Hello and welcome to the latest Squire newsletter where we take a look behind the stories of the songs on the record.
First, thank you to everyone who has bought the record so far and here is a link to the product page for those who are still pondering their purchase.
A few of you have made some excellent comments on Facebook about the record, and we are super encouraged!
As we delve deeper into the tracks that define Squire's ‘September Gurls’, we arrive at the hauntingly evocative ‘Debbie Jones’. For those who’ve followed the band over the years, this song may seem like another narrative of youthful rebellion, but, like much of Squire's work, its simplicity cloaks a depth worth exploring. One striking lens to view 'Debbie Jones' through is its parallel to British cinema of the 1960s — particularly the 'kitchen sink' dramas that painted raw, unflinching portraits of working-class life. And who better embodies this cinematic world than Rita Tushingham?
However, behind the cinematic parallel lies a very real story. The song 'Debbie Jones' was conceived after a conversation with the real Debbie Jones during an in-store Squire gig on the 'Get Smart' tour. She was matter-of-fact in her recounting of family life: a sister who had moved to Germany and wasn’t coming back, a brother who was a fireman, and another brother who had left school but was lazy in finding work! These details, though seemingly mundane, revealed a spirit of fierce determination beneath them — a wide-eyed anticipation, and a quiet resolve that belied her youth. You could sense she was destined to break away, and one day, she’d find herself thousands of miles from her north of England home. It was this combination of resilience and unshakable hope that resonated so deeply.
Her story, delivered in an unmistakable northern accent, triggered memories of those gritty black-and-white movies that had been screening on TV at the time — the same films that form the backbone of 'Debbie Jones'. Films like 'A Taste of Honey' (1961), 'Saturday Night and Sunday Morning' (1960), and 'The Family Way' (1966) came to mind instantly. These films, part of the British New Wave, pulled the curtain back on the lives of everyday people — especially young women who sought freedom and self-actualisation against a backdrop of social pressures. That conversation with Debbie stayed with me, and by the time I was heading home from the in-store gig, the song had already begun to fall into place, expanding the characters in her story into an imagined screenplay of drama and teenage angst.
Debbie’s tale, like those told in the films of Britain’s New Wave, echoes a distinctly British theme: the struggle for identity, independence, and meaning in a world that expects conformity. Rita Tushingham, often hailed as the face of Britain’s New Wave cinema, is a figure that 'Debbie Jones' could easily inhabit.
Rita Tushingham’s characters, particularly in 'A Taste of Honey' (1961), 'The Girl with Green Eyes' (1964), and 'Smashing Time' (1967), embody this struggle. These films, much like the song, captured the challenges and dreams of young women, often from northern towns, trying to break free from the constraints of working-class life and societal expectations, often leaving their hometowns for the promise of something more in cities like London.
In 'A Taste of Honey', Tushingham plays Jo, a girl from a Northern town who, like Debbie, feels alienated in her own home. Jo’s life is dictated by her domineering mother and absent father figures, much like Debbie’s experience in the song, of being misunderstood by her own parents.
The lyric "Mummy says to settle down and find yourself a friend / Daddy says to stay at school and take all your exams" echoes the way British society pressured young women of the time to conform. But just like Jo, Debbie chooses a different path, making "plans to run away,” choosing to run toward an uncertain freedom, searching for something more than the stifling limitations of home.
After writing the song, I happened to run into Debbie again—this time outside the Shakespeare’s Head on Carnaby Street in London, right near where the famous Squire band photo was taken. It was a well-known gathering spot for mods visiting Carnaby Street!
She had come to London with her friends on a 'mod' shopping trip, while I was on my regular visit to Merc in the Rockefeller Centre on Carnaby Street, and other local shops like Carnaby Cavern, dropping off records! I managed to play her the demo, (track 3 on a very intriguing cassette of song titles!) and although she was likely embarrassed by hearing her name repeated so many times, it was clear that her story had taken on an unexpected life of its own, and had become the catalyst for one of Squire’s most iconic songs, deeply rooted in her real-life experiences, yet filled with the universal themes of youth, defiance, and the search for independence. Her spirit and determination had inspired a fantastic song.
Debbie’s story doesn’t end with a rebellion against parental authority. The lyric “When you go / Then you’ll really be alone” hints at the bittersweet consequences of freedom. This resonates with another of Tushingham’s characters, Kate in 'The Girl with Green Eyes'. Kate, like Debbie, leaves her provincial home to find herself in the bright lights of a city that promises so much but offers little in return. Her search for love, belonging, and meaning is a lonely journey, filled with the complexities of trying to make sense of adult life in a place where she feels untethered.
In 'Smashing Time', though more comedic in tone, Tushingham’s character in this film, Brenda, comes to London with her friend to find fame and excitement, only to discover that the city can be as alienating as it is glamorous. Debbie’s own flight to London could have similar undertones — a simultaneous escape from and into loneliness, a dream of finding herself, only to discover the vastness of life’s uncertainties.
The characters Rita Tushingham portrayed often embodied a restlessness and disillusionment that we find at the heart of 'Debbie Jones'. Whether they were running toward freedom or away from restriction, they embodied the struggles of young women trying to break out of social molds. The line “Debbie’s run away from home / And won’t be coming back at all” serves as the song’s powerful climax. But much like the kitchen sink heroines, Debbie’s escape doesn’t promise happiness — only the unknown.
In 'Debbie Jones', Squire captures a quintessentially British tale, one that evokes the works of directors like Tony Richardson and Desmond Davis, who brought Tushingham’s characters to life on screen. The song’s narrative intertwines with the themes of resistance, loneliness, and societal expectations found in these films. And, like many of those films, it all began with a real person and a real story.
So, as you listen to 'Debbie Jones', imagine the story of a real young woman, brought to life through a brief yet memorable and endearing conversation, whose northern accent brought back memories of cinema’s finest portrayals of rebellion and longing. Much like those films, the song captures a moment in time where the ordinary details of life become extraordinary through the lens of synthesis, combining seemingly unrelated elements to create a fresh narrative that resonates on a deeper emotional and cultural level.
Although the song appears overshadowed on the record that opens with ‘September Gurls’, and carries its name, ‘Debbie Jones’ has often been lauded as one of Squire’s greatest songs! It is always a stage favourite, and has also inspired much interest in the ‘real’ Debbie Jones, who, unlike the song’s cautionary tale, continued to be driven by her adventurous spirit, carving out a future and happiness far beyond the confines of her formative geography, breaking free from her northern roots to pursue her dreams on her own terms.
The song has also inspired this remarkable YouTube video! The creator correctly read between the lines of the song and made all the connections within the narrative to the cinematic influences! This version plays along to the stereo mix, but is a fascinating take on the song. We especially like the character who plays the sister who lives in Germany! An inspired choice!
All the best from Squire!