There's unlimited supply
And there is no reason why
I tell you it was all a frame
They only did it ''cause of fame
Who?

E.M.I. E.M.I. E.M.I.
Too many people had the suss
Too many people support us
An unlimited amount
Too many outlets in and out
Who?

E.M.I E.M.I E.M.I
And sir and friends are crucified
A day they wished that we had died
We are an addition
We are ruled by none
Never ever never

And you thought that we were faking
That we were all just money making
You do not believe we're for real
Or you would lose your cheap appeal?

Don't judge a book just by the cover
Unless you cover just another
And blind acceptance is a sign
Of stupid fools who stand in line
Like

E.M.I E.M.I E.M.I
Unlimited edition
With an unlimited supply
That was the only reason
We all had to say goodbye

Unlimited supply (E.M.I)
There is no reason why (E.M.I)
I tell you it was all a frame (E.M.I)
They only did it ''cause of fame (E.M.I)
I do not need the pressure (E.M.I)
I can't stand those useless fools (E.M.I)
Unlimited supply (E.M.I)
Hello E.M.I
Goodbye A & M



Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Track duration: 03:11

"EMI" as written by Glen Matlock, Paul Cook, Steve Jones, John Lydon

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


EMI song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think Fame was either McLaren's or the band's management agency, so when he sings "I tell you it was all a frame, they only did it cos the fame!" it would suggest McLaren was the one behind it all, gaining publicity for the by having words with EMI to make them want to drop the band. Bearing in mind they were dropped after the Bill Grundy interview on Tonight, I'd have to hazard a guess that this is a dig at him (McLaren) for interferring, and also at the record company for believing some of the crap that was spread about the pistols.
    Flag Omen1972on August 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Rich M is generally right but is slightly wrong about the details. The Pistols signed with EMI in 1976 and were on the label long enough to record and release the 45 rpm version of "Anarchy in the UK". Then came the infamous appearance on Bill Grundy's TV show, just after "Anarchy" was released. In the wake of the controversy over that appearnce, EMI got cold feet and dropped the band and withdrew the single.

    That's why original EMI pressings of the "Anarchy" are a valued rarity, and I think it also explains all the lines about "unlimited supply" in the lyrics. One thing that characterized the early days of punk was a fetish for limited-edition releases (on pink vinyl, etc.). But the most limited edition of them all was the initial pressing of "Anarchy" on EMI. Lydon's song is in part a sarcastic commentary on this, since the song itself is now available to everybody on the same album that contains "EMI".

    Between EMI and Virgin, they were on A&M for about a day, which explains the reference to that label in the song.
    Flag tmjmon December 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Fuck.

    monkeyshaver is a genious...totally right.
    Flag gabbagabbaheygirlon August 06, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:"These days, it has become very, very easy to categorize and stereotype "emo" and "punk" acts, as they have established an aesthetic standard for themselves; tight, thrift store t-shirts, faded jeans, jet black hair, etc. It seems to me, that any band that fits this aesthetic is "emo", but what about the music? Does anybody even care anymore? Is it right for bands like Boxcar Racer and Bright Eyes to be lumped into the same category? I will now attempt to further illustrate this point: take for example, Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday. Both these bands are considered to be "emo" by modern standards, but why? Do they sound alike? Absolutely not. But, do they dress alike? Yes. What used to be a sincere art-form is now a trendy fashion statement. What the fuck is going on here? These days, everything seems to be "emo". From the most commercial shopping center to MTV... "emo" is fucking everywhere! It's literally embarrassing to use the term to describe something in total seriousness as it has been bashed, beaten and totally thrown out of context over the years. It has become a big joke.

    "


    The same thing goes for the term "punk".



    Despite the claims of many people today SAY that they are "punk"... what almost everybody who has ever said the afformentioned phrase fails to recognize is that it is NOT a way of dressing, NOT a type of music.


    Just because someone wears slip-ons, listens to music that shares the same title, and whatever other mockeries of the literal form of punk have been made, it is NONE of these common stereotypes.


    TRUE PUNK, the kind you cannot find at a corporate clothing retailer or uttered from the mouth of some jackass that, in their eyes at least, is a "punk" because they happened to be wearing a pair of Vans, or possibly some tight jeans and are listening to a phony "punk" band such as Green Day or Avril Lavigne.


    What these people fail to understand is that......
    PUNK IS NONE OF THESE!
    It is much, MUCH more than a type of dress or a musical form
    What it TRUELY is,
    it is a way of thinking,
    an intellectual property of standing up for yourself,
    standing up for what you belive in and doing what YOU want to
    and letting big corporations (Nike, Abercrombie and Fitch, and GAP just to name a few) tell you who or what to be, and of course what to look like
    completely robs any shred of true, dignified "punk" completely away from these posers.


    Punk is a dying way of life.


    There are only a handful of real punks left,
    surronded by far too many posers.


    I listen to real punk rock such as 7 Seconds, Sham 69 and The Misfits and I blatently discourage many of the brands and ideas that have almost killed the true lifestyle of punk.
    Flag monkeyshaveron May 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:sorry to correct you, but it was sid vicious on bass and he never sung emi. & the film your on about is sid & nancy. rotten was the red head arrogant lead singer. the sex pistols are fucking awsome tbh.
    Flag sammyhavocon May 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:sorry to correct you, but it was sid vicious on bass and he never sung emi. & the film your on about is sid & nancy. rotten was the red head arrogant lead singer. the sex pistols are fucking awsome tbh.
    Flag sammyhavocon May 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It was John Lydon who sang "EMI" with red mop & Broog. Rotton was the good looking pissed-off guy on bass, who ended up in NYC with his true love Nancy, there's a film about them.
    Flag mca5517aon April 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Now Richard Branson has become "The Man!"
    Flag gregorybrianon March 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that if I remember the er correct info on this one, the thing that made the record label DROP the pistols was that interview where Johnny swore on a daytime tv show. People swear in public but they can't swear on tv, stop the double standards now....... anyway I love the line about the Blinds fools in line....... remember theres a sucker born every minute (PT BARNUM said that)
    Flag fleaaaaaaon November 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:amen to baller, evh and steve vai are great guitarist but half an hour into the solos i forget im lisenin to a song... anyhow fukin great son fukin great band "u dont need permission for anyffin"
    Flag stboneyofsuburbiaon September 15, 2006   Link

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