Jam, The : GOING UNDERGROUND

GOING UNDERGROUND was recorded on 16 January 1980 at Townhouse Studios in London with Vic Coppersmith-Heaven producing.
Paul Weller’s lyrics have been described as having a "Shakespearian sentiment" as they "beckon the masses to recognize their collective power against the rise of the hierarchy." He specifically offers a sharp condemnation of Margaret Thatcher's recently elected Conservative government, the voter apathy that enabled her rise to power, and the military–industrial complex through this song.

The single was not included on any of the band's six studio albums, although it has appeared on numerous compilations. The song was released as a double A-side with DREAMS OF CHILDREN, which had originally been intended to be the sole A-side; due to a mix-up at the pressing plant, the single became a double A-side, and DJs chose the more melodic GOING UNDERGROUND to play on the radio.

It would eventually become The Jam's first UK number-one single and one of the top-selling releases of their career. When the single reached number one, the band was touring in the US, where they had long struggled commercially. Bassist Bruce Foxton recalled, "The record company called us up and told us we'd gone in at Number One. We said, 'Well, what are we doing here then?' We jumped on the plane and went home to where people did want to hear us. We flew back on Concorde and recorded Top of the Pops."