If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

The 1930s poster that inspired the song's title

The song's theme is inspired by the Spanish Civil War, and the idealism of Welsh volunteers who joined the left-wing International Brigades fighting for the Spanish Republic against Francisco Franco's military rebels. The song takes its name from a Republican propaganda poster of the time written in English and displaying a photograph of a dead young child killed by the Nationalists, under a sky filled with bomber aircraft, with the song's titular warning written at the bottom.[3]

Various real-life events from the Spanish Civil War provided inspiration for the lyrics. For example, the line "If I can shoot rabbits/then I can shoot fascists" is attributed to a remark made by a man to his brother who signed up with the Republican fighters. This was originally quoted in the book Miners Against Fascism by Hywel Francis. Another line, "I've walked Las Ramblas/but not with real intent", brings to mind the account in George Orwell's first-hand account of the war, "Homage to Catalonia", of fighting on the Ramblas. According to Orwell the various factions were seemingly getting nowhere, with the fighting and often a sense of camaraderie overriding the vaunted principles each side was supposed to be fighting for. Nicky Wire has also acknowledged that he was also inspired by a song by The Clash, "Spanish Bombs", which features a similar subject.[4]

The single was released in August 1998 and it secured the number-one spot on the UK Singles Chart[5] despite competition from "One for Sorrow" by Steps, which was released the same day and topped the midweek chart. It has sold more than 400,000 copies in the UK and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[6] It also became the group's biggest success on the Irish Singles Chart, reaching number three,[7] and is the only Manic Street Preachers track to be released as a single in the United States and Canada.[4] Although it did not make it onto any US Billboard chart, it became a moderate rock hit in Canada, peaking at number 19 on the RPM Alternative 30 chart for two weeks in August 1999.[8]

The single was also a success in Sweden where it reached number 21 and stayed in the chart for a total of 10 weeks.[9] In Germany it reached number 79[10] and in the Netherlands, number 62;[11] in both countries it remained on the charts for nine weeks. In Norway the song only charted for two weeks despite reaching number 19.[12] It also reached number 49 in Australia and number 44 in New Zealand.[13][14]

Despite its success the song itself was not originally intended for the album, it was recorded in a separate session to the rest of the album and was seen as a potential B-side. Its original demo was described by bassist Nicky Wire as "crap" [15]

The recording was issued as two CD singles: the first included versions of "Prologue to History" and "Montana/Autumn/78", and the second featured a remix by Massive Attack and a mix by David Holmes.[4]

In March 2009, it was discovered that the song was used on the website of the British National Party as the soundtrack of an article describing "the violence, hatred, fragmentation and despair" wrought on London by the "great multicultural experiment".[16] The choice of this song was considered ironic by many, considering the song contains lyrics such as "So if I can shoot rabbits/Then I can shoot fascists". Record company Sony successfully had the song removed from the site on the grounds of unauthorised use.[16] The BNP later released a press statement claiming that "the song had mistakenly been automatically streamed on to its site and had nothing to do with the official party", and that "you can interpret the lyrics any way you want".[16]

"If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" was nominated in the category of Best British Single at the 1999 BRIT Awards. However, the award was won by Robbie Williams for Angels.[17]

The melody of the socialist anthem, The Internationale can be heard at the start and end of the video, played on a musical box. This was a popular song on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War.

Wire praised the single's video, directed by W.I.Z.. It features a typical nuclear family but with their eyes, mouths and ears sealed over with a flesh toned applicant. The family seem to exist in a futuristic show room, fashioned into a highly clinical 'home' of sorts. Nicky Wire described the video as "surreal, mildly disturbing ... with a suffocating feel to it despite its brightness."[18] It was the fourth and final video directed by W.I.Z. for the band.[18]

The song is in the Guinness World Records as the number one single with the longest title without brackets.[4]

The song was voted number 20 on Channel 4's "100 Greatest Number One Singles" list.[19]

All music written by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore; except where indicated. All lyrics written by Nick Jones; except where indicated.

The song was covered by David Usher on his 2003 album Hallucinations. DJ Eric Chase also recorded a cover of the song in December 2009.[4] Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke occasionally sang portions of the song during live performances of "Everything in Its Right Place" during Radiohead's 2001 tour.[4]

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• Video on YouTube