Heaven 17

AMERICA……DO YOUR DUTY TODAY!!!

(Everybody move to prove the groove)
(Everybody move to prove the groove)
(Everybody move to prove the groove)
(Everybody move to prove the groove)
(Everybody move to prove the groove)
(Everybody move to prove the groove)
(Everybody move to prove the groove)

Have you heard it on the news
About this fascist groove thang?
Evil men with racist views
Spreadin’ all across the land
Don’t just sit there on your ass
Unlock that funky chaindance
Brothers, sisters, shoot your best
We don’t need this fascist groove thang

Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang

History will repeat itself
Crisis point, we’re near the hour
Counterforce will do no good
Hot U.S. I feel your power
Hitler proves that funky stuff
It’s not for you and me, girl (no, no no)
Europe’s an unhappy land
They’ve had their fascist groove thang

Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang

Democrats are out of power
Across that great wide ocean
Reagan’s president elect
Fascist God in motion
Generals tell him what to do
Stop your good time dancing
Train their guns on me and you
Fascist thing advancing
Sisters, brothers lend a hand
Increase our population
Grab that groove thang by the throat
And throw it in the ocean
You’re real tonight, you move my soul
Let’s cruise out on the dance floor
Come out your house and dance your dance
Shake that fascist groove thang (shake it)

Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need that fascist groove thang
Brothers, sisters
We don’t need the fascist groove thang.

The song might be almost 40 years old now, but the general message is still relevant:-

mp3: Heaven 17 – (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang (12″ version)

Here’s yer instrumental and atmospheric track on the b-side.  But bear in mind, it has an explosive finish:-

mp3: Heaven 17 – The Decline of The West (12″ version)

Jonny, Goldie, SC, Echorich, Brian…..I know from talking extensively to each of you in the past that you’ll be on board with these sentiments.  I have no doubt that just about every other reader or visitor to these parts from across the pond feels the same.

Good luck my friends.

JC

17 thoughts on “AMERICA……DO YOUR DUTY TODAY!!!”

  1. It’s just about 10 pm on the west coast. Hopefully this time tomorrow we’ll be laughing. Right now we’re freaking all the way out. It can’t happen again— it just can’t.

  4. I had kind of expected a slightly unexpected (sic) post of Arcadia today, with Election Day – but this was a way, way better choice. Must admit I’m slightly pessimistic and afraid of what the army of laywers will do to keep power where it is. Not to mention the Proud Boys.

  6. I hope for freedom from tyranny. I hope to learn of people in the streets, in joyous celebration, and that America has awoken from its nightmare. Stay safe.

  7. Much as I like the sentiments of this record, at the time of release I just couldn’t take to it, and in the years since it still jars with me. I gave it a fresh listen with this posting, but still it doesn’t endear itself to me. I don’t know why, as there are a few things in the Heaven 17/B.E.F. catalogue which I really enjoy – their version of ‘Free’ with Billy Mackenzie for instance, and the insane 12″ of ‘Secret Life of Arabia’ which I first heard on an NME tape. But still, America… do your duty today, we don’t need this fascist Trump thing!

  9. We are trying over here. Hopefully at least more than half of us, and living in the right locations, can reject the fascist groove thing today…or by next week.

  10. Due to the sad march of time, it looks like this song has only become ever more relevant over the 39 years. As an artistic statement of intent on a debut single, it’s peerless. I can think of no finer anthem for this day. But until we somehow pry Rupert Murdoch from the neck of The West, I don’t think that much will change. If there’s a “red wave”… of Republican blood in America, expect the new congressional minority to all of a sudden become very concerned by any budget deficit expenditures for something inconsequential, like fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and supporting Americans who can no longer work because of it. Framing it as an “entitlement.” Their playbook is very boring but predictable to a fault. The long view should be towards reframing and cutting off any political oxygen to those who are content to feed off of society and siphon off the wealth.

    Let’s start now.

  11. The Donald’s gonna make it again and I’ll be very,very happy! Freedom from tyranny? My ass…

  12. It will be about courage and the willingness to walk away from the Chaos of the last four years. We all know by now that “the revolution WILL be televised” and so will every moment of this Election Day. News anchors and pundits will analyze every vote in every state and attempt to make predictions. All we can hope for is that the votes cast are all counted and the results are acknowledged peacefully.

  13. Thanks for thinking of us, JC. Nice choice of song. If you had told me this time five years ago I would be voting for Hillary a year later and Joe four years after that I would have said you were nuts. Yet, here we are. Turns out there is one candidate out there even worse. Joe will cruise in the popular vote, but that’s not enough. A small number of states will decide this election. The sheer number of votes already cast (100 million as of Monday night) is a good sign, but there will be uneasy hours and days ahead as every nook and cranny is searched for votes. If I was a praying man, I would ask for peace as this thing is sorted out. I am worried.

  15. Good luck, USA. Hope you kick this vacuous, attention-seeking blowhard – and
    his irritating family (Donald Trump Jr is possibly an even bigger wanker
    than his father) – out of the White House.

  16. It’s up to Americans to decide. I know how I would like to see it go …….

    The best that can be hoped for is a fair, peaceful election.

  17. love the song and the band.

    will finally be getting both the boxsets from them.

    i donated a track to the 2nd one, so i am in the credits for it.

    back to groove thang… i heard it much later, back when ‘let me go’,
    was my favorite song from them, and worked backwards through
    their catalog.

    they are still kicking now too.

    also, i love the redone versions, like the rapino mixes, very
    high nrg versions.

    later
    -1

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