Shut Up (Madness song)

"Shut Up"
Single by Madness
from the album 7
Released11 September 1981 (1981-09-11)
Recorded1981
Genre
Length2:48 (Complete Madness version)
3:23 (single version)
4:05 (album version)
LabelStiff
Composer(s)Chris Foreman
Lyricist(s)Graham McPherson
Producer(s)
Madness singles chronology
"Grey Day"
(1981)
"Shut Up"
(1981)
"It Must Be Love"
(1981)

"Shut Up" is a pop song written by Suggs and Chris Foreman.[1] It was recorded by the English ska and pop band Madness, and was featured on the band's third studio album 7.[1] It was released as a single on 11 September 1981,[2] spending 10 weeks in the UK Singles Chart.[3] It reached a high position of number 7.[3]

The song tells a story of a criminal who, despite obvious evidence, tries to convince people he is not guilty. Even though the song is called "Shut Up", the two words do not appear in the lyrics at all. However, they were the final words of an additional verse which was part of an early version of the song.

  1. ^ a b "Allmusic.com 7 overview". Retrieved on 21 July 2007.
  2. ^ "Madness set dates, single". Melody Maker. 5 September 1981. p. 5. ISSN 0025-9012.
  3. ^ a b "The Madness Timeline: 1981". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved on 21 July 2007.