Boomtown Rats, The - Banana Republic Lyrics






Banana Republic
Septic Isle
Screaming in the Suffering sea
It sounds like crying
Everywhere I go
Everywhere I see
The black and blue uniforms
Police and priests

And I wonder do you wonder
While you're sleeping with your whore
That sharing beds with history
Is like a-licking running sores
Forty shades of green yeah
Sixty shades of red
Heroes going cheap these days
Price; a bullet in the head

Banana Republic
Septic Isle
Suffer in the Screaming sea
It sounds like dying
Everywhere I go
Everywhere I see
The black and blue uniforms
Police and priests

Take your hand and lead you
Up a garden path
Let me stand aside here
And watch you pass
Striking up a soldier's song
I know that tune
It begs too many questions
And answers to,

Banana Republic
Septic Isle
Suffer in the Screaming sea
It sounds like dying
Everywhere I go
Everywhere I see
The black and blue uniforms
Police and priests

The purple and the pinstripe
Mutely shake their heads
A silence shrieking volumes
A violence worse than the condemn
Stab you in the back yeah
Laughing in your face
Glad to see the place again
It's a pitty nothing's changed

Banana Republic
Septic Isle
Suffer in the Screaming sea
It sounds like dying
Everywhere I go
Everywhere I see
The black and blue uniforms
Police and priests





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Boomtown Rats, The Banana Republic Comments
  1. N.... S....

    Brilliant track

  2. P.... H....

    Boom Town Rats.. Any body know similar bandor name... LEGENDS..

  3. b.... ....

    Is it just me or does the start of this sound a bit like the start of wordgirl by scritti politti 🤔

  4. A.... B....

    Good band love this song I wonder if geldof has had a wash yet the scruffy cunt lol 😄😄😄😄🤪

  5. L.... d....

    Before he became a professional paraffin ( paraffin lamp=tramp) he really tried to copy Mick Jagger - budget version.

  6. j.... p....

    Think it's about the UK now in 2019 that's what we've turned into with this parliament

    j.... p....

    its about Rep Ireland in the 70's and 80's.

  7. C.... S....

    Bananarama republic. recepticle.

  8. d.... ....

    The song is about the Fai.

  9. C.... J....

    Should become Germany´s new anthem.

    C.... J....

    Mutha Merkel approves of this comment. Are you guilty enough to comply yet, citizen?

  10. E.... R....

    Banana republic modern day UK

  11. P.... J....

    Crap clothes. I see Bob's point. Don't give refunds, only store credit. Don't shop at Banana Republic as he says

  12. j.... w....

    hear there they are reel cheap these day's . Like a bullet to your Head

  13. T.... L....

    Banana republic is going to released again very soon?

    Mrs May said give me till June.

    T.... L....

    Embarrassment by Madness - would be another suitable song for Mrs May .

  14. M.... O....

    The song is about Ireland but can represent any politically unstable country.... but I’ve always loved this since it’s release.

  15. I.... H....

    Once a knob always a knob..

  16. e.... ....

    Banana Republic = Argentina

  17. M.... ....

    Never saw this video clip till today on ABC-TV "Rage". Love the clip.

  18. j.... w....

    Oh freind

  19. j.... w....

    I like Head
    #wilko tooo

  20. B.... D....

    Muz Cumhuriyeti

  21. C.... B....

    Boomtown Rats had top 30 his from 1977-1982 a bit like the The Jam

  22. U.... B....

    Love this song.

  23. J.... M....

    The banana republics in central America

  24. A.... B....

    Great song by the rats

  25. C.... B....

    Please rise for our national anthem

  26. A.... G....

    One of the 1st singles I bought.

  27. J.... G....

    Great song from a great band

  28. e.... ....

    Poor Bob really will never forgive Ireland for being born there, when he really wanted to be born in Britain.

    e.... ....

    Jude Forrester i mean that sounds like he was really suffering but didn't he go to blackrock college? not exactly angela's ashes

    e.... ....

    elizajohn5 he lives in my town faversham in Kent (Britain) been here years. Potters about in the town no one takes any notice

    e.... ....

    @Denise Cavey Why should they? Obviously you do though

    e.... ....

    P J I do!! Star struck me ! Lol

  29. W.... L....

    🎵 tune

  30. s.... 9....

    This beat is seriously giving me chills, pure brilliance.

  31. K.... M....

    One of the classic tunes playing in the Topman radio

  32. i.... D....

    So underrated 🔺🔴

  33. M.... S....

    This song is about Catalonia. 😉

  34. C.... H....

    Love this song reminds me when my dad was alive rip dad x

    C.... H....

    Cath Harris me too.

    C.... H....

    Frank Cusack god bless em

  35. j.... w....

    It's like a Bullet to your head

  36. A.... O....

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/161529594036057/?fref=ts

    Feel free to join :)

  37. G.... B....

    Looking back at this now, the whole thing looks kinda gay - reminds me of this TV ad from the 90s... https://youtu.be/5C5hamvk7ZA

  38. b.... ....

    Boomtown Rats were a great band especially 70's stuff, shame Geldof turned in to a knob

  39. G.... K....

    supa Lied

  40. B.... C....

    for some strange reason i love this band

    B.... C....

    1977-1982

    B.... C....

    Not really strange at all ..they have some good stuff...

  41. I.... H....

    Like my Twitter account, the Boomtown Rats never quiet made it..

    I.... H....

    millwa88 or even quite

  42. j.... ....

    And then there was A dark Addded

  43. R.... H....

    About German Gouverment

    R.... H....

    wrong....Irish government actually

    R.... H....

    Thx i know that but i mean now Germany, i ts also Banana Republik

  44. P.... C....

    bob used to be hot

    P.... C....

    was around the time he was in Pink Floyd The Wall.

    P.... C....

    @Gillian Lefrancois yeahi know

  45. s.... ....

    I always wondered how he became a millionaire??

    s.... ....

    Like anyone with money, invest it.

    s.... ....

    Rob Hull He was a leadsinger in a one hit Wonder band, then band aid and then boom.... Millionaire.?

    s.... ....

    Bastard must of nicked it from Band-aid! :(

    s.... ....

    Tony the truth is the knives have been out for Bob for as long as I can remember, he's like Marmite....you either love him or hate him......me? I love him : )

    s.... ....

    Boomtownrats had multiple hits moron. Get your facts right, wow....including 2 no 1 hits in uk along with 9 other songs that made the top 30. one hit wonder? Trot on you gobshite.

  46. j.... ....

    It's like a bullet to the head

    j.... ....

    jwilkcom Hate to be that guy but...

    The lyric is actually:

    Heroes going cheap these days
    Price a bullet in the head.

    j.... ....

    it end there pain

  47. J.... S....

    I live in Ireland and I can say The Banana is even more bent and has the sickly depressing under- taste of austerity.

    J.... S....

    would have to agree with ya there.

    J.... S....

    +D. Batt And we don't want 13bn in owed corp tax either. I thought this kind of insanity only happened in a parallel universe, but nope.

    J.... S....

    Austerity is a nice way of saying financial ass rape

    J.... S....

    I'm from the North I don't hate the South, I hate the bastards that held you back and ruined a great country

  48. d.... s....

    Smeldolf never done anything nigel farage brought down an empire

  49. S.... M....

    iroic that he should write a song about a banana republic and then campaign to stay in the EU? FU Geldof!

    S.... M....

    Yes. People also said that Band Aid was for his own vanity and career. In the day, it looks like he was good though before he was corrupted. ; ) K

    S.... M....

    I don't think the first Band Aid was about his vanity, he genuinely wanted to help and did help. The money raised may have been misspent but that was not his fault.

    S.... M....

    *Suilven Mountain*
    My thoughts exactly - his motives for Band Aid/Live Aid were pure & he achieved quite alot.
    Unfortunately all the hype & bullshit trappings of fame and celebrity (silly kids names, Paula Yates & her actions, not to mention the British title) seemed to turn his head & forget alot.
    I suppose though, plenty of people are guilty of that. And worse ; )

    S.... M....

    Suilven You got your wires crossed - the British economy is much better when inside the EU. Bob was bob on!

    S.... M....

    stella maris it could also be a sign of being middle class and falling in love with yourself.

  50. F.... G....

    Excelente,comentamos sobre os Boomtown Rats e Bob Geldof no grupo Anos 80 - Trilha Sonora Supersônica,o link do post é esse> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1656044377947782/permalink/1755746857977533/.

  51. A.... K....

    Loved this guy and bandn he's done good things, hes also passed over to the dark side. the eliteist.

  52. A.... L....

    I can't really understand why this band has too few views. .. they're great!

    A.... L....

    because we listen to the vinyl version most of the time

    A.... L....

    @Twotone1 T2CS And is a West Brit. I try not let that influence the great music this band made.

    A.... L....

    That's because Bob Geldof is also known for tax evasion!

    A.... L....

    Because Bob is somewhat a self righteous egoist who thinks he knows better than everyone else. The mere sight of him is enough to turn people off the boomtown rats.

    A.... L....

    Tax evasion, egoism, blablabla. Geldof=Gold. Never judge by the views, Niki Minaj (hope I spelled it right) has more views than Freddie Mercury. Good stuff is always underrated. ;)

  53. P.... K....

    Go listen too Stiff little fingers each dollar a bullet.

  54. j.... ....

    how does own my Right's

  55. S.... D....

    The song is about Ireland...

    S.... D....

    @Derek Fisher its is actually Derek.Look it up.

    S.... D....

    @dazza I no that I'm. Irish.

    S.... D....

    Great song back In the day

    S.... D....

    @Derek Fisher cool and diamond dreams

    S.... D....

    This song is about the Fyfees family.

  56. w.... !....

    SONG ABOUT POLAND AD. 2016

  57. v.... ....

    The BTR did some quality stuff later on. Elephant's Graveyard was superb too. They were underrated, no doubt about it.

    v.... ....

    vordman Like my favourite band ie The Human League.And m8 I have seen the Human League play live 16 times now
    And I have been lucky Enough to have met my idiols ie The Human League and 5times in Joanne Catheralls case and 4times in Susan Sulley's case. from Paul Eyles from Portsmouth

    v.... ....

    And the Ska House on Fire which is criminally ignored

  58. A.... ....

    OH LOOK THEY MADE A SONG ABOUT AUSTRALIA

    A.... ....

    +ArkTiger4c Ha Ha very good

  59. s.... ....

    Shopping at banana republic is awesome

  60. j.... w....

    please thank you

  61. a.... m....

    There's nothing like a song sponsored by a multi corporate organisation, YE HAAA!

  62. J.... G....

    A pity this song wasn't released before John Lennon decided to support the IRA

    J.... G....

    +Jeanne Griffin TIOCFAIDH AR LÁ. GOD BLESS JOHN LENNON!

    J.... G....

    +elizajohn5 Now there's a stupid comment...

    J.... G....

    you reckon? good for you.

    J.... G....

    +elizajohn5 His day did come

    J.... G....

    Just like yours will.

  63. b.... r....

    I can't stop watching this... This is my flipping tenth time! Still I get to see bob looking as hot as ever x

  64. J.... ....

    Great little song.  Should be our national anthem!  

  65. M.... C....

    boomtown rats one of  the best

  66. E.... L....

    you aint a saint but pretty near it. Thank you for all the work you have done and are doing. x

  67. b.... r....

    Hard to believe this is 35 years old!

  68. G.... L....

    very true at the moment...
    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Screaming in the Suffering sea
    It sounds like crying (crying, crying)
    Everywhere I go, oh yeah
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    And I wonder do you wonder
    While you're sleeping with your whore
    That sharing beds with history
    Is like a-licking running sores
    Forty shades of green yeah
    Sixty shades of red
    Heroes going cheap these days
    Price; a bullet in the head

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying (dying, dying)
    Everywhere I go, oh yeah
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    Take your hand and lead you
    Up a garden path
    Let me stand aside here
    And watch you pass
    Striking up a soldier's song
    I know that tune
    It begs too many questions
    And answers too

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying (dying, dying)
    Everywhere I go, oh yeah
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    The purple and the pinstripe
    Mutely shake their heads
    A silense shrieking volumes
    A violence worse than they condemn
    Stab you in the back yeah
    Laughing in your face
    Glad to see the place again
    It's a pity nothing's changed

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying
    Everywhere I go
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    G.... L....

    +Jill Higgs-Boson If this country is so bad, why do so many people want to come here and stay here?

    G.... L....

    +Suilven Mountain Because people are running away from areas that are bombed daily, and eventually the whole death agenda will move here to the UK, and people will attempt to flee here as well. Everything is planned and everything moves in circles to the amusement of the Illuminati.

    G.... L....

    +EgoShredder so keep 'em out then

  69. d.... ....

    The last big bit for the group. 

  70. m.... ....

    Got them banned when originally released and was about the troubles in Ireland and the way the priests were abusing kids etc.  That said today this song could probably be taken to mean any bloody country

    m.... ....

    so true

    m.... ....

    Geldof was annoyed because the band couldn't get insurance for a gig, so he went off on a rant. They weren't banned.

    m.... ....

    Miss heard lyrics
    Banana Republic, septic eye..

    m.... ....

    Seriously??

  71. T.... L....

    Is this a song about Ireland?

    T.... L....

    Yes, Irish band. In the chorus he is saying "black and blue uniforms, police and priests"

    T.... L....

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Screaming in the Suffering sea
    It sounds like crying (crying, crying)
    Everywhere I go, oh yeah
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    And I wonder do you wonder
    While you're sleeping with your whore
    That sharing beds with history
    Is like a-licking running sores
    Forty shades of green yeah
    Sixty shades of red
    Heroes going cheap these days
    Price; a bullet in the head

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying (dying, dying)
    Everywhere I go, oh yeah
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    Take your hand and lead you
    Up a garden path
    Let me stand aside here
    And watch you pass
    Striking up a soldier's song
    I know that tune
    It begs too many questions
    And answers too

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying (dying, dying)
    Everywhere I go, oh yeah
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

    The purple and the pinstripe
    Mutely shake their heads
    A silense shrieking volumes
    A violence worse than they condemn
    Stab you in the back yeah
    Laughing in your face
    Glad to see the place again
    It's a pity nothing's changed

    Banana Republic
    Septic Isle
    Suffer in the Screaming sea
    It sounds like dying
    Everywhere I go
    Everywhere I see
    The black and blue uniforms
    Police and priests

  72. J.... E....

    I love this song + I can't stop watching 1:12 to 1:21 !!!!

  73. S.... F....

    hmmmm...he was singing about my country :)...Poland 

  74. M.... ....

    great song

  75. S.... p....

    STILL CLASSICO

  76. R.... S....

    Tego utworu nie pamiętam, ale są jednak inne przeboje.
    Bob Geldof to jednak twórcza postać, zrobił troszkę w historii muzyki.
    ..........
    Dużo można pisać ale wystarczy.

  77. J.... M....

    such a sharp and subtle song... classic

  78. s.... ....

    Great song

  79. H.... ....

    this was mint live, quality song

  80. J.... G....

    very subtle and yet blatantly accurate

  81. T.... K....

    2013, it's a pity nothings changed....

  82. D.... O....

    I still have Lightfoot, Dylan, Neil Young and Cohen. Thanks for asking!!

  83. D.... O....

    Thank fuck for that!!!

  84. D.... O....

    fucking awful! and offensive....
    still, better than U2.

  85. t.... K....

    lOVE IT!!!

  86. a.... b....

    moj najlepši spomin na mojo največjo ljubezen Andrejo stil lov yo Andrej

  87. G.... ....

    The chances are that an Irish person would know more about current affairs in Ireland than someone who isn't Irish. See the relevance now?

    This song describes a brutal police state. LOVExTHESTROKES seems to think it describes present day Ireland. Giving that Ireland is far from being a police state, I naturally assume that he doesn't even live here.

  88. O.... B....

    When most young music fans hear "BTR", they think of Big Time Rush. When I hear those three letters, I think of the Rats. :-)

  89. J.... N....

    That is irrelevant.

  90. G.... ....

    Um... no. Are you even Irish?

  91. G.... ....

    It really doesn't

  92. �.... �....

    日本の今の脱力系にピッタリ!!

  93. s.... ....

    Bob Geldof <3

  94. A.... C....

    no 1 in the UK singles chart in the year 1979...

    From Malaysia...

    A.... C....

    Acer Canon sadly it never made number 1 in UK!

  95. M.... W....

    Raelly poor pushups at 2.45

  96. s.... ....

    You know what, you sound like me.Manner, mode of speech I mean.There's something about you that seems in some respect, to mirror my writing style, usually anyway.You remind me, of me. How old are you?Hmmm?I'm off to Weezer now, I've been learning, "say it ain't so".Nice vibe, and pretty easy to master. See what you can spot about the feel and possible style influences and have a look at the comment I left, about a week or so ago.Thoughts? First things first, joint and a cup of tea! lol };-)

  97. s.... ....

    I never took it that way. Doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks, if I took no offense eh? Sod appearances. Best wishes from Brixton, mi brother. (No I'm not a Rasta, I'm a bleedin Geordie, but pretty much South London attitude now.) {;-)

  98. s.... ....

    Just looked at your channel, looks like one or two interesting tutorials, I'll give some of them a try. Although some of the songs I've got my own take on. Best wishes, brother. {:-)