Songfacts®:

• Paul Weller got the idea for this song from reading George Orwell's book Homage To Catatonia, which is set in the Spanish Civil War. According to 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Weller said, "There is a lot of talk of an egalitarian society where all people are equal but this was it, actually in existence, which, for me, is something that is very hard to imagine."
• The bass line was borrowed from The Beatles "Taxman," and The Jam was surprised there was never a court case. In Kutner and Leigh's book, Weller says, "I thought it was all a bit stupid, the riff thing doesn't bother me at all. I use anything and I don't really care whether people think it's credible or not, or if I'm credible to do it. If it suits me I do it."
• The Jam wanted this to be the first single from the album, but their record company wanted something else. They relented and the band were proved right when it topped the UK chart.
• Weller: "I thought Going Underground was a peak and we were getting a little safe with that sound, that's why we've done Start."
• This was featured in the 2000 film On The Edge. >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above