Paul Weller of the Jam wrote the song “That’s Entertainment” in about ten minutes — he said the song basically wrote itself. This makes the lyrics all that more amazing because it’s a song that explains something — a sentiment, a feeling — that is universal but that not many folks take the time to realize (especially today, with our 24/7/365 distraction devices we all carry around with us at all times).

The song, which popped into our multiverse over 40 years ago, is about a mood that is difficult to relate to in our first-world reality of 2023, for the lyrics describe the simplicity of just going outside and hanging out with yourself, having a little moment, some free time, and being present in that moment, experiencing the moment by simply immersing yourself in your surroundings. How often does this even happen in today’s first-world reality? How often are you called upon to entertain yourself with the realities of everyday life?

Without cell phones, this happened quite often in 1980. It was a necessity, and this song conveys exactly what that was like living in 1980. The song is about having to find entertainment — happiness — via your own thoughts and experiences and observations from your place in the world.

One way the song hits this theme is sonically. There is an intensity to the song as if Weller and the Jam are calling out to the future — sending out an SOS to future generations to rescue them from their situation in 1980, for they are at the end of their rope. It seems as though the technology of 1980 is not enough for them. They are bored and they are pleading for humanity — or aliens or someone — to come up with something to entertain them, maybe some handheld device that can access every movie, tv show, book, magazine article, recorded song, and amateur blooper footage ever shot. Weller strikes his acoustic guitar in a frenzy that is both beautiful and brutal, as behind him, the bass is frickin’ tight and ballsy, and the drums that are seemingly non-existent, occasionally give a little knock here and there. Weller’s voice is vicious with a frenetic, urgent approach that only he — and he alone throughout the history of recorded music — has mastered. The harmonizing vocals behind him are sadly beautiful and catchy and are in touch with a certain tone of loneliness that only seems possible from a 20-something first-world citizen living in 1980.

It all comes together in a unique, urgent way until, in the midst of this simple, yet brilliantly complex song, just past the halfway mark, as if we are time traveling, a backward guitar comes in. This moment of ear candy is just a little icing on the cake. Yes! And we know then that this song is the perfect post-punk pop song. Every single element of it is perfect and iconic. There’s not one thing to add or subtract that would make this any better. It’s a slice of heaven. It’s 1980. It’s entertainment.

lyrics to “That’s Entertainment”:

A police car and a screaming siren
A pneumatic drill and ripped up concrete
A baby wailing and stray dog howling
The screech of brakes and lamp light blinking

That’s entertainment
That’s entertainment

A smash of glass and a rumble of boots
An electric train and a ripped up phone booth
Paint splattered walls and the cry of a tomcat
Lights going out and a kick in the balls

I say, that’s entertainment
That’s entertainment

Days of speed and slow time Mondays
Pissing down with rain on a boring Wednesday
Watching the news and not eating your tea
A freezing cold flat and damp on the walls

I say that’s entertainment
That’s entertainment

Waking up at 6 a.m. on a cool warm morning
Opening the windows and breathing in petrol
An amateur band rehearsing in a nearby yard
Watching the telly and thinking about your holidays

That’s entertainment
That’s entertainment

Waking up from bad dreams and smoking cigarettes
Cuddling a warm girl and smelling stale perfume
A hot summer’s day and sticky black tarmac
Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away

That’s entertainment
That’s entertainment

Two lovers kissing amongst the scream of midnight
Two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude
Getting a cab and travelling on buses
Reading the graffiti about slashed seat affairs

I say that’s entertainment
That’s entertainment