Fugazi - Fugazi
Click here to read the (long) thoughts
of former Freaks contributor Torch on Fugazi.
‘Fugazi’
From Jeroen Schipper’s FAQ:
"Fugazi is a word that was used by Americans in
Vietnam, and is slang concerning those who died in ambush (something like
that), so the acronym is Fucked Up, Got Ambushed,
Zipped In." (Presumably the
‘Zipped In’ refers to body bags - Ed.) This explains pretty well what
Fish is trying to say with the album: 'This world is totally fugazi'. Fugazi
is close to a popular net-acronym, Foobar, which is derived from Fubar and
means 'Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition'. Fugazi is definitely not a
Vietnamese word as there is no Z in the Vietnamese alphabet.
'Blackheath’
An area of Lewisham, South-east London. In 1381 it was the mustering point
for Wat Tyler’s peasant uprising against the poll tax, but is now an area of
open land. There are many expensive houses in the area.
'Piccadilly Line’
The Piccadilly line is an underground line running from Cockfosters in the
north of London via Central London to Hammersmith and out to Heathrow in the
south west. And nowhere near Blackheath which doesn’t even have a tube
station.
'An albatross in the Marrytime... hung herself
around my neck’
In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s (1772-1834) epic poem, The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner, the protagonist shoots and albatross, traditionally
seen as a good luck omen by sailors. He is beset by all kinds of problems,
such as the ship being becalmed, being stalked by a black barque crewed by
skeletons that follows him across the ocean. He eventually acknowledges his
guilt by wearing the dead bird around his neck. He eventually returns to
England, and pays penance for his crime by retelling his story to all he
meets. Apparently the moral of the story is don't kill birds who shit on
you. That’s what Bruce says anyway. Click here for more info on ‘the
Rime of the Ancient Mariner’
'Time-Life-Guardians’
These are three publications that can been genuinely be seen being read by
the 'hat, suit and ties' on the Tube. They are liberally inclined
publications targeted at professionals. The Guardian is a broadsheet
newspaper, the other two glossies.
'The Thief of Baghdad’
A Muslim immigrant. The Thief of Baghdad, like Aladdin and Sinbad the
Sailor, was a heroic character from the Arabian Nights - 1001 cliff-hanger
stories told by the princess Scheherezade to postpone her execution by her
husband Sultan Schahriah. The stories first appeared in Europe in a French
translation in 12 volumes, translated from a 14th or 15th century source.
'Islington’
A borough close to Central London. It has a relatively high proportion of
people from the ethnic minorities, but is certainly not particularly
renowned for it.
'Sacred Cow’
Fish makes mistake shocker! It is Hindus not Muslims who venerate the cow.
Muslims will eat beef as long as it is Halal.
'Magdalenes’
Mary Magdalene is often mistakenly identified as the prostitute (So it says
in Pears Cyclopedia) that is saved from a
stoning when Christ ordered that the woman might only be legitimately be
stoned if any thrower were free of sin himself (as any Monty Python fan
knows, only men were allowed at stonings) The woman, as Christ knew, was
able to go free. It is a sentiment similar to the ‘Mote in your eye’ of
Incubus.
Magdalene is often used to mean prostitute (particularly by Fish!) The
real Mary Magdalene, however, was cured of seven demons by Jesus, was
present at his crucifixion and was the first to see the empty tomb after he
rose again. Some texts, removed from the early editions of the bible by the
Catholic Church apparently had her as Jesus’ wife, and mother of his
children. (Blasphemy! He said Jehovah! (etc. etc.))
'Brixton Chess’
Jeroen Schipper’s FAQ: "Brixton
is a suburb of London where there were major riots in April 1981."
'Chess'
Jeroen Schipper’s FAQ: "Has several
levels of meaning. The chess game is used as a metaphor for conflict in
general. The riots were partly race riots (for want of a better term), and
'Chess' implicitly refers to black and white in opposition. It also suggests
a larger game beyond the knowledge of the pawns - this refers to the
political power play in the background. An inquiry into the riots partially
blamed them on the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher's Conservative
government, which seemed to inflict the poor with the economic cost of
restructuring while leaving the more affluent (the Conservatives' major
supporters) relatively unscathed."
Additionally, there were further riots in Brixton in the summer of
1996. A young black man died in police custody. A peaceful demonstration was
held which enquired why black men were more likely to die in custody than
white men. The police were unsympathetic to this clearly unreasonable
request and the whole thing went pear-shaped from there. Brixton is one of
the main centres for Black British culture. Ex-Prime Minister John Major was
born there.
'Knight for Embankment’
Unlike Torch (See link at top of page) I think it is about a tramp, who were
sometimes called ‘knights of the road’.
Embankment is the name given to the banks of the Thames in London. The
north is the Victoria Embankment, the south bank, Albert Embankment after
the monarch and her consort. It is a popular saying that ‘An Englishman’s
home is his castle’ and tramps, who are an all too common sight sleeping on
benches on the Embankment, often sleep under newspapers. Furthermore, The
old soldiers part reinforces this to me, as Britain has a proud tradition of
treating its old solders appallingly, and ex-military men make up a woefully
large proportion of the homeless in the U.K. He is also begging the
boatman’s coin.
At the time of writing the song, there might have been a few WWII
veterans still on to the streets.
'Begs the Boatman’s coin'
The coin is used to pay Charon to cross the Styxx. (cf. Incubus, Jigsaw)
'Taped up painted windows'
The idea is that the paint will reflect the glare, and the tape will stop
the glass shattering in the event of a nuclear explosion. Obviously, if you
live in a big or strategic area, you might as well save the money. This was
a genuine tip that the government recommend you try in the event of a
nuclear war, as lampooned in Raymond Brigg’s fantastic graphic novel,
When the Wind Blows, which just about sums up the fuckwittery of the
nuclear mentality. There’s also a film with David Bowie doing some voices.
'Belsen’
Belsen was one of the notorious Nazi death camps. It was located on Lüneberg
Heath, N.W. of Celle in northern Germany. It was one of the camps where
execution was by Zyclon B gas. (C.p. White Russian)
'Pandora’s Box'
Brewer’s: "To
punish Prometheus (for stealing fire from the Gods), Zeus ordered Hephæstus
to fashion a beautiful woman who was called Pandora (‘the all gifted’)
because each of the Gods gave her some power which was to bring about the
ruin of man. According to Hessiod, she was the first mortal female and was
sent by Zeus as a gift for Epimetheus who married her, against the advice of
his brother Prometheus. She brought with her a large vase or jar (commonly
known as Pandora’s Box) which she opened and all the evils flew forth, and
they have ever since continued to afflict the world. Hope alone remained in
the box."
'Sentimental Mercenary'
In a free fire zone?
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