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about
"Flag" is about trying to understand Great Britain's place in the world today behind its shambolic and angry appearance. It's a reaction against British politicians using nationalism as a red, white and blue seducer to drag the country's eyes and brains away from the calamity they live in. The weird obsession the country has with war; the arrogance of how illustrious it thinks it is perceived to be by the rest of the world; and the misguided view that by simply waving a flag you somehow paper over the crack of simultaneously despising millions of your countrymen, presumably including fellow patriots.
lyrics
This place stinks of old wars,
Subservience, semi-final defeats
God and flags
Pulling your mask down for a fag.
You’re a musty relic,
Hiding behind that tatty sheet, shouting, screaming, getting pulled back by your mates. Stamping on cans, raw neck in the sun. Dog water on tap.
What even are you?
You’ve been had mate
The Italian job is on, sit down, shut up, quote the funnies, laugh at the foreigns, drink yer tea, tell the kids everything is shit these days,
wave yer fucking flag, wave yer fucking flag, WAVE YER FUCKING FLAG
Feel powerful, feel proud,
Subjects oh subjects, we used to be this, we used to be that, and we want it back,
but no one is jealous, no one cares, so wheel it all out
Break that emergency glass, parade forever, make it meaningless,
Bow down to that tatty flag. But what does it mean? What does it mean?
WAVE YER FUCKING FLAG
You still hate your fucking neighbour, the clothes you wear are foreign anyway, expensive or cheap and your car is German and its nice, good runner, decent milage, reliable…
The other town down the road are all inbred you said, they all talk funny don’t they - fucking weirdos - Oh and That London eh, don’t get me started, what a shithole ey ey ey?!
You’re fucking broken, your heads gone,
Imagine some good old days you think existed, we deserve better than this…
BLUE BLOOD STILL RUNS RED
Privilege won’t save you.
Eton won’t save you.
People who speak Latin WILL NOT save you.
That stiff upper lip will crumble, THAT silver spoon will be sold, you’ll be forgotten.
You’re nothing to them, NOTHING.
Stop falling for their bullshit,
Throw those plastic chairs, puff out your chest, rule Bri-fucking-tannia, rule those foreign fucking waves, you can’t even swim straight - armbands on - yer getting dragged down, yer drowing in it all, DROWING IN IT ALL
That flag won’t protect you forever, it’ll sink, it looks worn, the colours are running, wasn’t even made here
It’s all a lie.
This isn’t politics, you’re just holding a flag, you’re just a fucking pole.
Wave yer fucking flag
Wave your flag
WAVE. YOUR. FLAG.
credits
released February 19, 2021
"Flag" by Benefits
Kingsley Hall, Jonny Snowball, Robbie Major, Hugh Major
Recorded by Kingsley Hall in Saltburn and Robbie Major in Newcastle
Mastered by Kingsley Hall
I can safely say I've never been this excited over a piece of plastic in my entire life! This is awesome! It's impossible to pick a favourite when every track is a banger. The lyrics are on point and delivered with an acerbic wit and passion that leaves me in no doubt that they're spoken from the heart. I need more of this in my life! Dylan Barry
Amazing. Music full of energy and soul. And lyrics not scared of having an opinion. Plus on one of my favourite labels Invada. Finding this music this morning made my day. phil stairmand-jackson
Inspired by the grim absurdities of the here and now, the Chicago post-punks power through their fourth album with a primal urgency. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 24, 2021
Terrific, marauding post-punk that will thrill fans of Idles with its pairing of cutting riffs and wry spoken/sung lyrics. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 26, 2022