When timeless in sound and vision…
24 August 2018
Twenty years ago today – 24 August 1998 – Welsh legends MANIC STREET PREACHERS released one of the most impressive and emotional masterstrokes of their outstanding career. IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT is a soul-stirring anthem that takes your breath away every single second of its almost 5 magnificent minutes. The swagger, the harmonies, the guitar solo, the whole orchestration and last but not least the song’s truly gripping story about Welsh volunteers going to Spain to fight against dictator general Franco‘s army in the Spanish Civil War in the late 30s. The song’s title came from a Republican poster of the time, showing a captivating photograph of a young child killed by the Nationalists under a sky filled with bomber planes, with the warning “If you tolerate this, your children will be next” written below. A genuine classic in sound and vision and still a towering highlight of their live set today. It sold 156,000 copies in its first week and reached the Number One spot on the UK Singles Chart.
The Manics talked to NME about what happened 20 years ago. Read the feature here.
Relive the imperishable momentum…
The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
“So if I can shoot rabbits then I can shoot fascists”
Bullets for your brain today
But we’ll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next
Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain
Holes in your head today
But I’m a pacifist
I’ve walked La Ramblas but not with real intent
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next, yeah will be next
And on the street tonight
An old man plays with newspaper cuttings of his glory days
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this then your children will be next
Will be next, will be next, will be next
From fifth album THIS IS MY TRUTH TELL ME YOURS – Released: 14 September 1998
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