A theory on the meaning of TPK

Found this on YouTube:

'I think this video was flagged because of the lyrics and meaning of the song. Remember this song was addressing the AIDS epidemic of the 80's blaming it on the gay community which we know wasn't the case at all.

Anyway this song was one of the great anthems of the 80s it just keeps me dancing like crazy'

Any thoughts?

I think this theory originally came from Anthony H on New Order Story. He said it was the first pop song about AIDS and quoted the 'Pretending not to see his gun/Let's go out and have some fun' lyrics. Didn't elaborate on it as far I can remember.

Think it's bollocks meself.

"You lose another broken heart in the land of meat"

Further evidence?

What a crock!

the perfect kiss is the kiss of death. i hope that helps.

NOOLigan wrote: the perfect kiss is the kiss of death. i hope that helps.

Only if you swallow and you've got an ulcer in your mouth or a throat infection (although they wouldn't have realised that in the 80's + there's lots of antiretrovirals around now).

Er... but I see the link... unprotected sex can lead to lifethreatening STI's (not just HIV).

A song can mean anything to a person. People have a right to believe in whatever they want to in regards to a song, and honestly, I didn't even notice that this was a sad song until I read the lyrics. Even after I read the lyrics, I still didn't really know what Bernard was singing about in the song. After a while, my thoughts started to clear up, and I personally think TPK is about AIDS or something, but if the band says otherwise, that's OK with me. And if somebody else in the world has a different interpretation of the song, then that's OK with me, too.

If I recall correctly, the lyrics were written about the experience of a friend of Bernard's who lost a partner to HIV, so yes it was a rare song about AIDS! As with so many Bernard lyrics though, he makes things ambiguous by obscure rhymes and seemingly nonsensical phrases.

it could well be about aids, which had just hit public consciousness in 1985.

I thought that Barney had said in an interview that it didn't have anything to do with AIDS? Of course, he could have just been messing about with the answer... :)

Anyway, I always thought it was about the choices between going out on the pull (and failing), and instead wishing they'd stayed in and had a sherman (tank)!

But, then and again, I don't tend to read that much into Barney's lyrics, anyhow, as most don't have any deep meaning behind them and are just chosen words/thoughts! :)