On this day (July 13) in 1978 the BBC announced a ban on The Sex Pistols single ‘No One Is Innocent’, which featured vocals by ‘Great Train Robber’ criminal, Ronnie Biggs – who was still on the run at the time and wanted by the British authorities.
No One Is Innocent was the fifth single by the Sex Pistols and was released on 30 June ’78. The Pistols had already split earlier in the year, so having lost bassist Sid Vicious and lead singer Johnny Rotten, the single was recorded by the remaining members; Paul Cook and Steve Jones with vocals performed by Ronnie Biggs – a British criminal notorious for his part in the Great Train Robbery of 1963.
The lyrics (see below) refer to many, often unsavoury, characters. There are references to Bill Grundy (the television host who Steve Jones swore at on live TV) the Nazi, Martin Bormann, child murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady Idi Amin, and Biggs himself.
In an interview in the Daily Mirror at the time drummer Paul Cook said that ‘god should save everyone, even evil people’.
The song reached number seven on the UK pop charts and appears on the albums The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle and Flogging a Dead Horse.
No One Is Innocent – Lyrics
God save the sex pistols they’re a bunch of wholesome blokes
They just like wearing filthy clothes and swapping filthy jokes
God save television keep the programmes pure
God save William Grundy from falling in manure
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he’s seen the light and he sold his soul for punk
God save Martin Boorman and nazis on the run
They wasn’t being wicked God, that was their idea of fun
God save Myra Hindley, God save Ian Brady
Even though he’s horrible and she ain’t what you call a lady
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he’s seen the light and he sold his soul for punk
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he’s seen the light and he sold his soul for punk
God save politicians God save our friends the pigs
God save Idi Amin and god save Ronald Biggs
God save all us sinners God save your blackest sheep
God save the good samaritan and god save the worthless creep
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he’s seen the light and he sold his soul for punk
Ronnie Biggs was doing time until he done a bunk
Now he says he’s seen the light and he sold his soul for punk
Sold his soul, Sold his soul, he sold his whole soul for punk
I’m a London born and bred music journalist, a mediocre bass player and the occasional strummer of the guitar. In the ’80s I worked in recording studios and made a few records you’d probably recognise. I have written a couple of books and made the odd media appearance as a music commentator. I now call Brisbane home.
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