HUMAN LEAGUE - BEING BOILED

Released: June 30, 1978

Charts: UK: #6 

"Being Boiled" is the Human League's debut single, originally composed by Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, with lyrics by Philip Oakey. Released in 1978, it was one of the first British singles to feature exclusively electronic instrumentation, marking a pioneering moment in synth-pop. Though initially released with limited success, it was reissued several times and eventually became a UK top ten hit in 1982.

"Being Boiled" is a dark, intense track that critiques the silkworm industry, condemning the practice of killing silkworms for silk. The lyrics, referencing themes of "slaying," "torture," and "being boiled alive," intertwine this critique with Buddhist concepts. The song opens with the unsettling line, “OK. Ready. Let’s do it,” inspired by the final words of convicted murderer Gary Gilmore before his execution in 1977.

The music for "Being Boiled" was created before Philip Oakey joined the Human League. At that time, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were in a band called The Future and had just parted ways with their singer, Adi Newton. They invited Oakey, a former schoolmate, to try out for the band by writing lyrics for their instrumental track. Oakey returned two days later with completed lyrics, impressing Marsh so much that he instantly felt Oakey was the right fit for the band. This marked the beginning of Oakey's role as lead vocalist for what would become the Human League.

The Human League, inspired by the German electronic group Kraftwerk, aimed to make music solely with electronic instruments. In 1978, they recorded "Being Boiled" and "Circus of Death" in mono for £250 using a Roland System 100 synthesizer. The track was recorded in a factory room for just £3 using minimal equipment. Adrian Wright joined the band, adding visual flair with mood-setting slides that complemented Oakey’s striking appearance. Released on the independent Fast Product label, initially gained underground popularity, selling 3,000 copies and winning support from John Peel, but failed to chart. After the massive success of "Don't You Want Me" in 1982, EMI re-released "Being Boiled" with a slightly extended runtime and a fade-out ending instead of an abrupt cut. This reissue became a hit reaching No. 6 in the UK charts.

Recognized for inspiring other artists, "Being Boiled" was especially admired by Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode (and later Erasure), who cited it as a favorite record and a major influence in shaping his work with Depeche Mode. The song's impact also extended to other contemporaries like Soft Cell. The song has since become iconic, inspiring mashups like Richard X’s blend with TLC’s "No Scrubs" and Liberty X’s cover of "Ain’t Nobody."