Credit: Far Out / Warner Bros. Pictures / Album Covers

Five anti-establishment songs Guy Fawkes would have loved

Wed 5 November 2025 16:02, UK

Over 400 years have passed since Guy Fawkes was caught red-handed in the subterranean cellars of the Houses of Parliament, and yet the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 has never truly lost its lustre.

Now, more than ever, the idea of a grassroots plot to overthrow England’s state in explosive fashion certainly seems to resonate with the anti-establishment crowd – in addition to those who simply enjoy a bonfire.

For those of you for whom the famous rhyme (‘Remember remember the fifth of November’) has been rendered unsuccessful, the Gunpowder Plot saw a group of Catholic protestors attempt to assassinate King James I in a most dramatic fashion. Namely, the group attempted to blow up the House of Lords by secretly stockpiling gunpowder in the cellars below the building, thus sparking a revolt against the state, largely revolving around King James’ harsh treatment of Roman Catholics.

Although there was a whole gang of people involved in the plot, it was Guy Fawkes who was caught in the cellars, surrounded by 36 barrels of gunpowder, which was enough to see him tortured and executed for his crimes. In the many centuries that have passed since that fateful plot of 1605, though, the spirit and meaning of Fawke’s actions have been reinterpreted somewhat. Rather than being seen simply as an attempted Catholic revolt, the plot is viewed through a wider lens of anti-establishmentarianism.

While others are content to mark the coming of November the fifth with a few sparklers and a local bonfire – many of which have, thankfully, done away with the tradition of burning an effigy – some still hail Fawkes among the most daring would-be revolutionaries in British history.

So, if old Guido had still been around today, what exactly would be soundtracking his daring plot to overthrow the establishment?

Five anti-establishment songs Guy Fawkes would have loved:

Jarvis Cocker – ‘Running The World’

If you strip away the religious overtones and 17th-century politics behind the Gunpowder Plot, it all boils down to the same inherent message of virtually every political revolutionary: “Cunts are still running the world”.

When Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker uttered those words for his masterful debut solo album, he might have been focusing on the powers-that-be of 2006, but the message has endured throughout much of British history.

Not only has Cocker’s iconic track been applicable to every government and authoritarian institution implemented since its release, but if Guy Fawkes had instead tried to blow up the House of Lords during the post-Britpop age of iPods and New Labour, he would surely be humming along to this anti-establishment epic.

The Housemartins – ‘Flag Day’

The Northern alienation at the heart of ‘Happy Hour’ by The Housemartins

Anti-monarchy anthems are certainly no rarity, particularly within the world of punk and indie expression. Whether it’s the Sex Pistols and their defiant stance against Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee, or The Stone Roses’ determination to topple the royal family in ‘Elizabeth My Dear’. One of the most woefully underrated, though, came in 1985 from Hull’s finest, The Housemartins.

As well as being a stunning indictment of Thatcherite Britain, the track calls for direct and drastic action to be taken: “Too many Florence Nightingales, Not enough Robin Hoods,” as Paul Heaton put it. It stands to reason, then, that Fawkes would have connected with that message. He didn’t try to stage an appeal or a jumble sale in the hopes that it would change things. No, he went straight to packing large volumes of explosives underneath the House of Lords.

The Clash – ‘London’s Burning’

If Fawkes had been around in the 20th century, The Clash would surely have been a favourite of his. Any one track from their masterpiece of a debut album could easily have made it onto this list; after all, it is one of the greatest anti-authority albums of all time.

For our purposes, though, ‘London’s Burning’ seems a natural fit, given the incendiary nature of that 1605 plot. Admittedly, though, the origins of the track are far less exciting than a desire to torch England’s capital in the face of authority.

“I just felt the whole place was like bored as hell, driving about and watching TV and stuff,” Joe Strummer recalled of the song’s motivation, omitting any mention of 17th-century religious reform or the harsh domestic policy of James I. Regardless, though, the adrenaline-fueled punk mastery and sneering attitude of the track would surely be enough to win Fawkes over, along with the anthemic ‘London’s Burning’ chant at the top of the track.

Stiff Little Fingers – ‘Suspect Device’

Another masterstroke from the heady punk days of the 1970s, Stiff Little Fingers’ ‘Suspect Device’ follows a similarly incendiary spirit to ‘London’s Burning’, albeit with lyrics which seem far more tailored to the strife faced by Guy Fawkes and his gang.

After all, Stiff Little Fingers managed to tackle head-on the complexities and injustices of The Troubles in Ireland, so they were no strangers to sectarian warfare – although the IRA are more than a little different to Guy Fawkes.

“They take away our freedom, in the name of liberty […] it’s time the bastards fell,” could have been lifted directly from the diary of Fawkes, and although Stiff Little Fingers weren’t in the business of glamourising the use of explosives as a means of political resistance, their staunch anti-government and anti-establishment lyrics would still have resonated with the revolutionary spirit of our gunpowder-stained friend.

The Style Council – ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’

Paul Weller - The Jam - The Style Council

Another anti-Thatcher anthem of the 1980s, ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’ offers a far more euphoric, optimistic image of tearing down the establishment than the various other tracks included on this list. Rather than solely lamenting the oppressive actions of the state, Paul Weller and his soul-soaked band offer a way forward, calling for direct action and class unity.

“You don’t have to take this crap,” the song erupts. “You don’t have to sit back and relax. You can actually try changing it.”

Now, obviously, ‘the Modfather’ wasn’t advocating for his listeners to sneak 36 barrels of gunpowder into the cellars of Parliament, but it must be remembered that Guy Fawkes did try changing things. Rather than sitting back and taking the injustice of James I’s religious policies, he and a group of comrades sought to change things forever, and walls would most definitely have come tumbling down.