Beat Surrender by The Jam

Album: Snap! (1982)

Charted: 1

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Songfacts®:

The Jam recorded two tracks for their final single: "Beat Surrender" and "Solid Bond In Your Heart." They couldn't decide which one to go with but eventually plumped for "Beat Surrender." "Solid Bond In Your Heart" was eventually a #11 hit for Paul Weller's next group, The Style Council.
The song's title was based on Anita Ward's 1979 disco song "Sweet Surrender" and was written with the band's split in mind. Paul Weller recalled to Mojo magazine in 2015: "I wanted it to be a final statement on The Jam. A sort of clarion call. It was like, Right, we're stopping it – you take it on now."

"Was it emotional for me to write? Pff, not really no 'Cos my head was in Style Council towards the last days. I was counting down the hours and the days 'til I could crack on with that."

Comments: 4

Paul Von Rictoffen from NottinghamThe song was drawing on comparisons between The German 6th army that surrendered at Stalingrad and The Jams own endings, its a song to say "The buzzards are circling and we're doomed"
Mark from Cromer, Norfolk, UkAs with "Going Underground", initial copies came with a free 7" EP, this one featuring "Move On Up" (which had been going down well during their live gigs), "Stoned Out Of My Mind" and "War". A 12" edition featured all 5 tracks from the double pack.
Mark from Maesteg, United KingdomThis song was weller saying that even though the jam are splitting dont forget the "ethic" that the jam set hence the lines "bulls--t is bulls--t it goes by different names" and "if you feel theres no passion , no quality sensation seek a new determination show the fakers you aint fooling you'll see me come running to the sound of your snoring".
Myla from San Diego, CaMy most favorite song of the Jam! The movie, Billy Elliot, could have used this song instead of Town Called Malice, but I guess both songs are good.

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