Song Title: At Home He's A Tourist
Recorded by Gang of Four
Composed by Gang of Four
Released in 1979
Song first appeared as a 7" single release in the United States
The 1979 release of Gang of Four's first album was hugely anticipated event by punk music fans both in the UK and the USA. Even without an album release, the music press in the United States was abuzz with stories of Go4's explosive live shows in venues around the UK. The release of their first American single,
At Home He's A Tourist, was a tantalizing preview of their groundbreaking album,
Entertainment which was released later in 1979.
In 1979 there was no generic category called post-punk. It wasn't until the mid-1980s that music critics began using post-punk as a descriptor for the numerous punk influenced bands that emerged in the wake of the punk revolution of 1977, led by the Sex Pistols.
In hindsight, three albums released in 1979:
Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.;
Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division and
Entertainment by Gang of Four were the trio of albums that were the foundation of post-punk music genre. Public Image, Gang of Four and Joy Division maintained the punk attitude of rebellion but their music went beyond the basic high decibel rock of punk and explored more exotic musical realms like dub music, reggae, funk, electronic music, and avant garde.
Gang of Four hailed from the northern town of Leeds and were students at Leeds University. Vocalist Jonathan King and guitarist Andy Gill were profoundly influenced by Situationist International a group of European Marxist internationalists who were one of the moving forces behind the Paris revolts of 1968, an event that created a full scale leadership crisis in the French government.
Gang of Four songs had anti-consumerist, anti-imperialist and feminist themes. Their music was loud,confrontational and powered by chugging funk rhythms and crashing dub effects. Andy Gill called his style of playing "anti-guitar." Gill developed a highly innovative technique of guitar playing using choppy, dissonant, atonal chord patterns which often erupted into squalls of feedback and crashing waves of echoing reverb.
The 1980 performance of
At Home He's A Tourist at the Ritz in New York City, I've embedded below is a good example of their electrifying on-stage chemistry. I saw Gang of Four a half a dozen times between 1980 and 1992 and they remain the best live rock band I've ever heard. Gang of Four has periodically reunited to tour since their heyday and I'm told they're still capable of blowing the roof off the joint. 57 year old Andy Gill is talking about taking Gang of Four out for one last tour before retiring from touring.
At Home He's A Tourist lyrics
At home he feels like a tourist
At home he feels like a tourist
He fills his head with culture
He gives himself an ulcer
He fills his head with culture
He gives himself an ulcer
Down on the disco floor
They make their profits
From the things they sell
To help you cover
And the rubbers you hide
In your top left pocket
At home she's looking for interest
At home she's looking for interest
She said she was ambitious
So she accepts the process
She said she was ambitious
So she accepts the process
Down on the disco floor
They make their profits
From the things they sell
To help you cob off
And the rubbers you hide
In your top left pocket
Two steps forward
(Six steps back)
(Six steps back)
(Six steps back)
(Six steps back)
Small steps for him
(Big jump for me)
(Big jump for me)
(Big jump for me)
(Big jump for me)
Two steps forward
(Six steps back)
(Six steps back)
(Six steps back)
(Six steps back)
Small steps for him
(Big jump for me)
(Big jump for me)
(Big jump for me)
(Big jump for me)
At home she feels like a tourist
At home she feels like a tourist
She fills her head with culture
She gives herself an ulcer
Why make yourself so anxious?
You give yourself an ulcer