Where do you start with A Guy Called Gerald? A hidden gem, the gateway betw… Read Full Bio ↴Where do you start with A Guy Called Gerald? A hidden gem, the gateway between Chicago house / Detroit Techno and the UK dance music explosion in the late 80s. He is one of a few special producers who entered dance music in the jacking zone. He is the first UK acid house producer and the first producer to have two instrumental dance tracks in the UK charts at the same. He formed 808 State with a drum machine, a 303, 2 Roland SH101s and 2 other humans. His collaborations stem from Frankie Knuckles, Goldie, Finley Quaye and Derrick May through to Herbie Hancock, remixed for David Bowie, Lamb, Stone Roses, Black Uhuru, Can, Tricky, Roman Fluegel and The Orb and toured with New Order, Tricky and Bebel Gilberto.

When the history of postmodern dance music is written he is ubiquitous: his visions, his stylistic versatility and open mindedness had a huge influence on the development of global dance culture. Very early on, he experimented with acid house and helped pioneer the style that was later called jungle and drum'n'bass. Fiercely independent he's preparing himself for a string of new releases, the launch of his online shop and touring worldwide.

The Manchester scene in the late 80s radiated from the Hacienda. It was a place which grew to be a breeding ground for the likes of Laurent Garnier and Chemical Brothers and in the Summer of Love the Hacienda had a theme tune called Voodoo Ray. It was A Guy Called Gerald's first release in 1988 and became a seminal classic that put British house music firmly on the map. As part of 808 State’s first incarnation he co-produced another Hacienda classic, Pacific State. He soon decided to concentrate on his solo project and toured worldwide (and with a quarter of a ton of equipment!) performing live.

In the early 90s he launched his own label Juice Box and released a series of 12"s that were the blueprint to what would become jungle. In 1992 he compiled these releases into the proto jungle classic "28 Gun Bad Boy" album. In 1995 he followed up with the definitive "Black Secret Technology" to critical acclaim. Black Secret Technology featured Finley's Rainbow with vocals by Finley Quaye and a collaboration with Goldie. Finley's Rainbow featured Finley Quaye who later re-released the tune on his debut album. In 2005 Knowledge Magazine ranked "28 Gun Bad Boy" EP was as the No. 1 jungle single of all time. His sound was an inspiration to many - Goldie, LTJ Bukem and DJ Krust have all stated his influence.

But never wanting to be stereotyped into any particular style of music his sound continued to develop. In 2000 he signed with !K7 Records and released "Essence" with guest vocals from singer/songwriter Wendy Page, Lady Kier and Finley Quaye. In 2005 the down tempo "To All Things What They Need". In 2005 he launched his Sugoi and Protechson labels. His latest album "Proto Acid / The Berlin Sessions" was released on Berlin's Laboratory Instinct label.

In 2006 he released "Proto Acid - The Berlin Sessions" album and in 2010 the follow up "Tronic Jazz - The Berlin Sessions" - on Berlin's boutique Laboratory Instinct label.

In July 2008 a remastered edition of the jungle classic “Black Secret Technology” was reissued. And in August of the same year “In Ya Head feat. Mia” came out on Berlin’s favourite Perlon Records.

2012 sees a new EP "How Long Is Now" out on Bosconi Records.

He continues to tour bringing his studio into the clubs worldwide.

Beaches & Deserts
A Guy Called Gerald Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Beaches and deserts where you take me
Beaches and deserts where you take me
From low to high
From wet to dry
Beaches and deserts where you break me
Beaches and deserts where you break me
From safe to sound
From lost to found

And I love these extremes of you
Don't wake up without dreams of you
Here on the edge of you
Is where I will live
Beaches and deserts where you leave me
Beaches and deserts where you leave me
Beaches and deserts where you grieve me
From good to bad
From happy to sad
And I love these extremes of you
Don't wake up without dreams of you
Here on the edge of you
Is where I will live
Here on the edge of you
Is where I will live forever
I will live forever
Here on the edge of you
Is where I will live forever

I will live forever
I will live forever

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Beaches and Deserts" by A Guy Called Gerald is a poetic representation of the highs and lows of a relationship. The usage of contrasting elements of water and land, safety and danger, joy, and sorrow, signifies the duality of emotions that a relationship can evoke. The theme of the song revolves around the idea of extremes, where the singer expresses his love for the extremities of emotions experienced with his partner. The phrase "Beaches and Deserts where you take me" represents the thrilling journey that the singer experiences with his partner.

The lyrical goal of the song is to celebrate the extremities of emotions that come with being in love. The chorus "And I love these extremes of you, Don't wake up without dreams of you" reflects the singer's unadulterated love for his partner, with or without the negative aspects of the relationship. The lines "Here on the edge of you is where I will live forever, I will live forever" signify the singer's commitment to the relationship, where he is willing to accept the emotional range that comes with love.

Line by Line Meaning

Beaches and deserts where you take me
Taking me to contrasting environments like beaches and deserts

From low to high
From sea level to high altitude

From wet to dry
From humid to dry regions

Beaches and deserts where you break me
Breaking me down in places like beaches and deserts

From safe to sound
From being safe to being heard

From lost to found
From being lost to being found

And I love these extremes of you
Loving the contrasting nature of the environments

Don't wake up without dreams of you
Urging not to wake up without thinking about the contrasting environment

Here on the edge of you
Living at the intersection of the contrasting environments

Beaches and deserts where you leave me
Leaving me in contrasting environments like beaches and deserts

Beaches and deserts where you grieve me
Causing me pain in places like beaches and deserts