"It used to be a lot heavier than that when I first wrote it. It was about a man, who becomes a father, but he no longer recognises his children, because they don't take up his mastakes, so they turn around and say 'I'm sorry Dad. I don't recognise you anymore.' They reject his food and everything. But it turns out to be the song of a man looking back, trying to grasp what purpose there is in existing, what is required, what you are meant to do. You too often get to the state of looking back, saying 'I should have done this and I should have done that..." - Jim.

The feedback, effects and percussion at the end of the song lead to the development of Kant-Kino.

This relentless, driving song quickly became one of the staple tracks of their live set and appeared as a B-side for the second I Travel single.

Today I saw a film going backwards, Thirty frames a second, Was a man I recognised, Say who you are. I lost my job, Security, Self confidence, Bank account, Identity. The league of youth, Coming backward at me, Thirty frames a second, Say who you are. Go back to father, Father where's my food? You food is on the table, That can't be food, It's dirt. Say who you are. Look at my skin, Look at my face, Look at my arms, Getting younger, Going backwards, Thirty frames a second. Say who you are. I crash my car, Collapse in town, Young immigrants, And legionaires, Fighting back, back, backwards, Thirty frames a second, Say who you are. Some friends of mine, I thought were dead, Are coming back, "What are you doing coming back Jack?" Say who you are, Feel I'm going backwards, Thirty frames a second.

Album Version (5:14) Producer: Leckie Engineer: Jones
Live Version (25th Sep 1981) (5:06) Recorded: Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK
Demo (5:30) Producer: Leckie Mastered by: Simon Heyworth

Demo Version (5:30) Producer: John Leckie

Empires And Dance demo tape