Sixty Eight Guns

Sixty Eight Guns was the last song written as Seventeen and originally started out as a track called Streets of Fear. The track was recorded as Seventeen on a 4 track recording in Denbighshire in 1980 before the Seventeen ended and evolved to become the Alarm in 1981

Of the many Seventeen songs, only “Sixty Eight Guns” went on to become an Alarm song. It was the last written during the Seventeen era and was played during the band’s last tour of Scotland and at the final Seventeen show (The Half Moon, Herne Hill, Dulwich London, January 1981). It was at this show that we announced our new name “Alarm Alarm” – Mike Peters, MPO Web Site Interview, 1996

Sixty Eight Guns was the band’s biggest UK hit, and it took off so quickly that they postponed one Boston show to fly home and sing it on Top of the Pops. The song was inspired by a book I’d read about Glasgow street gangs, in the year 1968. I always thought that was an important year for young people, it was the first time they really said `no.’ It was just when the hippie thing was ending, when peace and love was all going sour. So, we’re writing about a street gang called the 68 Guns. It’s about how society reacts against the presence of these young people on the street, and how they turn to violence in response – Mike Peters doing a track by track guide to Declaration – Boston Rock Magazine 1984

When I was in school I read about Glasgow street gangs. It was an observation made by a warden of a borstal. He went out on the streets with this kid that was let out on weekends and he was just observing the change in society in the year 1968. That was the first year that it reached the boiling point when there was a lot of young people who were forced out onto the street through unemployment, and there was no place for them to go so they took to the streets. There was a battle over who owned the street: was it society and the people who lived in the houses or was it the kids who had nowhere to go? The only place they could go was to hang out on the street because there were no recreation centers or anything like that back in those days.
1968 was the year the battle erupted all over the world: Paris riots, riots in London, the second Kennedy got shot, Luther King got shot, Vietnam, it was pretty heavy going. In general the Hippie Movement went sour. Instead of it being the “Year Of Love”, it became the year of the word “no”. We just wanted to write a song about that conflict and those people who were conflicted and fighting against each of the society’s against the kids. The kids really didn’t really want to have a fight, but it was a war over who owned the space and these people just wanted to belong to themselves, these young people. Society didn’t want them so they clung to themselves and their gangs. I just made up a gang called “68 Guns” and hoped that that gang was still relevant today as it was in 1968Mike Peters 1984, Backstage Pass 91X

The lyric was originally inspired by a book called “A Glasgow Gang Observed” by James Patrick (p 1973), it was about belonging to something that mattered, and about what it means to be a part of something that matters, even if only for a short while. The title however, came from a joke we used to have when we heard The Clash version of I Fought The Law. When Strummer sung “Robbing people with their 6 guns”, Topper Headon would rap out 6 beats on his snare drum. We always used to change the lyrics to “Robbing people with their 68 guns” and mime a massive 68 drum beats. Somewhere along the way I thought it would make a good title for a song inspired by a street gang formed in the year 1968, which happened to be the year of the gang (The Youth Team) in the book – Mike Peters Alarm 2000 collection liner notes

1983 Declaration album recording
Running length 5:46 Full length album
Running length 3:15 Single edit (cuts out middle, merges Part 1 and Part 2)
Running length 3:25 B-side single edit known as Sixty Eight Guns Part 2 (middle portion of full song with ending)
Written by MacDonald / Peters

Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic, Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Ian “The Rockin’ Rev” Kewley – Hammond Organ
Alan Shacklock – Piano
Arthur Fairlie – Trumpet

Backing track recorded Good Earth Studios, Soho, London W1D, England 18th to 29th July 1983
Mixed at Studio Three, Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England on 2nd August 1983
Produced by by Alan Shacklock
Engineered by Chris Porter

Alternative studio recording releases ~ 1982 Demo ~ Acoustic ~ Remastered ~ Re-imagined

1982 demo recording
Running length 4:04
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead vocals & bass guitar
Dave Sharp – Electric Guitar
Eddie Macdonald – Lead electric Guitar
Nigel Twist – Drums
Recorded July or August 1982 at IRS Basement Studios, London, England

1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986
Running length 4:05
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Recorded in 1997 by Gethyn Evans at Mountain & Sea Studios, Wales
Produced by Michael Peters

2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Declaration Remastered release
Running length 5:52
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Ian “The Rockin’ Rev” Kewley – Hammond Organ
Alan Shacklock – Piano
Arthur Fairlie – Trumpet
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000

Details to follow
2013 Third Man running length various 30 unique recordings
2014 New
2014 New V2 original lyric vinyl only
2018 Remaster
2018 Remaster 1983 Original Drum take
DMW Studio version

Album appearances and discography for studio versions


All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)


(V)
13th February 1984 The Alarm – Declaration
Released in the UK on vinyl IRSA 7044, cassette IRSC 7044, CD IRS CDA 7044 by IRS Records
Declaration was released on vinyl, cassette and CD in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia. Vinyl only South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Europe. Cassette only Netherlands
Original 1983 recording


28th October 1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C004 (CD). 1997 Mountain & Sea, Wales Recording.

2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Catalogue number 21C010 (CD. Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1982 demo version

2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Catalogue number 21C010 (CD). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1983 recording single version remastered

2000 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company – Catalogue number 21C011 (CD). Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. 1983 recorded version remastered.

2014 – The Alarm – Declaration – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Catalogue number 21C065 (CD). Reimagined new recording version.

2018 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Catalogue numbers double vinyl LP 21C094 and double CD 21C096. 1983 recorded version remastered.

2018 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Catalogue number double CD 21C096. 1983 original drum take version, alternative lyrics.

Single appearances and discography for studio versions

7” Single, 12” Single, CD Single
UK Releases :
12th September 1983 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit) / (b Side) Sixty Eight Guns (part 2), IRS Records, catalogue number PFP1023
12th September 1983 – 12” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Full version), IRS Records, catalogue number PFSX1023
1983 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit) / (b Side) Sixty Eight Guns (part 2), IRS Records, catalogue number PFP1023. Promo large ”A” on Disc label on the a-side
1983 – 9” Acetate – Sixty Eight Guns (Single sided), no label or catalogue number
1984 – 10” Acetate – Sixty Eight Guns (Single sided), No label or catalogue number

USA Releases :
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), IRS Records, catalogue number IR-9924
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit) / Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), IRS Records, Catalogue Number IR-992, Promo
1984 – 12” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns / Sixty Eight Guns, IRS Records, catalogue number SP-70971, Promo
1989 – 3” CD Single – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), A & M Records, catalogue number CC31015

Canada Releases :
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), IRS Records, catalogue numberIR-9924

Europe Releases :
1983 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit) / (b Side) Sixty Eight Guns (part 2), IRS Records / Illegal Records catalogue number A-3881 / ILSA3881
1983 – 12” Maxi Single Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Full version), IRS Records, catalogue number ILSA12.3881

Italy Releases :
1984- 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (part 1) / (b Side) Sixty Eight Guns (part 2), IRS Records / Illegal Records catalogue number A-3881 / ILSA3881

Spain Releases :
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (part 1) / (b Side) Sixty Eight Guns (part 2), IRS Records / Illegal Records catalogue number A-3881 / ILSA3881
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), IRS Records / Illegal Records catalogue number A-3881 / ILSA3881 (Promo single-sided)

Japan Releases :
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), IRS Records, catalogue number 07SP 811
1984 – 7” Vinyl – Sixty Eight Guns (Single edit), CBS/Sony Inc, catalogue number 07SP 811

Demos

1980 Seventeen Demo : An unreleased demo recording of Sixty Eight Guns performed by the band Seventeen.

Officially released live recordings – Audio

All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)

27th September 1983. Recorded live at Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Band Line up : Mike PetersDave SharpEddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Running length 6.43 -1999 release, 06:01 – 2002 release, 05:55 – 2003 release
Released on CD in 1999 as The Alarm Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour. On King Biscuit Flower Hour Records, UK catalogue number KBFHCD028, USA catalogue number 70710-88049-2, Spain in 2000 catalogue number CELCD 027.
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Blaze of Glory. Europe on Disky, catalogue number SI 794172
Released on DVD-Audio in 2003 as The Alarm From The Front Row ….. Live! USA on Silverline, catalogue number 288157-9

14th February 1984. Recorded live at Hammersmith Palais, London W6, England
Band Line up : Mike PetersDave SharpEddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Running length 5:14
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Record Collectors Club Vol II – Hammersmith 1984. Catalogue number ARCC002

9th November 1985. Recorded live at Orpheum Theater, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Running length 6:59
Band Line up : Mike PetersDave SharpEddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on 12″ vinyl as part of The Alarm – Spirit of 76 Double pack single release in January 1986, IRS Records, catalogue number IRMTD 109 (UK), Mini LP/EP on IRS Records, catalogue number 26845 (Europe) and catalogue number 20AP3190 (Japan).
Released on CD in 2000 as The Alarm – Strength (1985-1986) [Remastered], catalogue number 21C012 (CD).

24th May 1991. Recorded live at Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running length 3:32
Released on CD in 2003 as The Alarm The Sound & The Fury Live 1981 to 1991 on Shaledown Records, catalogue number SHAKEBX112Z (UK, Export)
Released on CD in 2014 as The Alarm When The Storm Broke on Secret Records, catalogie number SECDD098 (UK)

15th January 2000. Recorded at The Gathering 8, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales. Running Length 4:52
Band Line up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve Grantley.
4th December 2000. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland.
5th December 2000. Recorded at University, Newcastle, England. Running Length 5:03
7th December 2000. Recorded at The Cockpit, Leeds, England. Running Length 5:11
8th December 2000. Recorded at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England.
9th December 2000. Recorded at The Lomax, Liverpool, England. Running Length 4:50
13th December 2000. Recorded at Rock City, Nottingham, England.
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12, England.
Running Length 4:58
Also released on CD in USA on Beyond (398 578 223-2 / BEY 78223) and Japan on Imperial Records (TECI-24086) in 2001, reissued in UK, and Europe on Eagle Records (EAMCD301) Australia & New Zealand (CDR0795) and USA (ER 20057-2) as The Alarm – Greatest Hits Live
16th December 2000. Recorded at University, Cardiff, Wales. Running Length ::02
17th December 2000. Recorded at University, Manchester, England.
The band line up for all of the December live shows were : Mike PetersJames Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley.The CD releases of the December dates were called Live In ……..
These December dates were part of the tour to promote The Alarm 2000 collection and were billed as The Alarm MM.

6th February 2001. Recorded at Logo, Hamburg, Germany
10th February 2001. Recorded at Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany Running Length 6:35
12th April 2001. Recorded at T.T. The Bear’s Place, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
13th April 2001. Recorded at The Vanderbilt, Plainview, New York, USA
(Band Line up : tbc for the Feb and April dates)
The CD releases of the February and April dates were called Live At ……..

1st February 2003. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland. Running Length 5:16
6th February 2003. Recorded at Masque Theatre, Liverpool, England. Running Length 5:22
7th February 2003. Recorded at The Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London NW10, England.
Running Length 5:17
(Band Line up : tbc)
he CD releases of the February dates are called Live At ……..
23rd August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 2:33. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 4 – The New Wave Songs Are Rising
24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 5:13. Mike Peters and Bruce Watson acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 8 – Rock And Roll International
3rd November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
5th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
10th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running Length 5:02
12th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
17th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running Length 8:02 – Includes a Complete Control by The Clash as part of the song
19th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
20th November 2003. Recorded at Elbo Room, Chicago, Illinois, USA Running Length 4:59
21st November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (West, Hollywood), Los Angeles, California, USA Running Length 8:09 – Includes a Complete Control by The Clash as part of the song
(Band Line up : tbc for the November dates)
The CD releases of the November dates are called Live At ……..

26th February 2004. Recorded at Municipal Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Wales.
Running Length 4:49
7th March 2004. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland 
Running Length 4:58
Band line up for February and March : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve Grantley
CD’s released on CD as Live at …….
28th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 5.58. Mike Peters and Bruce Watson acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 4 – Rock And Roll International Part 2

6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 5:29. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III London Set 1 Declaration [Take This Song Of Freedom]
13th August 2005. Recorded at Electric Lady Studio A, New York, USA
Running Length 2:27 Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III New York Set 4 – Flowers In The Dressing Room
20th August 2005. Recorded at Capitol Records Studio A, Los Angeles, California, USA
Running Length 5:08 Mike Peters Solo acoustic.
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III Los Angeles Set 4 – Spirit of ’86 Revisited

28th February 2009. Recorded at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Wales
Running Length 5:07 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2009 Mike Peters of The Alarm Live Acoustic, catalogue number 21C049

29th January 2011. Recorded at The Gathering 19, Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales Running length : 5:48
Band Line Up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig Adams and Steve Grantley
Released in 2011 – The Alarm – Live At The Gathering 2011 (audio disc), catalogue number 21CDVD015

27th January 2012. Recorded at The Gathering 20, Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales Running length : 2.39
Recorded at The Gathering 20, Pontins Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park, Prestatyn, Wales 
Running length : 1.42 (reprise)
Band line-up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard, Mark Taylor and Steve Norman
Released in 2012 – The Alarm – The Music Must And Shall Be Preserved (audio disc) Catalogue number 21CDVD016

26th January 2013. Recorded at The Gathering 21, Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
Running length : 6:10.
Band line-up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve “Smiley” Barnard and Mark Taylor
Released in 2013 – The Alarm – Abide With Us – Live at The Gathering 2013 Catalogue number 21C063)

18th April 2014. Recorded at McCabe’s, Santa Monica, California, USA.
Running Length 6:08 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2014 Mike Peters In Concert at McCabe’s Catalogue number 21C069

Officially released live recordings – Video / DVD

Lyrics – Declaration

Hey!
And now they’re trying to take my life away
Forever young I cannot stay
Hey!
On every corner I can see them there
They don’t know my name they don’t know my kind
They’re after you with their promises
(Promises of love)
They’re after you to sign your life away
(Yeah, yeaoh)

Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns
Sixty Eight Guns
Oh, the Sixty Eight

Living in the backstreets
That’s our home from home
The painted walls were all we’ve ever known
‘The Guns Forever’ that’s our battle cry
It is the flag that we fly so high
For every day they’ll try and drag us down
(Drag us down and down)
I cry with anger I have done no crime
No
(Yeah, yeaoh)

Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns
Sixty Eight Guns
The Sixty Eight

Up on the terrace I can hear the crowd roar
Sixty Eight Guns
And in the subway I can hear them whisper
Sixty Eight Guns

Through all the raging glory of the years
We never once thought of the fears
For what we’d do when the battle cry was over
Nothing lasts forever is all they seem to tell you when you’re young

I, I do swear
To unbreak the promise
To unbreak the vow
Unbreak it

When you’re young
Have no illusion, no disillusion

Unbreak the promise
(Unbreak the promise)
Unbreak the vow
(Unbreak the vow)
Uphold the promise
(Uphold the promise)

Sixty Eight Guns
Oh oh
Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns
Sixty Eight Guns
The sixty eight guns
Sixty eight guns
The sixty eight guns

Alternative Lyrics — 1981 demo version

You know they’re trying to take my life away
You know they’re gonna make us fade
On every corner I can see them there
They know my name, I don’t know them
They’re after you with their promises
Promises of love
They’re after you with some forms to sign
Sign my life away

For living in the backstreets
That’s our home from home
The painted walls are all we’ve known
‘The Guns Forever’ that’s our battle cry
It is the flag that we fly so high
And every day they try and drag us down
(Drag us down and down)
I cry with anger I have done no crime
(Yeah, yeaoh)

Sixty-eight Guns will never die
Sixty-eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty-eight Guns will never die
Sixty-eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty-eight Guns
Sixty-eight Guns
Oh, the Sixty-eight

They think they know about our life alone
From broken homes to broken phones
They try to harm us with their sticks and stones
They know the names
They’ll break our bones
They’re after you with their promises
Promises of love
They’re after you
To sign your life away

(Yeah, yeaoh)

Sixty-eight Guns will never die
Sixty-eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty-eight Guns will never die
Sixty-eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty-eight Guns
Sixty-eight Guns
Oh, the Sixty-eight

Up on the terrace
I hear the crows roar
Sixty-eight Guns

Down in the subways
I hear them whisper
Sixty-eight Guns

Sixty-eight Guns!

Sixty-eight Guns will never die
Sixty-eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty-eight Guns will never die
Sixty-eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty-eight Guns
Sixty-eight Guns
Oh, the Sixty-eight

Alternative Lyrics – 1997 Acoustic Works

And now they’re trying to take my life away
Forever young I cannot stay
On every corner I can see them there
They don’t know my name they don’t know my kind
They’re after you with their promises
(Promises of love)
They’re after you to sign your life away

Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns
Sixty Eight Guns
Oh, the Sixty Eight

Living in the backstreets
That’s our home from home
The painted walls are all we’ve ever known
‘The Guns Forever’ that’s our battle cry
It is the flag that we fly so high
For every day they’ll try and drag us down
(Drag us down and down)
I cry with anger I have done no crime

Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns
Sixty Eight Guns

Up on the terrace I can hear the crowd roar
Sixty Eight Guns
And in the subway I can hear them whisper
Sixty Eight Guns

Through all the raging glory of the years
We never once thought of the fears
For what we’d do when the battle cry was over
Nothing lasts forever is all they seem to tell you when you’re young
When your young
Have no illusion
Have no disillusion

Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns will never die
Sixty Eight Guns our battle cry
Sixty Eight Guns
Sixty Eight Guns
The sixty eight guns

Audio & Visual Sources

(Page updated 17/07/2022)

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