The Jam - The Eton Rifles 

What ever say you can't knock the The Jam, I now 57 and they were my favourite band as a teenager and the music still sounds raw, honest and relevant. They were the perfect band.

What a catalyst you turned out to be, loaded the guns and you run off home for your tea.........what a lyric. Weller a poetic genius.

I'm never anything but astounded by the fact the Jam were a three piece. They still seem to constantly fill the room with sound, which is no mean feat.

the bass,the bass... its all in the bass...truly fabulous bass playing.

"What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?" This song is a huge dig at the English class system.

Foxton's basslines are just astounding....

The Jam was the voice of a angry generation.The soundtrack and influence of so many and still fresh and relevant today.

"What chance do you have against a tie and a crest?""- what a line.

17 and I just discovered The Jam, and may I say they're so amazing.

I was born in the year 2000, my dad used to always have this band playing in the car, I loved it so much. Sadly he died in 2012 I come back every now and then to bring back the memories we had in the car. The lengths I would go to give him one last hug are unimaginable.

Paul Weller was and still is a great man who told us a story with his lyrics

Bruce’s bass sound can’t be beaten by anyone!

Get out your mat and pray to the west I'll get mine out and pray for myself Fuckin unbelievable lyrics

I still laugh at PM David Cameron's comment that this is one of his favourite songs. Which part of it did he not understand? ;-) All joking aside, cracking song! x

I came out of an underground station in London yesterday and the first person I saw in daylight was British music Icon Paul Weller taking out his bin bags. I was photographing a party full of twenty-something Americans; of course, they had never heard of him. Who would the American equivalent be?

I saw The Jam perform at the Winning Post in Whitton, Spring 1977. They were totally fantastic. From 1977-82, they couldn't put a foot wrong. This is a brilliant reminder of great pop music B.C (Before Cowell). Watch this and weep at the current state of pop today. No guts or passion......

One of my all time favourite groups. Absolutely loved the music back then. Had all the albums sadly all lost along the years..also the specials. Selecter. Bad manners madness. The kinks. Merton parkas. There was so many.

Had the pleasure of meeting Paul at a gig in Sheffield ,he introduced me to his dad ,and the girl on the t shirt stall who was Paul’s sister, I’ll never forget every time Paul had a drink of his can of lager on stage he passed me the can to Finnish off, good memory’s I’m 62 now , almost forgot Paul pushed the fire exit door open and let people in who didn’t have a ticket, and yes the ex wife got Paul’s autograph on her blouse happy days.

Every generation has the music they deserve. The Jam was the music of my generation. Power.

weller is one of our fineist songwriters

How can you not like this?? Its the Jam!!! ~old memories :)

"What a catalyst you turned out to be, loaded the guns then you ran off home for your tea left me standing like a naughty schoolboy" Brilliant lyrics

One of the best rock songs ever written.

Few things were more thrilling than seeing the Jam play this in concert. I was a lucky sob to have witnessed them.

As a Public school boy later a squaddie this is unbeatable 1980 age group

Drumming on this is great, Rick suited the Jam so well and was a cracking player.

ahhh when i was probably about 5/6 and my dad would play this in the car and i'd sing eating trifles haha oh dear

We had some great music through the years but no one came close to The Jam 👍🏻

What a great talent Paul Weller is! He's up there with Marriot, Lane and Ray Davis!

A masterpiece of a song!

Oid codger here when jam hit 1979 what a band. Outstanding

Grew up thinking why would a song about "eating trifles" be so good

What a group.And the lyrics have deep political meanings behind alot of what Paul wrote,so young.will ALWAYS love THE JAM😏😘

Gotta say Paul Weller was a genius..

A fellow fan of the Jam once said to me over a beer or two in the sun!. How many members of oasis does it take to change a light bulb? I said " go on! " He said, 4, 3 to change a light bulb, and the other one rung Paul Weller, to ask if they were doing it right! I still chuckle. Much love.

Paul Weller is about 19 yrs old in this vid!, absolute genius!!

Paul Weller used to purposely mime badly to show that they weren't playing live, because he disliked TOTP fakery. Or at least, that's what they'e said in the past. Great song.

The jam just gets me in the mood for football

i was 16 when this came out, what a time to be alive!

As usual a great story-telling song from my favourite band. What a tune!

I'm so Surrey. Had an Essex moment, there. The Jam, there. Though XTC was equally awesome.! Here's to all you Bristol-pistols out there. The one's still left, to remember.

The Jam Lyrics Sup up your beer and collect your fags There's a row going on down near slough Get out your mat and pray to the west I'll get out mine and pray for myself Thought you were smart when you took them on But you didn't take a peep in their artillery room All that rugby puts hairs on your chest What chance have you got against a tie and a crest? Hello-hurrah, what a nice day, for the Eton rifles Hello-hurrah, I hope rain stops play, with the Eton rifles Thought you were clever when you lit the fuse Tore down the house of commons in your brand new shoes Compose a revolutionary symphony Then went to bed with a charming young thing Hello-hurrah, cheers then mate, its the Eton rifles Hello-hurrah, an extremist scrape, with the Eton rifles What a catalyst you turned out to be Loaded the guns then you run off home for your tea Left me standing, like a guilty (naughty) schoolboy We came out of it naturally the worst Beaten and bloody and I was sick down my shirt We were no match for their untamed wit Though some of the lads said they'll be back next week Hello-hurrah, there's a price to pay, to the Eton rifles Hello-hurrah, I'd prefer the plague, to the Eton rifles Hello-hurrah, there's a price to pay, to the Eton rifles Hello-hurrah, I'd prefer the plague, to the Eton rifles

Possibly the best underrated drummer in history, and I still can't rememeber his name. He really made these songs work, swing and attack. So good. Plus the sound of that Rickenbacker, and Foxton's awesome bass lines. Yes, Weller's voice and his songs made it all possible, but what a great trio.

How talented and brilliant were The Jam? Seems like only yesterday when this single was released; they don't make bands like this anymore.

Fortunate to have seen them three times, still listen to them, where did the years go!

Aberdeen Sotland Jam fan for life!

Fantastic song. Excellent arrangement when the funky guitar enters the melody to signify “the devil’s business”.

the same for me ,weller really said something to people like me who lived in the suburbs ,i sort looked to london as that was were it was all happening but today i love the english countryside `the place i love` can reduce me to tears!

Fantastic 😍

The bass line is brilliant

I didn't hear the jam till 1984--I was 14 and heard the Snap! compilation-definitely changed my life ..Paul Weller is one of my heroes

Absolute brilliant band The Jam........I was a teenager when this was out, and loved their music....thanks for posting TheJamVEVO

What an incredible run of singles

For me this is three young Men aka The Jam at their zenith. The Setting Sons album was a game changer for Music, The band and for a lot of Folk like myself. The Eton Rifles put into words and melody how I felt about the matters of Class, Standing, Wealth and all that bollocks that alas does really matter. Wasteland, Little Boy Soldiers & Thick as Thieves - need I say anymore :)

didnt anyone hear that bass playing? absolutely genious.

As relevant today as it was then. The Jam meant so much to so many growing up in the UK, myself included. The irony was that for many their message was probably lost in the music as the quality was so high but regardless, some of the best storytellers ever.

Met Paul in the toilets at Tramp lol never talked years later like 24 years later i met him and reminded him of our encounter he said he was waiting for front page slander for weeks but it never came and thanked me lol

Paul Weller, the epitome of cool and easy on the eye ❤️

They foresaw the sheer bollocks of these last 13 Tory years. Brilliant.

cant believe this came out in 1979, take me back remember it at the 4th form disco, thought this was early 80's tho

There are bands,then there is the JAM!!

I love the way they have Rick Butler front and centre in a suit, on the drums!

How can someone so young be so insightful?

They were such a great band. I loved the jam. Great baselines

Spent so many years thinking they were singing "in to rifles" before knowing what the some was called.

My song of the day....from the album "setting sons"....Reviewed may 1980 by RS. They said it was their best album so far. The Jam never got played on Aussie tv or radio.....I think maybe because they sounded too pommy. Same with Rush (he had a weird voice) and the Smiths. I think paul Weller does sound pommy but we're going to give it a go on RetroCountdown. Day 6937. 931 weeks. Raw honey and apple and all of my urine til 3.00pm then dried and fresh figs and apple and onion and apple cider then more urine then fresh fruit and vegetables and other foods at 8.00pm. No change.

Wow! The Bassline!

A Gem of a song!.The Bass is absolutley brilliant + the Lyrics are awesome!. 😎

Always loved Rick Buckler’s bolt upright drumming stance. Excellent posture.

They were always stylish and so slim.paul always my fav member x

Is this the most perfect lyric ever? Utterly wonderful.

I saw the Jam early 80’s and thought they were the best 3 piece band in the world Then later same year saw the Police I then KNEW The Jam were the best 3 piece band in the world

Paul Weller absolute genius

Crackin' live band too, would have seen them 10 times live, but couldn't get out of a night shift just before they broke up... 👍

Never be another group as good as the jam x

The greatest band in the fuckin world never a truer word said

Pure class! British sound

Great memories, rebellion, going around with the bad crew in town, all gone now . Lessons learned the hard way, but wouldn’t change them for the world . The Jam

Aged 10, this blew me away. Aged 50, still works.

1st 7'' single I ever bought. I'm happy with that. If you're wondering what my 1st LP was (and I know you are) well that was Blondie -Parallel Lines. Happy days.

I saw the Jam the same day this single was released, they played it twice. It was one of the loudest concerts I've ever been to. Paul Weller's clangy guitar style was powerful (but pretty painful too!).

Nothing changes. 2022 and thd Eton Rifles still in charge. Love The Jam. Look forwars to seeing From the Jam in Cardiff,November. 4th time

Weller got the headlines, but Bruce Foxton had the bass line that gave these songs their groove. He was brilliant.

this is one of his lyrical high points and one of jam's true greatest hits.

Haven't hear much of this before (this is way before my time) but I love the lyrical content, the Rickenbackers and the tunes! Keep em rolling VEVO

one day spotify recommended me the jam. Now it has become one of my all time favorites

Amazing sound, class lyrics from Paul ' MODfather'

3 fucking great singles and a top album in 79. I'm still in awe.

2019 still loving this track and singing along WE ARE THE MODS

I remember once reading a description of Foxton's bass work as "...by turns nimble and lumbering...", and thought it was spot on. Words cannot express how much I loved this band. Paul was always the fashion plate (no sense denying it), but he wrote some great songs...

This should be Weller's 'Action Figure' outfit . :D

❤wow you are so fantastic as a band I wonder if we ever fully realised your greatness I know I was enthralled and enthusiastic about your music when I was a teenager in the 1970’s❤❤

If my young Mod self could have seen the current shower of Etonians run rampant within Westminster, I would have leaped off a bridge.

Music that really encapsulates a whole era. Great tunes that are crowned off with Wellers beautifully acerbic lyrics. I saw The Clash play on tour in NZ and gave a legendary concert. Unfortunately the Jam never made it out.

I was a kid when i heard them first on radio,that played the whole album and i was hooked right away.Original voice,original style and gr8 energetic music.

As always , you get great lyrics and awesome bass playing with The Jam.

Weller, Buckler and Foxton = The Jam

All can I say is thank my older brother for my music influences the jam the who the blades an Irish mod band back in the day

They were English, they were British ! 80s delivered us teenagers best song writters and bands which included The Jam ! .....

My first record buy at 10years old was a k-tell mix with the top 10 songs, my reason for buying was the Jam. Had to put up with Dr Hook when your in love with a beautiful woman on the same albumn. Managed to get my sister to go halfs on the strength of that song 🤣👍. Good ole days.