10cc - Rubber Bullets Lyrics






I went to a party at the local county jail
All the cons were dancing and the band began to wail
But the guys were indiscreet
They were brawling in the street
At the local dance at the local county jail

Well the band were playing
And the booze began to flow
But the sound came over on the police car radio
Down at Precinct 49
Having a tear-gas of a time
Sergeant Baker got a call from the governor of the county jail

Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets
Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets

I love to hear those convicts squeal
It's a shame these slugs ain't real
But we can't have dancin' at the local county jail

Sergeant Baker and his men made a bee-line for the jail
And for miles around
You could hear the sirens wail
There's a rumor goin' round death row
That a fuse is gonna blow
At the local hop at the local county jail

Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do

Sergeant Baker started talkin'
With a bullhorn in his hand
He was cool, he was clear
He was always in command
He said "Blood will flow;
Here Padre
Padre you talk to your boys..."
"Trust in me -
God will come to set you free"

Well we don't understand
Why you called in the National Guard
When Uncle Sam is the one
Who belongs in the exercise yard
We all got balls and brains
But some's got balls and chains
At the local dance at the local county jail

Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets
Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets

Is it really such a crime
For a guy to spend his time
At the local dance at the local county jail
At the local dance at the local county jail

Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do
Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do





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10cc Rubber Bullets Comments
  1. s.... h....

    Remember Rubber Bullets being released in early 70s and I was hooked. Drove my mum and dad nuts playing the song over and over again. Truly awesome band. There live concerts were truly brilliant. Many great memories.

  2. L.... N....

    bloody hell this was a blast from the past, loving it though, xx

  3. B.... F....

    You can see the influence they had on Queen. Freddie Mercury loved these guys.

  4. m.... ....

    Jewish rock band.

  5. D.... C....

    Just brimming with lots of off the wall ideas.

  6. D.... C....

    Initially, because of this, and The Dean and I, I assumed they were American, but they`re Mancs.!!!

  7. e.... ....

    AWESOME !!! but of course…. Top 30 Hits  in my Book...

  8. T.... K....

    Wave your cocks at them,it’ll take their minds off the fact we’re fucking shit.

  9. J.... P....

    It's clever on so many levels.

  10. G.... R....

    I went to a party at the local county jail
    All the cons were dancing and the band began to wail

    But the guys were indiscreet

    They were brawling in the street

    At the local dance at the local county jail

    Well the band were playing

    And the booze began to flow

    But the sound came over on the police car radio

    Down at Precinct 49

    Having a tear-gas of a time

    Sergeant Baker got a call from the governor of the county jail

    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets

    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets

    I love to hear those convicts squeal

    It's a shame these slugs ain't real

    But we can't have dancin' at the local county jail

    Sergeant Baker and his men made a bee-line for the jail

    And for miles around

    You could hear the sirens wail

    There's a rumor goin' 'round death row

    That a fuse is gonna blow

    At the local hop at the local county jail (whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?)

    Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?

    Sergeant Baker started talkin' with a bullhorn in his hand (bullhorn in his hand, bullhorn in his hand)

    He was cool, he was clear, he was always in command (always in command, always in command)

    He said "Blood will flow, here Padre

    Padre you talk to your boys"

    "Trust in me

    God will come to set you free"

    Well we don't understand why you called in the National Guard (National Guard, the National Guard)

    When Uncle Sam is the one who belongs in the exercise yard (exercise yard, the exercise yard)

    We all got balls and brains

    But some's got balls and chains

    At the local dance at the local county jail

    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets

    Load up, load up, load up with rubber bullets

    Is it really such a crime

    For a guy to spend his time

    At the local dance at the local county jail

    At the local dance at the local county jail (whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?)

    Whatcha gonna do about it, whatcha gonna do?

  11. R.... M....

    I agree 10cc is a very underrated band.

  12. R.... M....

    Always loved that song.

  13. A.... R....

    The most anti rock audience I've ever seen. WTF???

  14. T.... D....

    Some drummer, watch him hes hitting fresh air, the symbals dont even move ha ha ha. class act

    T.... D....

    Tony Dean it’s top of the pops, no one plays they just dub the recordings over the top

    T.... D....

    @BadGamerGood Oh right, still looks naff though, be better off just using a video or dancers or whatever if they cant play live

  15. Y.... R....

    The guy at the beginning in front of the stage in the audience with the pink suit and top hat kinda looks like noddy holder from slade ... ?

    Y.... R....

    Holy sssshit! It does to....

    Y.... R....

    He's in a few top of pops vids x

  16. f.... ....

    IMO one of the most underrated bands of the 70's. Lots of hits, I loved ém

  17. M.... M....

    Wall street shuffle

  18. M.... H....

    I'm sure they were miming.

    M.... H....

    If they are miming they are doing a great job at it

  19. J.... ....

    Soo many great bands in the 70s and here is one at the top of the list!

  20. J.... B....

    When was this remastered? Surely this is the best version of rubber bullets out there.

  21. L.... S....

    Awesome band. Love Lol and Eric’s grinning, Kevin’s light touch on the drums - cymbals hardly move. Graham looks like a teenager. Good times.

  22. b.... ....

    Using drumsticks backwards. lol

  23. J.... ....

    I never knew Godley and Creme played drums and guitar??

  24. m.... w....

    typical TOTP MIMING TO THE RECORDING

    m.... w....

    not back then,,!

    m.... w....

    well look at the drummer not even making contact with the kit ffs

    m.... w....

    your drunk, or blind,,? or both,?

  25. z.... ....

    Not forgetting GODLEY & CREME

  26. L.... B....

    Love this band, so talented, they were all songwriters, singers and musicians. I saw them live a few years back in Kings Lynn, just two of the originals were there but they were fantastic. This song was nunber one on June 23rd 1973 when I was on holiday at Leysdown on the Isle of sheppey, it was playing on the jukebox in an amusement arcade there. The song takes me back to wonderful times. It reminds me of a beautiful girl I met there, Sandra Cooper, we got engaged and was together for 4 years, the best time in my life, sadly we split up.

    L.... B....

    My goodness....I remember the song well. June 23rd 1973 was the day my second son was born. A good day. Funny thing was our surname was Baker as in the song.

    L.... B....

    @Georgia Raynes I remember that day like it was yesterday, it was glorious sunshine.

  27. M.... S....

    Guy can't play drums properly

  28. D.... H....

    10cc ruled the world for a few weeks in 1973....they were the Bruno Mars of their time!!...they seriously were..........

  29. K.... L....

    Music music musiccccccc

  30. w.... ....

    Someone wants to tell the drummer hes got his drumsticks the wrong way around :P .. Brilliant song.

  31. m.... ....

    Jeez this song takes me back. Oxford bags, tank tops, Van Huesen shirts, midi skirts & my 1st f**k. Still remember you fondly Brenda! 47 years later here I am living in Oz & so glad I don't live in the UK now. Mind you, Australia is sadly going down the same track Britain did back then.

  32. G.... H....

    Kill n it great song

  33. A.... S....

    The drummer looks like Cactus Jack.

  34. p.... b....

    Not long after this came out I was serving in the British Army in Northern Ireland...........and firing rubber bullets. The local IRA women went mad collecting them......no idea what for ? :-)

  35. H.... W....

    Saw these boys live in the Isle of Man in 73 still the best live performance I ve seen

    H.... W....

    so lucky

  36. L.... 9....

    love the way they cut the "balls and Brains" line.

    L.... 9....

    Lemming 998 snowflakes mate snowflakes 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👿👿👿👿

  37. S.... E....

    Sounds like a McCartney song.

    S.... E....

    Not really

  38. V.... T....

    My dad introduced me to this song when I was about 10 years old
    Im 21 now and I’m still loving it xx

    V.... T....

    Vanessa Taylor the made some great stuff Vanessa days sadly gone 😧😧😧

    V.... T....

    Andrew Matthews so unfortunate !

  39. m.... w....

    the shite of BBC making the bands mime to everything

  40. c.... d....

    Classic...still sounds good today as it did in 73😊

    c.... d....

    codzeedee dee true CLASS

  41. a.... h....

    greatest band ever

  42. J.... V....

    who are all those dead zombie badly-attired freaks around the band shaking their arms about?

  43. T.... D....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_glUXQPRo

    BBC live recording. NOT mimed

  44. L.... S....

    Problem with totp it was a platform for selling records so most of the time the recording was played for the bands to mime so what you heard is what you got on the singles "bloody brilliant doesn't matter what way it was done it was the early 70s after all "

    L.... S....

    Correct Andrew

    L.... S....

    @Andrew Matthews Quite agree Andrew n a Fab time to grow up did u like Elvis too plus Status quo and T.Rex n Wizzard too and the Sweet especially WigWamBam. All the best for now n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands..Glynn

    L.... S....

    @Lee Smith Cheers Lee n a Fab time to grow up did u like Elvis too plus Status quo and T.Rex n Wizzard too ,plus The Sweet especially WigWamBam ..All the best for now n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands..Glynn

    L.... S....

    Glynn Evans most music in the 70s can stand today's so called music if that's what u can call it thanks for answering message take care and keep on playing and listening to this good music 🎤🎤🎤🎤

    L.... S....

    @Andrew Matthews Will do sir 'by the way were r U from. Cheers Glynn

  45. k.... C....

    Brilliant beat , superb song . Fantastic band .

    k.... C....

    ken C.D I agree with all that Ken very sadly missed 😧

  46. s.... s....

    The drummer was that bored he didn't' realise had his drumsticks around the wrong way.But fantastic band.

  47. R.... K....

    Not even an OBE from the queen! "I'm not in love" was an all time classic.

    R.... K....

    Randeep Kaur very very underrated never got full credit for some great songs !!!!

  48. W.... K....

    I hate how the drummer doesn't even touch the cymbals and the women are just staring at the camera

    W.... K....

    chamwham that's totps for you

  49. g.... y....

    pathetic miming

  50. R.... E....

    These guys are indeed very talented.......had they been from America they would have been known to history as '11CC'

  51. b.... ....

    BEST DRUM MIMICRY EVER. LOVE THESE GUYS. HATE TOTP

  52. F.... M....

    I don't get this ? 10CC aren't Americans but they're singing with total Americana themes and american accents. Is it a parody ? I am about as confused about this as I am about Elton John's accent when he sings.

  53. P.... C....

    10cc was really good in the 1970s with their songs and this was one of the best of theirs. competed against supertramp.

    P.... C....

    Peter Coster they were brilliant Peter made some classics

  54. d.... l....

    Happy teenage years 👍👍

    d.... l....

    denise lefeuvre great days denise 😉

  55. V.... C....

    I'm glad I decided to check this band out after they were mentioned in a book I'm reading. They rock!

    V.... C....

    Vintage CrowSpirit made great sounds 😊

    V.... C....

    I'm Not in Love, is the best ever love song that's not a love song, kind of. With a backing track of over 600 voices.

    V.... C....

    Yeah I grew up with 10cc but in your position looking back to the 50s for me there is just a load of shit to discover apart from copycat doowop

  56. C.... N....

    'Ballin in the street?' I'm assuming this has a totally different meaning to the old Aussie slang term. For years I assumed the worst. If the prisoners were ballin' in the street, it means a whole lot of public sex was going on, lol. And who were they balling? Each other? Get's worse OMG! ROFL. I DO hope they were brawling instead.

  57. a.... i....

    I think this song deserves a dancing troll ....truly amazing!!!!

  58. S.... G....

    I WANT THE FULL VERSION. This HAS BEEN CUT and EDITED 💯💯👎👎

    S.... G....

    Steven Guegens to many lily-white that's why 👿👿👿

  59. T.... a....

    I was just watching Slade! It would seem they are also one if the most underrated bands of all time!

    T.... a....

    That's a big 10-4 Buddy Wagons roll!!!! to true

  60. J.... G....

    Fabulous. 🎶🎶🎶 😘

    J.... G....

    Like wise Jane ..Kind regards Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands 🌷🌷🤗🤗

    J.... G....

    Jane Guest I totally agree Jane they made some great stuff didn't they 😉

  61. P.... ....

    I was only 12 at the time but watching it now I can't believe I never noticed all these bands on TOTP were only miming - everytime Lol supposedly hits the cymbals they don't move. How gullible and unobservant was I (still am)?

    P.... ....

    That’s Kevin playing drums. Lol is one playing guitar and singing most of the lead vocals.

  62. t.... ....

    Love that Gibson Lol Creme is playing! A pure Johnny Thunders special!

  63. b.... ....

    Its a shame these slugs aint real.

  64. b.... ....

    Load up. Load up. Load up

    b.... ....

    bbbbettsy a great band bbbbettsy 😊

  65. L.... B....

    First 45 I bought

  66. I.... ....

    The quality of this video is amazingly brilliant, 10cc good, Godley and Creme awesome.

    I.... ....

    Ian the original band were awesome ian 😎

  67. S.... d....

    Oh my freaking Lord, I grew up with this & I still feel 14 listening!

    S.... d....

    Sea dreams brilliant musical times 😎

    S.... d....

    @Andrew Matthews Absolutely! 🌞

  68. G.... C....

    Reminds me of being on holiday in seaton devon uk with my gorgeous wife and two young sons , wonderful memories.

    G.... C....

    G Cook days to make great memories later in your life 😎

    G.... C....

    Awww, bless! :)

  69. g.... y....

    great at miming

  70. K.... ....

    Quite a band. All four could sing and all four were songwriters. Saw them in 76, great band.

    K.... ....

    Gill P magic at their best Gill

    K.... ....

    Lucky you, Gill! I ♡ em

    K.... ....

    Wow Gill n like wise ..Kind regards Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands 🌷🌷🤗🤗

    K.... ....

    Same with The Beatles.

  71. S.... A....

    1:21 - the refrain

  72. J.... T....

    Brilliant times to be around , it was great .

    J.... T....

    Judy Thomas great times Judy

  73. E.... W....

    Great tune 🎵

  74. D.... B....

    By gum. missed out the line 'We've all got balls and brains...' Pathetic

  75. D.... B....

    Miming, I'm afraid

    D.... B....

    Des Browning top of the pops mate 👿

    D.... B....

    @Andrew Matthews of course - couldn't set each band up for their song and make the programme at a reasonable cost

  76. s.... s....

    What I love about this is the BBC yet again lack any credibility, as they always did on TOTP ,getting musicians to mime, cheat the public and there still doing it. Back in the day 10CC live amazing show, biggest mirror ball I've ever seen and I've seen a host of balls.

  77. A.... H....

    I've been looking through the comments and nobody has said anything about why they are called 10cc ! It can't be just me that heard the interview with them ... hahahahaha !

    A.... H....

    shocking

  78. d.... c....

    Underated? They are in as much as people don't talk about them anymore which is loudicrus. I'm glad they had 3 number 1 singles and hit albums, but 4 singers, 4 songwriters and all multi musician's, what talent!

  79. C.... W....

    Fantastic group. Saw them live. Outstanding. 👌🙌

  80. b.... s....

    1973..best 6 weeks holidays of my life.8yrs old running with my teenage uncles.cried when I had to go home....

    b.... s....

    betty swollox great days though Betty 😎

    b.... s....

    @Andrew Matthews thought they'd never end...

    b.... s....

    @betty swollox hi betty , luv your memories Fab times to grow up. did u like the Sweet especially WigWamBam 😁😁..Glynn n Greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands 🤗🤗

  81. I.... B....

    This was their best song. What was their second best song? Waterfall, found on the b-side of this gem

    I.... B....

    What number was "I'm Not in Love"?

  82. P.... J....

    Looks like they haven't got balls and brains though. Dear of the BBC in those days.

    P.... J....

    Pete Joseph the BBC never had any balls 😵😵😵

  83. J.... R....

    Bring on the holographic images of the alien band members!

  84. J.... R....

    Are they lip synching too?

  85. J.... R....

    Uncle Sam belongs in the exercise yard...lol

  86. J.... R....

    The drummer has a magnificent voice plus can play the cymbals and drums by mental telepathy!

    J.... R....

    Guitars not plugged in either!

    J.... R....

    @hirdy6 this band is extrarerrestrial!

    J.... R....

    @John Rogan Nah, I knew one of their groupies and she told me they each had only two testicles.

  87. J.... C....

    Oh man, the miming on this is terrible. Check out the drummer when he hits (or doesn't) the hihat. He's nowhere near it.

    J.... C....

    All the drummers on mimed-on-tv songs were like that

  88. D.... B....

    #IFLYM❤️

  89. A.... R....

    Lol Creme had one hell of a voice...

    A.... R....

    Lol, he did!

  90. S.... S....

    wow .....

  91. A.... C....

    The fantastic 70s what great bands we had back then

    A.... C....

    Alan Carroll to true Alan 😊

  92. A.... Z....

    No.1 when I was born.

  93. S.... C....

    10cc - best, cleverest, rock band of the '70's!

    S.... C....

    Steve Cowdry made some great music Steve

  94. M.... P....

    No mention of Balls and Brains ha ha.....

    M.... P....

    Mark Proctor PC gone mad 😵😵😵😵😵😵😱😱😱😱😱😱😵😵😵

  95. W.... K....

    Good band hard to pick one of their many chart hits as the best ,this’ll do

    W.... K....

    White Knight they were a great band 😈

  96. K.... C....

    Great lyrics. Very clever.

    K.... C....

    Kerry Clark oh to go back to those days anyone got a time machine

  97. p.... ....

    Who said Brit bands weren't integrated...look..they had a Red Indian ffs

    p.... ....

    Nothing to integrate with in ‘73. Great times.

  98. A.... P....

    what a song