Industrial Disease

Album: Love Over Gold (1982)
Charted: 75
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The song focuses on the decline of the British manufacturing industry in the 1980s. The song focuses on strikes, depression and disfunctionality.
  • The title of what later became an AC/DC song is mentioned in the lyrics: "Thunderstruck."
  • The reference to "brewers droop" as a medical condition is an in-joke, referring both to the effect of alcohol on libido and to the band of the same name that Mark Knopfler played in prior to Dire Straits. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alec - St.Louis, MO, for all above

Comments: 5

  • Michael from DcSeems like it should have been revived for COVID, disease, class warfare and free speech tourists
  • Don Coyote from Behind, YaClose similarities in sound to "Money For Nuthin".
  • Jim from Pleasant Hill, CaOne of the best rock intro buildups in any song, though it's hard to pick a favorite. I never really knew what this track was about; assumed it was an allegory.
  • Clovis from Boca Raton, FlGreat Song. Underrated.
  • Jay from St. Louis, MoClever lyrics!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.