Spirit Of 76 was first released on the Strength album on 21st October 1985.
This recording of the song was also released as a 7″ and 12″ Single in January 1986.
The song that means the most to me on Strength is “Spirit Of ’76” because it’s an autobiographical story of me growing. I didn’t want to write it for this record because I didn’t think I’d yet acquired the skill, but the rest of the band loved it and pushed me through it. I like it because it doesn’t make any illusions. It’s a real-life story about real-life people in a real-life place. – Mike Peters, Strength Tour Program, 1985
The song is about the most important time in my life. I had my whole life mapped out before me and life seemed pretty unexciting. Then I saw bands like The Jam and The Buzzcocks and U2 and things and they really had an impact on my life. It gave me the courage to leave something behind, and go out and try to build a new life for myself, on be where I’d be a lot happier and one that was a lot more exciting. It’s a take on that sort of struggle and the fight to establish yourself in this world on your own terms. The music that I heard was the motivation for that, and I tried to capture that feeling in the song. It involves my friends, my story. – Mike Peters, 1985, Backstage Pass 91X
Strength album recording details
The Strength album version of Spirit Of 76
Running length : 7:05
The 7″ single version of Spirit Of 76
Running length : 4:40
The 12″ single version of Spirit Of 76
Running length : 7.05
Written By: The Alarm
Musician & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Rupert Black – Piano
Recorded at Marcus Studios, London SW6, England between 6th June and 4th August 1985
Mixed at Battery Studio 4, Willesden, London NW10, England between 5th and 23rd August 1985
Produced by Mike Howlett
Engineered by Nigel Luby.
Alternative studio recording releases – Acoustic
1996 – Acoustic recording details
Running length : 5:10
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Recorded at Dreamland Recording Studio, Woodstock, New York, USA
Produced by Michael Peters
Recorded by Joe Brigande
Album appearances and discography for studio versions
28th October 1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C004. (CD) 1995 Fort Apache Recording
Single appearances and discography for studio versions
Officially released live recordings – Audio
Officially released live recordings – Video/DVD
Lyrics
Well I find myself in reverie
‘Bout what we might have had
And what might have been
We had something going once
That was such a long, long time ago
It was way back in ’76
Our friendship formed of pure innocence
We first met in Mathew Street
Where we heard something that would set us free
A sign stands over a door, it says
“Four lads who shook the world”
In the depths of those heady nights
We would dream of those bright lights
Oh my friend, Oh my friend, Oh my friend
And my friend John, he went away
He made some mistakes
Spent time in Walton jail
And now when I see him we still talk
But there’s no light shining in his eyes
And Susie, she was seventeen
And more beauty in this world
I swear you’ll never see
I was gonna be king
And she was gonna be queen
But now all she does is hide behind the tears
If there was more sense in this world
And work wasn’t so hard to find
You would not be going your way
I would not be going mine
Oh my friend, Oh my friend, Oh my friend
Somewhere tonight out on the street
Somewhere beneath this city’s heat
In the eyes of strangers who pass me by
Life is cruel and so unkind
Oh, Oh the Spirit of ’76
And Pete has seen his dreams come true
But that don’t make him no hero
He’s just one of the lucky few
If a man can’t change the world these days
I still believe a man can change his own destiny
But the price is high that has got to be paid
For everyone who survives there are many who fail
I’ve seen my friends caught out in that crossfire
All their dreams and hopes smashed on the funeral pyre
I will never give in until the day I die
Get myself some independence
Carve out a future with my two bare hands
Oh my friend, Oh my friend, Oh my friend
Somewhere tonight out on the street
Somewhere beneath this city’s heat
In the eyes of strangers who pass me by
Life is cruel and so unkind
Oh, Oh the Spirit of ’76
Mersey lights shine in the distance
Same as they did for us then
Mersey lights shine bright in the distance
Where are you now my friend?
You see some nights when I can’t sleep
I still think of you
And all the promises, all our dreams we shared
I know those lights still call to you
I can hear them now
I can hear them now
(Still shining for us)
(Let em shine)
(Can you hear them)
(Can you hear them)
(Lights are still shining)
Somewhere tonight out on the street
Somewhere beneath this city’s heat
In the eyes of strangers who pass me by
Life is cruel and so unkind
Oh – Oh Where’s it gone
The Spirit of ’76
Alternative lyrics – 1996 Acoustic Works recording
Well I find myself in reverie
‘Bout what we might have had
And what might have been
We had something going once
That was such a long, long time ago
It was way back in ’76
Our friendship formed of pure innocence
We first met on Mathew Street
Where we heard something that would set us free
A sign stands over a door, it says
“Four lads who shook the world”
In the depths of those heady nights
We would dream of those bright lights
Oh my friend, Oh my friend, Oh my friend
Somewhere tonight out on the street
Somewhere beneath this city’s heat
In the eyes of strangers who pass me by
Life is cruel and so unkind
Oh, Oh the Spirit of ’76
And my friend John, he went away
And he made some mistakes
Spent time in Walton jail
And now when I see him we still talk
But there’s no light shining in his eyes
And Susie, she was seventeen
And more beauty in this world
I swear you’ll never seen
I was gonna be king
And she was gonna be queen
But now all she does is hide behind the tears
If there was more sense in this world
And work wasn’t so hard to find
You would not be going your way
I would not be going mine
Oh my friend, Oh my friend, Oh my friend
Somewhere tonight out on the street
Somewhere beneath this city’s heat
In the eyes of strangers who pass me by
Life is cruel and so unkind
Oh, Oh the Spirit of ’76
Mersey lights shine in the distance
Same as they did for us then
Mersey lights shine bright in the distance
Where are you now my friend?
You see some nights when I can’t sleep
I still think of you
Of all the promises, all our dreams we shared
I know those lights still call to you
I can hear them now
I can hear them now
And now me I’ve has seen his dreams come true
But that don’t make me no hero
I’m just one of the lucky few
If a man can’t change the world these days
I still believe a man can change his own destiny
But the price is high that has got to be paid
For everyone who survives there are many who fail
I’ve seen my friends caught out in that crossfire
All their dreams and hopes smashed on the funeral pyre
I will never give in until the day I die
I Get myself some independence
Carve out a future with these two bare hands
Oh my friend, Oh my friend, Oh my friend
Somewhere tonight out on the street
Somewhere beneath this city’s heat
In the eyes of strangers who pass me by
Life is cruel and so unkind
Oh, Oh where’s it gone
The Spirit of ’76
Audio & Visual Sources
Images
(Page updated 28/04/2021)