The group was founded in 1978 by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, after they had been involved in several bands, including The Id. Later drummer Malcolm Holmes and saxophonist Martin Cooper joined. McCluskey and Humphreys formed the core of the outfit until 1989, when the group split in two. McCluskey retained the name and continued to record and tour as OMD with a new line-up until 1996, while Humphreys, Holmes, and Cooper formed "The Listening Pool".
According to Songfacts, Enola Gay was the first of 7 Top 10 UK singles for the group; their only US hit was If You Leave, which was written for the 1985 movie Pretty In Pink.
In late December 2005, OMD's official website announced a 2006 reformation, for both live performances and a new album, with rehearsals beginning in summer 2006. The line up features the original 1980's members (Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper). The "Architecture & Morality" tour for late 2006 was postponed until the beginning of 2007.
The tour finally took place in the spring of 2007 featuring "Architecture & Morality" played in its entirety plus a 'greatest hits' set, although each concert famously ended with stirring rendition of B side/album track and fan favourite "The Romance of the Telescope".
Plans are now ahead for the release of a documentary DVD (since released and available here), a live DVD of the 2007 tour (release postponed until 2008) and a new studio album released in 2010, entitled "History of Modern".
The group's 12th studio album, English Electric, was released on 5 April 2013. The group's 13th studio album, The Punishment Of Luxury, was released on 1 September 2017. The group's 14th studio album, Bauhaus Staircase, was released on 27 October 2023.
Official OMD website: http://www.omd.uk.com
Enola Gay
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aha, words can't describe the feeling and the way you lied
These games you play, they're gonna end it more than tears someday
Aha, Enola Gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
It's 8:15, and that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you're coming home
Enola Gay, is mother proud of little boy today?
Aha, this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
Enola Gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
Aha, Enola Gay, it shouldn't fade in our dreams away
It's 8:15, and that's the time that it's always been
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you're coming home
Enola Gay, is mother proud of little boy today?
Aha, this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
The lyrics to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's song "Enola Gay" tell the story of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States at the end of World War II. The song is named after the aircraft that dropped the bomb, the Enola Gay. The opening line, "you should have stayed at home yesterday," could be interpreted as a reference to the decision to drop the bomb and the idea that it would have been better if the Enola Gay had never left home.
The second line, "words can't describe the feeling and the way you lied," could be seen as a commentary on the deceitful justifications given for the bombing. The line "these games you play, they're gonna end it more than tears someday" could be interpreted as a warning that the violence of war will have long-lasting and devastating effects. The repeated line "Enola Gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way" emphasizes the tragedy of the bombing and the idea that it could have been avoided.
The line "is mother proud of little boy today?" references the fact that the pilot of the Enola Gay, Colonel Paul Tibbets, referred to the bomb as his "baby." The final line, "this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away," could be seen as a reference to the lasting impact of the bombing on both the people it directly affected and on the world as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Enola Gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday
Enola Gay, you made a mistake by going out instead of staying at home yesterday
Aha, words can't describe the feeling and the way you lied
The emotions and the extent of your deception are beyond words
These games you play, they're gonna end it more than tears someday
Your manipulative actions will have greater consequences than just tears in the future
Aha, Enola Gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
It's sad that things had to turn out this way, Enola Gay
It's 8:15, and that's the time that it's always been
The timing is familiar and unchanging, it's always been 8:15
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you're coming home
We received your message over the radio stating that the situation is normal and that you're returning home
Enola Gay, is mother proud of little boy today?
Enola Gay, are you certain that your mother would be proud of your actions today?
Aha, this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
This kiss that you've given will always remain in memory and never be forgotten
Enola Gay, it shouldn't ever have to end this way
It's sad that things had to turn out this way, Enola Gay
Aha, Enola Gay, it shouldn't fade in our dreams away
Enola Gay, we hope that your memory and what you've done will not fade away
It's 8:15, and that's the time that it's always been
The timing is familiar and unchanging, it's always been 8:15
We got your message on the radio, conditions normal and you're coming home
We received your message over the radio stating that the situation is normal and that you're returning home
Enola Gay, is mother proud of little boy today?
Enola Gay, are you certain that your mother would be proud of your actions today?
Aha, this kiss you give, it's never ever gonna fade away
This kiss that you've given will always remain in memory and never be forgotten
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andrew McCluskey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind