God Save the Queen

Glen Matlock had already left the Sex Pistols by the time "God Save the Queen" was released, though he co-wrote it. He said the bass line was inspired by the Move's "Fire Brigade". Guitarist Steve Jones remembered that when Matlock first played the song, it sounded to him like "Love Me Do". Its original title was "No Future".

The Pistols put it out on May 27, 1977, in Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee year. Many assumed they wrote it for the Jubilee, but Paul Cook said it was not written for it. On June 7, 1977 the band tried to play it from a boat on the River Thames near the Palace of Westminster. After a scuffle, eleven people, including Malcolm McLaren, were arrested when the boat docked. John Lydon said the song came from loving the English and being fed up with their mistreatment.

The BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority banned it, and Boots, WHSmith and Woolworths declined to sell it. It still reached number 2 on the official UK chart during Jubilee week. It topped the NME chart. Many believed it was the week's best seller and was kept from number one. Before the group signed to Virgin, a few copies had been pressed on A&M, and in July 2024 one sold for 24,320 pounds.