2:55
Special Beat Service, 1982
Written by Roger Charlery, Andy Cox, Everett Morton, David Steele, Dave Wakeling, and Wesley Magoogan
A jittery jolt of ska-pop mixed with a bit of post-punk paranoia. Built on a skanking rhythm guitar and a brisk, driving beat, the song churns with tension. The melody is brisk and sweet, but the mood is teeth-gritting anxiety. "This world is upside down / The rights and wrongs don't get much wronger / Mistakes found in the past turn into rules protecting power." Dave Wakeling’s vocals are quick and clipped, shooting out lines like a man trying to stay cheerful while clearly coming unglued. Sax stabs and dub lines keep the energy unpredictable, and there's a nervous edge to everything, like the whole song's on the verge of a panic attack.