T'Pau formed in 1986. The members originated from the towns of Shrewsbury and Wellington in central England and took their name from a Vulcan high priestess in the classic Star Trek episode Amok Time. Their debut single and first hit was the 1987 release Heart and Soul. Initially a flop in the UK, it first became a hit in the U.S. Billboard charts, reaching #4, a feat it repeated in the UK Singles Chart some months later. The same year, the band had their biggest hit with the ballad, China in Your Hand, which spent five weeks at Number One in the UK chart, and also claimed the top slot in several European countries, although oddly the song made little impact on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
They had a number of smaller hits which made it to at least the UK Top 40, including the singles Valentine, Sex Talk (a new recording of early flop single Intimate Strangers), I Will Be With You, and Secret Garden. Their 1987 album Bridge Of Spies (the album was called T'Pau in the U.S.) was a best seller and won several British record industry awards.
Nevertheless, the band failed to maintain their success and split in 1991. But Decker reformed the band with a new line-up in 1998, and T'Pau have in recent years attempted a comeback.
In May 2005, Carol Decker reached the final round of the ITV show Hit Me Baby One More Time, singing the T'Pau hit China in Your Hand.
See also: Official site
China in Your Hand
T'Pau Lyrics
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Told in a foreign land
To take life on earth to the second birth
And the man was in command
It was a flight on the wings of a young girl's dreams
That flew too far away
Don't push too far your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard, because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
China in your hand
Come from greed never born of the seed
Took a life from a barren hand
Oh, eyes wide like a child in the form of man
A prophecy for a fantasy
The curse of a vivid mind
Don't push too far your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard, because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
China in your hand
Whoa, your hand
Your hand
Don't push too far your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard, because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
But you shouldn't push too hard no, no
Don't push too far your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard, because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
Because they're only dreams
And you shouldn't push too hard no no
The lyrics to T'Pau's song China in Your Hand seem to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of pursuing one's dreams too relentlessly. The opening lines tell of a scheme or plan that a man and a woman had, which involved taking life on earth to a second birth. The man was in command, and the woman's dreams propelled them forward on a flight that went too far away. The phrase 'China in your hand' is then introduced as a metaphor for the fragility of these dreams. It seems to suggest that dreams are beautiful and precious, but they can easily shatter like fine china if mishandled.
The next section of the song seems to introduce a character who was driven by greed, rather than a genuine desire to fulfil a creative vision. This person took a life from a barren hand, which could mean they exploited someone less fortunate to achieve their goals. The line 'eyes wide like a child in the form of man' could be interpreted as a warning about the dangers of naivety and arrogance when it comes to pursuing our goals. The phrase 'curse of a vivid mind' implies that this person's creativity led them down a dark path, one that perhaps they wished they had avoided.
Overall, the lyrics to China in Your Hand seem to be a meditation on the risks and rewards of pursuing creative dreams. While they can be beautiful and inspiring, they can also be fragile and easily shattered if we push too hard or lose sight of what's important. The song encourages us to tread carefully and thoughtfully, valuing our creative aspirations but also recognizing their limits.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a theme she had on a scheme he had
Told in a foreign land
To take life on earth to the second birth
And the man was in command
A woman had an idea about a plan that a man shared with her in another country. They wanted to bring a new life to Earth and the man was leading the effort.
It was a flight on the wings of a young girl's dreams
That flew too far away
A young girl's ambitions led her to take a chance and fly too far away, beyond her capabilities.
Come from greed never born of the seed
Took a life from a barren hand
Oh, eyes wide like a child in the form of man
A prophecy for a fantasy
The curse of a vivid mind
The project was driven by greed and not born of necessity. It took resources from a place where they were scarce. Though it seemed exciting, this was a fantasy that became a curse, as the people involved didn't have a full understanding of the situation.
Don't push too far your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard, because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
China in your hand
Don't pursue your dreams too aggressively, as they may shatter like fragile china in your hand. Be careful what you wish for, as it may have unintended consequences that you cannot control.
Whoa, your hand
Your hand
Reiterating that the dreams or goals you hold onto are fragile, like something you might hold in your own hand.
But you shouldn't push too hard no, no
Don't push too far your dreams are china in your hand
Don't wish too hard, because they may come true
And you can't help them
You don't know what you might have set upon yourself
Again, cautioning against pushing your desires too aggressively because you can't fully anticipate what might happen. Things can easily shatter and be beyond repair, like china that's been pushed too hard.
Because they're only dreams
And you shouldn't push too hard no no
To reiterate, dreams are only dreams, and shouldn't be pushed so hard that they become something that consumes you entirely.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CAROL ANN DECKER, RONALD PHILLIP ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind