Back Into The System is a song written by Mike Peters and was the title track of the first solo single released by Mike Peters and The Poets on 17th January 1994. The promotional video for this single was partly recorded at Rhyl Town Hall, Wales on Saturday 18th December 1993 at Gathering 2.
1993 Sain Studios single release recording details
Running length 4:40 (Edit version)
Running length 5:01 (Full version)
Written by Mike Peters
Musician & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Guitars
Chris Lewis – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Brychan Llŷr – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Emyr Penlan – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Jules Jones – Piano and Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Owen Thomas – Acoustic, Electric Drums, Backing Vocals
Recorded at Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales
Ambient Feedback recorded at The Fort by Field Marshall Slug
Produced by Michael Peters
Co Produced and Engineered by Dick Meaney
Assistant Engineers – Eryl Davies, Emyr Rhys, Gethyn Evans
Executive Producer – Alan Shacklock
The official Back Into The System promotion video appears on the DVD of the Breathe (Deluxe Edition). Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C046 (2CD + DVD box set) 
Click on above image for official promotional video of Back Into The System
Alternative studio recordings
2011 Sound And The Fury new recording
2011 : The Alarm – The Sound And The Fury 30th Anniversary Edition
Running length : 3:34
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
James Stevenson – Electric/Acoustic Guitar
Craig Adams – Bass Guitar
Mark Taylor -Piano
Steve “Smiley” Barnard – Drums, Percussion
Recorded at Foel Studio, Llanfair Caereinion, Wales
Additional recording at Pink Gun Studios, London, England and Sonic Hills, Guildford, England
Produced by Mike Peters and Smiley
Recorded and mixed by Chris Fielding
Additional recording by Mark Warden
Appears on The Alarm – The Sound And The Fury 30th Anniversary Edition album released on 6th June 2011
Click on above image for official recording of the Back Into The System 2011 version
Album appearances and discography of studio recordings
The following are Worldwide releases unless stated otherwise
10th October 1994 : Mike Peters – Breathe
Released on double vinyl album by Crai Records, catalogue number CRAI 47LP
1993 Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales recording
2008 : Mike Peters – Breathe (Deluxe Edition)
Released on 2CD + DVD box set by the Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C046
1993 Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales recording
6th June 2011 : The Alarm – The Sound And The Fury 30th Anniversary Edition
Released on CD by the Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C056
2011 Foel Studio Llanfair Caereinion recording
6th June 2011 : The Alarm – The Sound And The Fury 30th Anniversary Edition
Released on double CD/DVD by the Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C058
2011 Foel Studio Llanfair Caereinion recording
4th June 2021 : The Alarm – History Repeating 1981-2021
Released on as a 4 vinyl album box set by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C119LP
1993 Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales recording, single version
Single appearances and discography
UK Release
17th January 1994 : 12″ vinyl single – Mike Peters And The Poets – Back Into The System
Track listing : Back Into The System (edit) / A New Chapter / 21st Century (Demo Version) / Back Into The System
Released by CraiRecords, catalogue number CRAI 40T
1993 Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales recording, edit and full recording
17th January 1994 : CD single – Mike Peters And The Poets – Back Into The System
Track listing : Back Into The System (edit) / A New Chapter / 21st Century (Demo Version) / Back Into The System
Released by Crai Records, catalogue number CRAI 40CD
1993 Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales recording, full recording
17th January 1994 : Cassette Single – Mike Peters And The Poets – Back Into The System
Track listing : Back Into The System – Track listing : Back Into The System (Edit) / A New Chapter / Nol I Mewn I’r System / Canrif 21 (Fersiwn Demo)
Released by Crai Records, catalogue number CRAI 40C
1993 Sain Studios, Llandwrog, Wales recording, edit recording
Officially released live recordings ~ Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company unless stated otherwise
24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running length 5:10
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 5 – The Dirt And The Glory
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running length 4:41
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2005 on Alarmstock III London Set 2 Scattered Across This Land
22nd October 2010. Record at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, Scotland
Running length 2:25
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on Double CD in 2010 Mike Peters // The Alarm – Direct Acoustic MMX live in Glasgow, catalogue number 21C054
24th November 2011. Record at Marrs Bar, Worcester, England
Running length 3:11
Performed by Mike Peters solo acoustic
Released on Double CD in 2012 Mike Peters of the Alarm – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011, catalogue number 21C059
Officially released recordings DVD / Video
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Unless stated)
27th January 2007. Recorded at The Gathering 15, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales.
Performed by The Alarm : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Craig Adams, Steve Grantley
Released on DVD in 2007 – The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2007 Premium Rock & Roll, catalogue number 21CDVD010
2008 : Mike Peters : Breathe (Deluxe Edition)
Released on 2CD + DVD box set by the Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C046
Official 1994 promotional video
Lyrics ~ Back Into The System Single full version
Surfers against sewage
Floating on the sea
Rising up like a big disease
In glorious 3D
Samplers against the copyright law
And all that that means
A bikers riding to be helmet free
In the California heat
The battle of the sexes
Is raging on the streets
With gays against homophobic assholes
Feminists on heat
I used to be indecisive
But now I’m not so sure
About my religion
My nationality
My sexuality
Dededododedode
Too many people taking too much out
Too many people not putting enough back in
Back into the system
(Too many people taking too much out)
Back into the system
(Too many people not putting enough back in)
Back into the system
(Too many people taking too much out)
Back into the system
(Too many people not putting enough back in)
Back into the system
The wars on television
Between cola drinks and jeans
Soap powders and detergents
Breakfast cereals and beans
The hungry don’t eat commercials
The thirsty don’t drink dreams
They all wear the trousers of a dirty grudge
Against big company
Dededododedode
Too many people taking too much out
Too many people not putting enough back in
Back into the system
(Too many people taking too much out)
Back into the system
(Too many people not putting enough back in)
Back into the system
(Too many people taking too much out)
Back into the system
(Too many people not putting enough back in)
Back into the system
Punks get high on dope
Priests get off on God
Sinead O’Conner gets her kicks
From ripping up pictures of the Pope
U2 against Sellafield and all atomic dread
Me I’ve been compared to them so many times
I wish somebody would nuke those suckers Instead
Dededododedode
Too many people taking too much out
Too many people not putting enough back in
Back into the system
(Too many people taking too much out)
Back into the system
(Too many people not putting enough back in)
Back into the system
(Too many people taking too much out)
Back into the system
(Too many people not putting enough back in)
Watch out boy
I’m back into the system
I’m getting back into the system
I”m going run it to the system
I’m getting screwed up by the system
I’m getting picked up by the system
I’m going crooked to the system
I’m getting back into the system
Lyrics ~ Back Into The System The Sound And The Fury 30th Anniversary Edition
Surfers against sewage
Floating on the sea
Rising up like a big disease
In glorious 3D
Samplers against the copyright law
And all that that means
A bikers riding to be helmet free
In the California heat (California heat, California heat, California heat)
I’m Rising Up
Coming Down
Too many people taking too much out
Too many people not putting enough back in
Back into the system
Back into the system
Back into the system
(Back into the system)
Back into the system
The wars on television
Between cola drinks and jeans
Soap powders and detergents
Breakfast cereals and beans
The hungry don’t eat commercials
The thirsty don’t drink dreams
They all wear the trousers of a dirty grudge
Against big company (Against big company, Against big company)
I’m Rising Up
Coming Down
Too many people taking too much out
Too many people not putting enough back in
Back into the system
Back into the system
Back into the system
(System, system, system, system, system, system )
Back into the system
I’m going to make myself the system
I’m going to war against the system
Getting screwed up by the system
I’m getting used up by the system
Getting back into the system
(Back into the system)
Getting back into the system
(Back into the system)
I’m getting back into the system
(Back into the system)
Getting back, getting back, getting back, , getting back
(Back into the system)
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more,
I’m rising up
I’m rising up
I’m rising up
Back into the system
(Page updated 09/03/2026)