Turn It Up

Simply Red's 'Turn It Up' is a powerful anthem that calls for raising awareness and amplifying voices against social injustices. The song's repetitive chorus, 'Turn it up, turn it so loud, it don't ever stop,' serves as a rallying cry to make the issues of poverty, inequality, and hypocrisy impossible to ignore. The insistence on turning up the volume symbolizes the need to bring these issues to the forefront of public consciousness, ensuring they are heard and addressed.

The lyrics delve into the struggles faced by marginalized communities, highlighting the loss of opportunities and the harsh realities of life for those who are impoverished or unemployed. The lines 'If you're sick then you're lonely, out of work then you're hungry, the sentence is four years more' poignantly capture the cyclical nature of poverty and the systemic barriers that keep people trapped in difficult circumstances. The song critiques the societal structures that perpetuate these injustices, suggesting that the ruling class, described as 'unfaithful husbands who spank little boys, gagged and bound,' are complicit in maintaining the status quo.

Furthermore, 'Turn It Up' challenges the notion that poverty and race can be 'kept in their place' by being ignored or suppressed. The song advocates for a more equitable society, where the growth of a nation is not achieved by 'keeping the downtrodden down.' Simply Red's impassioned delivery and the song's energetic tempo underscore the urgency of these issues, urging listeners to take action and demand change. By turning up the volume on these critical topics, the song aims to inspire a collective movement towards justice and equality.