"Dallas 1P"
Song by Saxon
from the album Strong Arm of the Law
Released1980
Recorded1980
GenreHeavy metal
Length6:27
LabelCarrere Records

"Dallas 1PM" is a song by English heavy metal band Saxon, the eighth and final track on their third full-length album, Strong Arm of the Law (1980). The song concerns the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the media reports broadcast around the world following Kennedy's death. The song is considered one of the many highlights of the album.[1][2]

Background

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In an interview with Songfacts, Saxon's songwriter Biff Byford explained that he could recall the day of the Kennedy assasination and seeing the news reports on British television. Upon visiting American for the first time with Saxon, he was reminded of the event and began writing the song.[3] The bridge of the song features a collage of real-life broadcasts of emergency services and news reporters from the day of the assassination.[4] Regarding the recording process, Byford said:

We went down the conspiracy theory road, so we put in three gun shots rather than the one. We spent a bit of time. It was all done on analog, so we were flying different machines in at certain times with marker pen on the tape, so it was all a bit industrious.[3]

The 1PM of the title alludes to Walter Cronkite's reporting that Kennedy died at 1pm CST during a CBS News bulletin.

References

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  1. ^ Popoff, Martin (Oct 2018). "SAXON INVASION". Goldmine. 44 (10): 50–51.
  2. ^ manosg (11 October 2013). "Review: CD Saxon – Strong Arm of the Law Album". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Byford, Biff (24 January 2018). "Biff Byford of Saxon On Thunderbolt And Motorhead" (Interview). Interviewed by Carl Wiser. Songfacts. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Dallas 1PM by Saxon". Songfacts. Retrieved 22 December 2023.


Category:Songs about the assassination of John F. Kennedy Category:Saxon (band) songs