with the majority here. This is a great song. However, it's pure New Wave, so if you're not into that...
while it was cool to hear this song again after almost 30 years.... i think i can go another 30 years of not hearing it.
Forgive him, he doesn't know better.
A Roxy Music knockoff.
The only reason I can see this song getting a 1 is that the scale doesn't go lower.
oh yeah, baby!If these guys are serious the song is 1. If they're kidding then they're geniuses and this is a 10.
I am not fan of this 
Shesdifferent wrote:
I agree: It is kind of sexy......
Sexy, I love it but I know many will hate it!
I agree: It is kind of sexy......
lmic wrote:
Sounds like something from Rocky Horror!
If this was a wiki, I would edit the "Artist Website" and "Wikipedia Entry" links. But, alas, this is not a wiki.
i can't imagine why .... ;)
Brilliant, seminal band that influenced so many, yet never go their due.
wow, this sucks
I'm getting Nick Cave, Fields of the Nephilim, Sisters of Mercy - very Goth, this. Interesting. An initial 6 from the Nottingham jury.
lmic wrote:
MOS DEF.
Sounds like something from Rocky Horror!
MOS DEF.Not my favorite Wire song (Dot Dash) but thanks for playing Wire anyhoo. 6. Edit: 7 today.
Sounds like something from Rocky Horror!
Sexy, I love it but I know many will hate it!
Thank you Bill and Rebecca!