What does Not Now John mean?

Pink Floyd: Not Now John Meaning

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Album cover for Not Now John album cover

Song Released: 1983


Not Now John Lyrics

Fuck all that we've got to get on with these
Gotta compete with the wily Japanese.
There's too many home fires burning
And not enough trees.
So fuck all that
We've go to get on with these.

(Gotta get on with these!)

Can't stop
Lose...

  1. anonymous
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    Mar 8th 2023 !⃝

    John Collings described a war over "The House of David, he became CEO of Coca-Cola. He found this to be a scourge to "how down to earth, you are, and I am from the house of David, but a thoughful but discriminatory doubt of what discovered it was lightning.

  2. anonymous
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    Apr 20th 2021 !⃝

    The song has to be interpreted in the context of the Album. The U.K was in the grip of an economic slump in the early 1980's. Japan was asserting itself as an economic superpower for the first time since the end of the 2nd World War. Paranoia reigned in the West as to the prospect of dominance from the East and the fear of lost employment in the West as a result. In England 'John', was the generic name given to anyone who was not known to you. Much the same as 'Mate', in Australia or 'Mac' in New York. 'Come at the end of the shift and we'll go and get pissed'. A reference to the prevalent obsession that there was no time to waste during the working day. Idle chat could wait until the end of the day where alcohol would be consumed in great quantity and when the world could be put to rights. He used to go fishing but can't quite remember why. Work has taken over as his total obsession and apart from alcohol he has no purpose other than competing with the foreign workforce for economic superiority.

  3. anonymous
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    Oct 23rd 2018 !⃝

    This song is about how there are wars and horrors happening all over the world but there is a system set up to keep the people “entertained”. And the majority of people are not interested in whats going on around the world they sit and watch tv and mindless programmes. “Who cares what its about as long as the kids go”. And keep them drinking and drunk and they really dont care. “come at the end of the shift we’ll go and get pissed”. “ wheres the f@@@@@g bar john”.

  4. anonymous
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    Aug 13th 2018 !⃝

    I believe this is about Lennon...

  5. anonymous
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    Jun 17th 2017 !⃝

    Roger bitching about Maggie again


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