The Specials - Racist Friend (Official Music Video)

Music video by The Special AKA performing Racist Friend
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Lyrics:
If you have a racist friend
Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end
Be it your sister
Be it your brother
Be it your cousin or your, uncle or your lover
If you have a racist friend
Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end
Be it your best friend
Or any other
Is it your husband or your father or your mother?
Tell them to change their views
Or change their friends
Now is the time, now is the time, for your friendship to end
So if you know a racist who thinks he is your friend
Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end
Call yourself my friend?
Now is the time to make up your mind, don't try to pretend
Be it your sister
Be it your brother
Be it your cousin or your uncle or your lover
So if you are a racist
Our friendship has got to end
And if your friends are racists don't pretend to be my friend
So if you have a racist friend
Now is the time, now is the time for our friendship to end
GOODBYE
#TheSpecials #ChrysalisRecords
vevo.ly/dMnWwT

[@UnitK7]

Oh, hey. Look At that, still relevant.

[@kajakern268]

Sadly, maybe more than for a long time. But at least something is chancing now.

[@60framesorbust86]

@@kajakern268 It's always been relevant you twat, it's just now people give a shit (for the next few months)

[@Halfrond44]

Yup, even including a Wuhan shake at m1:30 to add to the 2020 vibes.

[@kajakern268]

@@60framesorbust86 of course. :( I hope, people will care much loger!

[@ermatugade3771]

Absolutely relevant! We muat recognize we will never completwly opress racism. So only associate ourselves with who we feel share common ground, everone else can go fuuk themselves.

[@tomscottjet]

I will forever be grateful to my old man for sharing The Specials with me. Blasting this out after three neighbours put Reform UK posters in their windows.

[@dsan5825]

A gift from my generation to the current. We tried, you guys are up now.

[@drkdrumz]

...they're doing great too. IMO

[@MsNooneinparticular]

Not a single Specials song is irrelevant today...in fact most are even more on point now. Go back & listen to all 3 albums + their latest "Encore". All great material that never ages. Fun Boy Three is great as well.

[@kevinsnazz]

Such a relevant song right now. Also, Rhoda Dakar is so beautiful.

[@TimothyCihal-pn7fm]

I have not talked to my fascist brother for 13 years, it is doable.

[@yaktaur]

Yep, I haven't talked to my neo-nazi brothers in near 15 years

[@ev-9112]

You should never disregard your family.

[@reynutz]

Oh so you exclude fascists? That makes YOU a fascist! Lol Jk that was my redditor impression

[@ak2-22]

@@ev-9112 mh I strongly disagree with ya, you don't choose the members of your biological family so the fact that they are part of it doesn't really mean nothing at all, they are just some dudes that your are forced to meet, if they are nice you can be their friend but if they are assholes the fact that they are in your family doesn't cahnge the fact that they are assholes, racist, shitty persons and stuff like that.

[@mightyaxolotl74]

GG @Timothy and @Ken, you are heroes. Most of us are raised to put blood above everything, and it takes strength and firm moral values to deconstruct this idea. You deserve better than them, I hope both of you are happy with great people around you

[@littlemiss80s88]

This message is needed so much ... still ... decades later!!

[@soulproduct6209]

Classic tune and on point message from one of my favorite bands ever. Oh, and since a lot of people are asking who the band members are in this video, allow me to name them: Stan Campbell: lead vocals Rhoda Dakar: co-lead vocals Egidio Newton: backup vocals Jerry Dammers: keyboards John Shipley: guitar Gary McManus: bass #RIP John Bradbury: Drums #RIP Dick Cuthell: Flugelhorn

[@jimbrussobigtimecavaliersf6371]

just the fact that you dig the Specials makes you awesome!

[@alimony1261]

i hate you

[@beechwood2247]

Alimony - why ? You sound like a twat

[@alimony1261]

@@beechwood2247 this song racist

[@mewgami]

@@alimony1261 a song about cutting ties to racists is racists... really??? this song doesn't even specify any specific race, it could be anyone.

[@alimony1261]

@@mewgami yeh it racist

[@v.a.993]

I am trying to imagine the original band lineup signing this song. I can imagine Terry Hall signing this song brilliantly and wish that he had in 1979.

[@SubLimeAntiCs]

I've never listened to the Specials before this moment...My whole life previous, feels incomplete. I'm think im in love!!

[@ladylaois8184]

Same

[@Tobycek]

Happened to me too

[@meone2867]

Unfortunately this actually isn’t the specials,weirdly it’s on there channel but these are some completely different peeps.I too have just discovered them,the musicians on this tune are top🔥🔥🔥

[@robbardell8618]

@@meone2867 It is I think 3 of the original Specials. Some if others went on to form Fun Boy 3.

[@meone2867]

@@robbardell8618 racist fiend

[@MareMeyer]

40 years later and it still feels relevant

[@skully7159]

Good 😂

[@stephen300o6]

Still poison, always will be this poison, neutralise it with love and togetherness.

[@Jayoinavation]

FACEBOOK THEME MUSIC

[@TheIronnia]

hahaha

[@JM-sl4yp]

Jayoinavation Delete them. Racists are scum.

[@fasterpussycat2161]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@alimony1261]

shut up ur not funny

[@Jayoinavation]

@@alimony1261 360 thumbs up say you can GFY

[@YashiraAlambares]

Now is definitely the time. I rather stand alone and stand up for what I believe in.

[@voidnausea]

You don’t stand alone. Black and white, together we fight

[@YashiraAlambares]

@@voidnausea Awe thanks! You are right.

[@madmudslinger]

Same here. I have to cut a few ties I should have long ago.

[@alimony1261]

no its not you are not brave u are a fart lec training

[@YashiraAlambares]

@@alimony1261 Whatever floats your boat.

[@hectorr6299]

The Specials kick a**!!!

[@warrenalexander5285]

I rediscovered The Specials through KZbin. I forgot quite how brilliant they are

[@jasonpfinch]

Still brilliant after all these years. I bought this album on cassette in 1984. Hasn't dated at all. Things have come full circle and caught up with the people on here. Never forget it.

[@ceecoursian]

jasonpfinch me too . It was in my Walkman for a lot of time that year

[@malferguson2548]

This works for Facebook "friends" too!

[@alimony1261]

ur boring

[@paperroses6065]

Another completely mind blowing song. We used to sing it in the car with the kids when they were travelling in the late 2000's. Dammers is a genius...

[@JacobHarvietheSinger]

Lucky me. I don't have any friends.

[@Bazillus99]

Me is your friend and me find this offensive

[@TheResurrection13]

+Jay Hard maybe you are a racist

[@monogramadikt]

***** haha, maybe a small percentage care, but the rest are a waste of time ;)

[@safakacar1728]

Well +Jay Hard go punk yourself please and listen some punky shit

[@Dan_DanielMartinez]

jajaja nos vamos a morir todos igual con amigos y sin amigos

[@dave474c]

The Specials are riding a wave right now. Good for them!

[@clivesmith9377]

New album GREAT!

[@Matheus94Ferreira]

RIP - John Bradbury

[@adriansheffield2906]

good on drums god bless john

[@swannswanndp]

One of the best intros ever.

[@Chilair1]

Letting go the people who are filled with hate from your life will only set you free. That is, unless you agree with their views eithrr directly or passively (saying nothing when he spouts hateful nonsense). If thats the case, sorry to break it to you, but you found the company you deserve.

[@raisedbybears1991]

Well said

[@leonardodavinci2953]

I think this is the best drum anacruse I've ever heard in my all life

[@swannswanndp]

Facts.

[@zarjazzandtupelo]

what's an anacruse and at what point I the song do we hear it? help? ignorant over here.

[@alimony1261]

jimi hendrix drumming is better

[@scwells68]

@@zarjazzandtupelo Its the lead in. The very first thing you hear the drummer play before the beat kicks in.

[@timothydraper6626]

The drummer is ace, he's got 'a really organic feel'...

[@beaupatrick77]

feelin this now more than ever

[@djgiga2]

Beau Patrick Coulon yea? What about now?

[@denzil4]

I played the ' In The Studio ' album yesterday and it sounds as good today as it did then. I'll be getting the new Selecter album ' Daylight ' next week and if it's as good as ' Subculture ' I'll be happy.

[@skriptico]

very relevant today, especially here in shitaly

[@sisco3813]

Yikes!

[@alimony1261]

poo off

[@gsymmonds3487]

This is true art - it’s humanitarian, truthful, humble, emotionally snd intellectually fulfilling & purifying. What a band. Should have far higher profile. But I guess with the world ruled by media and money controllers which are not any of the things listed above we should not be surprised? God Bless this band and the amazing Terry Hall.

[@paulburrows6617]

I love the SPECIALS.....So many great songs. Fantastic songs with lyrics that make a good point.

[@ajae...]

This isn't The Specials. This is The Special Aka.

[@staceymcr13]

2020 brought me here

[@paulburrows6617]

I love the Specials.....Great song

[@papiakhamrai8906]

Anyone in 2020

[@DC2Ams]

Relevant more than ever

[@papiakhamrai8906]

Wht do you wanna mean?

[@hectorhector3819]

2028

[@hectorhector3819]

Alimony are you really that lazy to spell Shut The Fuck Up ?

[@Dorn93]

here weee gooo... goodbye racistttt !!!

[@wricked123bionic]

Sometimes I wonder if anyone thought this was as funny as it was for me. Just the seriousness yet mellowness of the song.

[@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357]

I see this in my Facebook newsfeed. Well well well, and look at when this was filmed and released. It was obvious and prevalent in the past just as today! :) Thanks for posting. My first time seeing and hearing this song.

[@douglasjbyrdjr.7865]

2020 still relevant

[@Dorn93]

always

[@dupasupa8119]

That backing rhythm arrangement is THE BEST the Specials ever made. Bass line, drumming, horn section all in perfect timing. By that point in time in the band's history they were on par with some Jamaican trained studio musicians. I wish we could of heard them continue to develop musically.

[@andrewgoodfellow2039]

Everyone from reform uk should listen to this

[@bigbadbillb]

Rhoda still looks and sounds fantastic today.

[@middyred68]

Rhoda Dakar looking good !

[@thomasbeach137]

Woefully underrated and timeless tune!

[@gomeslucas9785]

people from 7 years to 2 days ago commenting that the song is still relevant... when are we ever going to make this song stop being current?

[@bonobobananas7702]

Here we go again

[@melessamatthews9336]

the realist speak I can't stop smiling? 1Love, hearing this first time today.

[@AngloSaks666]

This needs to go to Number 1 in the UK right now. Then we can have the song by They Might Be Giants of the same title, then maybe even the 80's punk rock classic 'No Nazi Friend' by The Dicks.

[@wavehuntersjapan]

Love. That transcends everything.

[@davidwilliams776]

Brilliant song👍

[@taufikagusPurnomo]

"Racist Friend" If you have a racist friend Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end Be it your sister Be it your brother Be it your cousin or your, uncle or your lover If you have a racist friend now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end Be it your best friend Or any other Is it your husband or your father or your mother? Tell them to change their views Or change their friends Now is the time, now is the time, for your friendship to end So if you know a racist who thinks he is your friend Now is the time, now is the time for your friendship to end Call yourself my friend? Now is the time to make up your mind, don't try to pretend Be it your sister Be it your brother Be it your cousin or your uncle or your lover So if you are a racist Our friendship has got to end And if your friends are racists don't pretend to be my friend So if you have a racist friend Now is the time, now is the time for our friendship to end Goodbye

[@NenaMataHari]

I live by this song.

[@brournemouth]

I have always loved this song and video. Terrific Ska beat and an un-apologegfic dead serious message.

[@BaconFrisbee]

More relevant than ever to those of us in the States

[@xeneizerp30]

que buena música, me gusta mucho el ska, y the speciasl ha hecho el mejor, en sus integrantes se nota la multiculturalidad que ha tomado la musica, y que mejor que la musica para unirnos

[@chrisp.14]

Parted ways with my family in 2005. Parents died in 2022, no tears have been shed for them. Brother was kinda the same, no contact since then, too.

[@JustWickedSwede]

Damn! Look at the trumpet players 'stache!

[@bigbadbillb]

Dick Cuthell

[@melodybrooke1376]

Right now, now is the time now is the time! 2020 somethings got to change

[@davidrobinson9507]

I've loved this song since I first heard it, plus huge Specials can from the beginning. I really want to learn it and sing it, since I'm now playing sometimes with a trumpet player. I like considering this song alongside T.M.B.G.'s Racist Friend song.

[@NuclearSad]

Long Live Terry Hall.

[@lovemagicfantastic]

Beautiful song, ever-relevant message.

[@THCSOUNDS1]

Carajo que música!

[@rackpunch4026]

Farewell Terry and thanks.

[@amandah5478]

From my home town. Love the specials 💕

[@beholder9256]

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends °_°

[@nicktaramusic]

such great trumpet melodies

[@davidharrison9324]

we have no progress in 50 yrs..soo sad..

[@nicolasevenoaks6547]

I never knew until today that they recorded this, or I would have played it and played it

[@TodGemuese]

Sad that this remains just as relevant now as it was when written.

[@Airman1121]

Sadly, it will always be relevant.

[@RapBox]

Great song.

[@timdintinger9037]

Love this

[@diego23635]

How i love this song

[@davidmoutard2276]

I love the way you English folk talk. It's seriously like stereotype after stereotype. Or maybe it's just me. Dunno. Either way, pretty sure I'm here because of Skank By Numbers by Mustard Plug. Ska fans, gotta respect the roots.

[@timothydraper6626]

I guess that's a compliment. This English person is pleased.

[@dsnooz]

If u have a bassist friend....

[@gretchenhangleton9603]

That's bassist

[@carlitoxb110]

dude stop being bassist

[@digitalcos]

Look, I'm no bassist, but...

[@mattnorby2669]

😂😂😂

[@gonzalocruz4234]

That's impossible. Bassists have no friends

[@jcbairmaster73]

Two Tone forever,up the automatics,the specials,and the special aka.Right on Rico Rodriguez,Dick Cuthell,Rhoda Dakar,good music goes on to infinity.

[@samdavis516]

i was 15 and played this to my racist dad....

[@msp5087]

This song says it all! Now is the time! ✊🏼

[@lanehewitt7685]

My last year at school was fairly lonely. I spent far too long arguing with my mates who turned racist the older we got. They fell for all that shit. I dumped them knowing I was old enough to not depend on them. Never looked back.

[@andre.barrerac]

January 2022!!!

[@jupeterpan9734]

Now iz the time!!!

[@JosephK42]

Thank you all so very much for being there through your words and music. Living the two-tone life to this day.

[@kiddmakow3095]

never heard this before, nice vibe to it

[@chriscooper1619]

Too bad the lyricists couldn't keep up. Sounds like they just had some shy girlfriends swing by the studio.

[@sarangistudent8614]

I’m from Cov and we have a racist living down the road from us. I love whistling this song whenever he’s outside. Hope he gets the hint.

[@DCLsMusic]

It's beyond my understanding... great song!

[@bobbobble6244]

I love Jerry Dammers. The Fun Boy Three broke his heart.

[@lit-eral5953]

Today one of my ex-friends stopped being my friend because I wasn’t racist. Good riddance Edit: im racist now

[@Tobycek]

Saved you the trouble then!

[@cgarnet01]

Good for you!! You sound like a good person.

[@amandah5478]

I hate it when you find out your friend is a racist. But hey. Good riddance.

[@Moonlight.Melon.Mounter]

Big up!

[@pch2230]

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[@stevenpye7765]

beautiful song

[@Keshajanaanmusic]

love this!

[@Rachel-sy7me]

Love this song,really How things should be

[@stefanopinzi5345]

While watching a football match on TV I had a bad argument with a friend of mine who was making very rude racist remarks on the black football players of his own team! I got so angry and shouted at him "Racist stop it, f. racist you must stop it". He, also angry, replied "I'm not racist, as you know, I enjoyed insulting those f. negros but I did it in the heat of the moment".....And yet there also several white players who where performiig badly. Why put the blame on the blacks? Was it a matter of colour and race? Simply absurd! (and racist) Another friend of mine went to the US to visit a chemical plant. When back home he said to me "My trip to US was intergesting, I spoke to a "negro" who told me how they conducted a chemical reaction". When I asked him who was the person he talked to, he said "He was a negro man" The he added : " He was a doctor in chemistry who was in charge of the plant" . In my friend's mental scheme the colour of the skin went prior to the fact that the person he met was a doctor. Had he encountered a white doctor he would have talked about a doctor in chemistry. He certainly would not have said "I met a "white" etc..." I could cite hundred of these cases. In Italy there are too many people who claim "I'm not a racist, but......" I do not know how to define this kind of racist attitude. It is almost latent, hidden inside, but it exists and comes out whenever there is the chance. I have been trying to be tollerant and keep in touch with these people in spite of their racist comments. I also try hard to get them aware of what they are but to little purpose. What could I do? Should I leave them alone and not talk to them anymore? What could we do to eradicate this primitive attitude? ste

[@MsNooneinparticular]

Makes ya wonder just WHAT people consider to be racist if not that, eh? "I'm not racist" is something said even by the KKK & Neo-Nazis though so it has lost all meaning.

[@johncutts57]

You should tell. them just what you said on here.I posted on facebook I would rather have no friends than fascist friends. I had to unfriend three, the rest stopped posting fascist crap on my wall. Your tolerance vindicates them

[@mahdiyussuf9804]

Stefano, you're a good guy, don't worry. Just let it be known it's intolerable. Wishing you well

[@powertothepeople3820]

Italy is the birth place of fascism so it's not surprising to see that italy still has a bunch of racist in modern times....... Hitler eventually copied their ideology

[@stefanopinzi5345]

Unfortunately in Italy many racists and xenofobic people have come out of the sewers where they had been hiding for years, recently.They are taking advantage of the situation created by some right wing politicians who, in order to get votes, tap into the darkest and trivial side of ordinary people, feeding them with fear, resentment and racial hatred. They want to create enemies to get people rally around and hate. Nowadays it is not uncommon to come across people who are not ashamed of their open racism and their volgarity against foreigners, Blacks, Jews and other group of people. They feel endorsed in their behaviours and their empty selfishness. We must make an effort (tremendous effort) and get them back to their humanity.

[@fablover78]

2020 et on écoute toujours les specials je les ai même manqué à Montréal l'année dernière!!dommage!

[@DJM1LOVE]

groove is hittin me

[@gstv78]

R.I.P, Terry Hall! from Brasil

[@ricksanchez6449]

Lo mismo siento. Meu amigo

[@golddust3529]

I'm in it for the bunny from 3:05-3:08.

[@Dr.Thirteen]

Stephen Pierce poor bunny RIP

[@ajs41]

@@Dr.Thirteen Why is it poor bunny?

[@petenorton883]

So bloody good.

[@paulburrows6617]

Such a fantastic band

[@VeitchyVeitch]

Still horribly relevant in 2019.

[@jaywinston8483]

And 2020.

[@solodolo3117]

@@jaywinston8483 And 2022

[@Sammie1053]

2020 called...

[@archive303]

No. Dont end it. Change them!

[@HellyMango]

but this song refers to those who do not want to change, for those who feel good to discriminate and think out there, these people trash

[@ayennaw4485]

Positive sweet vibtation 🔥

[@mahdiyussuf9804]

That's a very interesting bass

[@BoscoAlmeida]

RIP John Bradbury ✌🏾️😔

[@thespecials]

More music from The Specials: TheSpecials.lnk.to/Listen

[@Shawn-Whitfield]

@@beedeebee13 HAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHA! Oh man, thanks for the laugh.. I needed that!

[@Shawn-Whitfield]

@@beedeebee13 Get in the Cattle Car please.. then drive far, far away.. Thanks!

[@tomonoritanikawa6750]

just now

[@neilyatesjazz]

Dick Cuthell's flugelhorn and tenorhorn are magic on this!

[@jesusariassalazar8785]

Increíble los primeros integrantes cuando aún la agrupación se llamaba AKA SPECIALS

[@lindakuzoff3036]

Nice horns....

[@RJLpt]

3:06 Random rabbit footage

[@gustavbengtsson2803]

+RJLpt sweet dude