New York

The Sex Pistols' song 'New York' is a scathing critique of the pretentiousness and artificiality they perceived in the New York music scene. The lyrics are filled with biting sarcasm and disdain, targeting those who the band felt were inauthentic and superficial. The opening lines, 'An imitation from New York / You're made in Japan / From cheese and chalk,' set the tone for the song, suggesting that the subjects of their critique are mere imitations, lacking originality and substance.

Throughout the song, the Sex Pistols mock the behavior and attitudes of these individuals, describing them as 'hippy tarts hero' who 'put on bad show.' The repeated refrain 'Still oh out on those pills' hints at the self-destructive lifestyle that the band associates with the scene, further emphasizing their disdain. The lyrics also take aim at the longevity of these individuals' careers, with lines like 'You four years on / You still look the same / I think about time / You changed your brain,' suggesting that they have failed to evolve or grow artistically.

The song's aggressive and confrontational tone is characteristic of the Sex Pistols' punk ethos, which was all about rejecting the mainstream and challenging the status quo. By calling out the perceived phoniness and lack of authenticity in the New York music scene, the band was asserting their own identity and values. The repeated references to being 'sealed with a kiss' add a layer of irony, as the phrase typically connotes affection, but here it is used to underscore the insincerity and emptiness of the subjects' actions and words.