Julianne Regan, a former journalist, played bass for the popular rock group Gene Loves Jezebel for a little while. The initial core of All About Eve was Regan, guitarist Tim Bricheno, and bassist Andy Cousin from Aemotti Crii. As a three-piece (plus a drum machine), they released a series of independent singles starting from 1984 including "D For Desire", "In The Clouds" and "Flowers In Our Hair". After Julianne sang backing vocals for The Mission's God's Own Medicine album, the band received greater attention and were signed to Phonogram. Drummer Mark Price was added around this time.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 1988 and produced the UK hit single Martha's Harbour. Drawing much of its lyrical material from hippie ideals, white magic and dreamlike fairy tales, the album's gentle folk rock-inspired pop sound won the band many fans (nicknamed "angels"). Although often falsely lumped by the media under the label of goth rock, little (if any) such inspiration actually played a part in the band's music after around 1986, any "goth" connection being drawn not from the music, but from the previous and future engagements of the band members in the musical scene of the time.
In a well known incident, the band later performed a dubbed version of Martha's Harbour on the BBC1 television show Top Of The Pops, but, owing to a studio technical error, the taped vocals were broadcast without the band being able to hear them, resulting in the TV audience hearing the recorded version of the song, while the band members sat motionless on screen waiting for their cue to begin. By way of compensation the band were invited back on to the show the following week, and this time their performance passed off smoothly.
The following year, their second album Scarlet And Other Stories was released, and the band toured around the UK. Widely prevalent on this album were Regan's somber, highly melancholic moods. Painful chance encounters with love also appeared on the lyrical front, and it is this motif (and period of time) which was to greatly paint the picture for the future of the band as well.
In 1990, Bricheno left the group (later to join The Sisters Of Mercy for their Vision Thing era, and subsequent bands XC-NN and Tin Star) to be swiftly replaced by The Church's Marty Willson-Piper. They went on to record Touched By Jesus in 1991 (which featured David Gilmour of Pink Floyd on guitar on two tracks), before changing record companies and taking a dramatic stylistic change by releasing Ultraviolet the year after.
Going an altogether different way to their previous release, Ultraviolet mellowed the band's sound greatly, revisiting Scarlet's general sorrowful feel with a heavy inspiration from the shoegazing movement and psychedelia to turn the Eve signature sound ever colder, with much downplayed vocals. The album, released by MCA Records was not well supported by the record company, considering the change to be for the worse, and the band subsequently went their separate ways. MCA, shedding no tears, promptly deleted the album from their catalogue. Although the band continued for a couple more months without Regan's input, they disbanded in early 1993, with the album they had been working on at the time eventually seeing the light of day under the group name Seeing Stars.
Regan went on to form Mice and to work with Bernard Butler, but an album with the latter never came to fruition due to personality clashes. Though often quoted that Julianne thought Butler to be "Satan", this quote is in fact not true. Later on, she also teamed up with her old Gene Loves Jezebel acquaintance Jean-Marc Lederman in the highly atmospheric Jules et Jim project (a collaboration which continues to this day).
In 1999, old friends The Mission reformed after a short break and started touring. They invited Regan to open for them, and their offer was accepted, starting the second era of the band. Soon after the tour the newly-reformed (Regan, Willson-Piper & Cousin) All About Eve toured for two years, releasing Fairy Light Nights, an acoustic live collection in 2000, with Volume 2 following in 2001, and later followed by two more live albums Live And Electric At The Union Chapel and Cinemasonic (the latter of which was also released as a DVD). A collection of early recordings was also released, entitled Return To Eden, Volume 1 (no second volume has yet appeared).
In 2002, Willson-Piper left the band to pursue other projects, to be replaced by new guitarist Toni Haimi, previously of the band Malluka and now in the Sohodolls. Also in 2002, Julianne and Andy released their first studio recordings in a decade, with the EP Iceland – a collection of "winter songs", including reworkings of previous fan-favourite December and cover versions of Wham!'s "Last Christmas", Queen's "A Winter's Tale", and a minimalist electronic take on the popular song from the animated short The Snowman, "Walking In The Air".
In mid-2004, just after the release of their first single in a decade, "Let Me Go Home", the band split once again. Regan is currently working on projects including an album with Jean-Marc Lederman (in a long-awaited follow-up to the first Jules et Jim album), as well as collaborating with Norwegian songwriters GKraft, and a possible solo album. The nearly-completed Eve studio album that was being worked on remains unreleased, although Regan and Cousin may possibly be dusting off the recordings to finish them in the near future. A double CD collection entitled Keepsakes, consisting of the singles, key album tracks and previously unreleased rarities, as well as some newly recorded songs, was released early March 2006 and will initially be available with a DVD of promo videos and TV appearances.
Are You Lonely
All About Eve Lyrics
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On Sunday afternoon
In your loveless house
Full of empty rooms
Once a place of life
Once upon a time
Flames are dying out
Crossing on the stair
Asleep in empty chairs
Tell me... are you lonely ?
And if we believe wisdom comes with years
As knowledge stings our eyes
The easier the tears
Cradled in the sadness, a heart that ever aches
I'm praying with all mine
I won't make the same mistakes
Are the dark seeds there
In the blood we share
Tell me... are you lonely ?
While love lives, while suns set
While snow moons rise in November skies
While ties bind while souls cry
While oceans ride in an endless tide
While love grows, while blood flows
While truth is real you need never feel alone
What seems to hurt the most
Is giving up the ghost
So tell me... are you lonely ?
The lyrics of All About Eve's 'Are You Lonely?' depict a scene of a desolate, loveless home with empty rooms, echoes of ghosts and the absence of life that once was present. The song presents an emotional tone of searching for companionship and addressing a feeling of loneliness. The lyrics question the listener's disposition and whether they also share the same sense of isolation. The line "Do you feel so small" sets the tone to a much deeper level that touches on the singer's state of mind. It creates an ambiance of inward reflection, where the singer invites listeners to join her in a state of solidarity to ponder the inevitable shortcomings of life.
The chorus "Tell me, are you lonely?" portrays a sense of desperation and a need to connect, indicating the singer is ready to offer some solace to the person she is conversing with, urging them to be open and genuine with their response. The song's second verse talks about the wisdom that comes with age and how it should bring enlightenment and a sense of understanding. However, the reality of growing old is accompanied by a string of emotions, and the easier it becomes to shed tears at emotionally charged moments. The song urges listeners to embrace the sadness that often comes with life.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you feel so small
Do you experience a sense of insignificance or helplessness?
On Sunday afternoon
During a time when people tend to relax and possibly reflect on their lives.
In your loveless house
In a dwelling that lacks emotional warmth, care, or affection.
Full of empty rooms
Containing spacious areas- unfrequented, unused, void of substance or life.
Once a place of life
The dwelling was once animated- people occupied, shared meals, laughter, and emotions in the same space.
Once upon a time
When there was a life in the house and it felt like a fairytale.
Flames are dying out
The passion or love that ignited the house's life is fading away.
While ghosts move in
As people leave, memories become ghosts and fill the empty rooms.
Crossing on the stair
A reference to a spirit or a phantom wandering in the stairs often depicted in horror films.
Asleep in empty chairs
Empty chairs symbolize people who used to occupy them and now rest with their memories.
Tell me... are you lonely ?
A direct question intended to start a conversation between two persons about loneliness.
And if we believe wisdom comes with years
A proposition whether it is true that the older we become, the wiser we be.
As knowledge stings our eyes
Acquiring knowledge is hard work that can be painful and challenging to one's comfort.
The easier the tears
The easier it becomes for a person to cry as one understands more of the world's complexities.
Cradled in the sadness, a heart that ever aches
A distressed heart that never stops throbbing in pain.
I'm praying with all mine
A way to tell someone that you're hoping/praying for them.
I won't make the same mistakes
To reiterate that someone has learned from experiences and won't repeat the same errors.
Are the dark seeds there
Whether a sombre, evil, or tragic condition is present and concealed.
In the blood we share
Shared by family members or people who share similar backgrounds.
While love lives, while suns set
Love is eternal, and the sunsets beautifully regardless of age or position in life.
While snow moons rise in November skies
The beauty of nature and the cycles of life continue to amaze, surprise, and inspire people.
While ties bind while souls cry
People remain connected despite facing ordeals and experiencing pain.
While oceans ride in an endless tide
The seemingly infinite cycle of life, death, and rebirth symbolized by the ocean's tides.
While love grows, while blood flows
Love will always flourish as long as people are alive and healthy.
While truth is real you need never feel alone
When a person is honest about their genuine feelings or problems, they will find support.
What seems to hurt the most
A statement that emphasizes an intense sense of pain.
Is giving up the ghost
Refers to death or letting go of something that has died.
So tell me... are you lonely ?
A repeated question intended to initiate a conversation regarding loneliness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY COUSIN, JULIANNE REGAN, MARK PRICE, MARTY WILSON-PIPER, WARNE LIVESEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind