The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the single "Baby Ran" gaining significant radio airplay. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Gun" and "One Day in Your Life".
Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough -- 1992's Dear Dear was their first album not to have a U.S. release. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.S. contract for the follow up, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which had a significant hit in "Ocean Pearl".
The band's song I Go Blind was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish.
The band's most recent album is 2008's Northern Soul released September 30th,2008 and they wrapped up their tour of Canada at the end of November 2008.
Take My Hand
54-40 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know where to turn
All messed up are my signals
Go nothing left to burn
Take my hand
Take my hand
Take my hand
If you hold me I won't ever let you fall down
I need you you're my witness
To all I have seen
What I'm going to do with this is
Set people free ("Come on now")
Take my hand
Take my hand
Take my hand
And we'll go running
We'll go running
We'll go running running away
I'm gonna run away take my hand
The lyrics of the song "Take My Hand" by 54-40 deal with the mental and emotional confusion of the singer. He is lost and doesn't know where to turn, and his signals are all messed up. However, he wants someone to take his hand and be his witness to all he has seen. That person will help him set people free through their bond. The singer also acknowledges that he needs that person as he won't let them down and won't face that wall alone.
The chorus of the song is very catchy and shows the need for support and companionship. The singer wants to escape all the confusion and problems that he is dealing with, and he wants to run away with that person holding his hand. The song has a sense of urgency and desperation, which is conveyed through the tempo and lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm thinking in circles
I am confused and unable to think straight
Don't know where to turn
I am lost and have no idea what to do
All messed up are my signals
I am overwhelmed and my thoughts are chaotic
Go nothing left to burn
I have reached my limit and have nothing else to give
Take my hand
Please help and guide me through this hard time
If you hold me I won't ever let you fall down
I promise to support and protect you if you do the same for me
If I hold you I have to face that wall not now
I am struggling with my own issues and cannot always be strong for you
I need you you're my witness
I want to share my experiences and feelings with you
To all I have seen
I have been through a lot and want someone to understand my perspective
What I'm going to do with this is
My plan is to use my experiences to help others
Set people free ('Come on now')
I want to empower and inspire others to overcome their own challenges
And we'll go running
Let's escape from our problems together
We'll go running running away
Let's find peace and freedom by leaving our troubles behind
I'm gonna run away take my hand
I want you to come with me and start a new journey together
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ATHERTON, JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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This was their best song...