The Ultravox song "All Stood Still" is about a dystopian and apocalyptic future where everything has gone wrong. The lyrics describe a series of events where the lights go out, the clocks stop, the program malfunctions, and the printout is blocked. The situation worsens as the turbine cracks up, the buildings freeze, and the system chokes. The song emphasizes the feelings of helplessness and despair in this chaotic world. Despite the troubles, the lyrics also mention the importance of being remembered and acknowledged in the tapes left behind. The second verse continues to highlight the deterioration of society, with the shutting down of screens, falling lifts, fading radar, and stalled countdowns. The black box fails, symbolizing the loss of information, while the decay of jails and the scenario of people kissing in a new arcade suggest the breakdown of order and morals. Throughout the song, the repetition of "We stood still" suggests a state of standstill or paralysis, symbolizing the powerlessness of individuals in the face of such overwhelming chaos and catastrophe. The song's meaning lies in its depiction of a futuristic world where everything has collapsed, leaving people in a state of frozen existence.
