Apocalypse Then

Two main versions:

* "Martial Version" (1981) - Chemical Playschool 1 (4:07)

The song fades into the drum sequence and melody. During the middle portion the tracks begin to feed back and get sharper. Fades out into the "Boopy Keyboards" suffix.

Unavailable elsewhere.

The lyrics do not yet have the "so it came to pass" introduction, simply starting with "I clutched at your sleeve..." And there are no shouts of "LIE DOWN!"

Instruments: Drum machine with single "marching" pattern; keyboard bassline; warm keyboard melody which becomes sharper in the second half; two vocal tracks; synth siren sound briefly at 2:20; bits of the "Boopy Keyboards" suffix appear in the middle portion.

* "Full Band Version" (1982) - Brighter Now (7:24)

Fades in with distorted martial music. Many of the tracks have a subtle echo with changing pitch and duration. The "crime is crime is crime" sample appears again during the bridge. Fades out with recorded "sieg hiel" chanting, interrupted by a slamming door, followed by a music box and the sound of church bells. Unavailable elsewhere.

The lyrics now contain the "so it came to pass" introduction, but the "I spit on you Britannia" lines have been removed. The song structure is much more complicated than the somewhat monotonous Martial Version.

Instruments: Drum machine; bass guitar; warm synth chords, joined by a second keyboard during the climax; occasional synth effects; gentle acoustic guitar; single lead vocal track; backup vocals by somebody else (Keith Thompson?);

Suffix "Boopy Keyboards" (0:44):

Instrumental that only appears on Chemical Playschool 1. Sequenced bass keyboard; three plinky keyboards playing largely unrelated melodies. It fades in and out briefly during the actual song as well.

What It's About:

One of the first of many Dots songs which compare British imperialism -- particularly under Margaret Thatcher -- with fascism. The implication is that a fascist state arrives first with cheerful propaganda and proud nationalism, which must be fought before it turns into an apocalypse (secret police, thugs in the street, everybody fearfully looking after themselves).

The disintegration of British society is illustrated by the literal disintegration of a dancing lover, in whose ashes are written the 13th psalm.

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud-Zero archive):

So it came to pass that a flag flew from every window
and widows handed poppies out in the squares.
And squares were bashed and majors barked
and marching music laughed from the airwaves.

The waves were there to rule again.
We had the ambition. We had the ammunition. A mission...
In the name of God.
In the name of "democracy." Demo-crazy.

Lie down.
Lie down. Forfeited your right to survive.

I clutched at your sleeve. We danced in the fire.
Just a pair of spastic swingers on a melting plastic floor.
But you crumbled in my hands as I fumbled in your blouse,
slipping through my fingers to my feet.

It felt like mustard.
Hot, like custard.

And in the dust that was once an arm, a crazy wrote the 13th Psalm.
A final gesture.
He did it with calm precision, a dot on every "i."
A lullaby for lovers on the last day...

Paying last respects with cups of poison.
Pointed passive at the blood sky.
Lying lifeless at their doors.
Clawing craters in the shelters.

Helter-skelter in the lift shafts, blasting brains out in the dark.
LIE DOWN!! LIE DOWN!

(...crime is crime is crime.)

A dog defaced a baby, gnawed a rattle, smashed a pram.
Yelping wildly in a vacuum. No one really gave a damn.
Thinking only of themselves, yes, they searched for a release.
Hid in cupboards, under tables, cabled Jesus, called the police.

And the radio screamed out, "We're winning!"
About how the loss was minimal and how the gallant sacrifice
will live on through memorials, how we'll build respect again.
No playground anymore.
No, you can't keep this country down for long, 'cause we win so many fucking wars.

I spit on you Britannia, I spit on you Britannia, I spit on you Britannia, I spit on you Britannia, I spit on you Britannia.

Why You Should Care:

The first of three "Apocalypse" songs..."Apocalypse Soon" and "Apocalypse Gone" will both appear on Chemical Playschool 4. I assume that the title is a play on "Apocalypse Now."

In addition, the word "Apocalypse" is sometimes used to describe alternate versions of LPD songs (and of course there's the "Crushed Velvet Apocalypse" album).

The Martial Version is one of the more explicit of Ka-Spel's anti-imperialist statements.

The "crime is crime is crime" sample also appeared in both versions of "Peace Krime."

The phrase "dots on the eyes" first appears here (in the Chemical Playschool 1 version only).