The Eton Rifles

Weller wrote it, and it was the only single from Setting Sons. Released on 26 October 1979, it reached number 3, the band's first top ten hit, with See-Saw on the B-side. Weller said it was inspired by a news report of Eton pupils jeering at a Right to Work march, and that he wrote it on holiday at Selsey Bill in the summer of 1979. The NME ranked it first among the tracks of 1979.

The Jam recorded it three times at Townhouse Studios. Coppersmith-Heaven said the first attempt lacked power and excitement, and the second had the same problem. For a harder guitar sound he bought 30 sheets of corrugated iron to line the studio. Weller played Hammond organ, influenced by the Specials' Jerry Dammers. Coppersmith-Heaven suggested the opening distorted chord, and young fans who had been hanging around outside the studio sing on the chorus.

In May 2008 David Cameron named it a favorite song. Weller answered that it had not been meant as a drinking song for the cadet corps.