Adamson left school and shifted into graphic design attending Stockport Art College[3] but quit shortly after, favouring to venture into the exploding punk rock scene of the late 1970s. He joined ex-Buzzcocks singer Howard Devoto's band Magazine, playing bass guitar, scoring one chart single, "Shot by Both Sides"; in late 1977, he also joined Buzzcocks, as a short-time replacement of Garth Smith. He played on all of Magazine's albums, and contributed to Devoto's solo album and his next band, Luxuria. He also contributed to the studio-based band Visage, playing on the ensemble's first two albums, Visage and The Anvil.
After Magazine broke up, Adamson worked with another ex-Buzzcock, Pete Shelley, before joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He appeared on five of that band's albums: From Her to Eternity; The Firstborn Is Dead; Kicking Against the Pricks; Your Funeral, My Trial; and Tender Prey. After his stint in the band, he went solo, releasing an EP, The Man with the Golden Arm in 1988, and his first solo album, Moss Side Story, the following year, the soundtrack to a non-existent film noir.[4] The album incorporated newscasts and sampled sound effects and featured guest musicians Marcia Schofield (of The Fall), Diamanda Galas, Roland S. Howard, and former colleagues from the Bad Seeds.[4] Adamson's second solo album was the soundtrack to a real film this time - Carl Colpaert's Delusion, and he would go on to provide sountracks for several other films.[4]
Adamson's third album, Soul Murder, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1992.[4][5]
His solo work is influenced by John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Ennio Morricone. Later works have included jazz, electronica, soul, funk, and dub styles.
In 2002, Adamson left his long-term label, Mute Records, and started his own 'production home', Central Control International. In 2006, he released Stranger on the Sofa, first for his Central Control International imprint, to critical acclaim. Back To The Cat, his second album for the label, was released in March 2008.[1]
In 2007 it was announced that Magazine would reform for concerts in 2008. Adamson will be part of this and the same line up that recorded Secondhand Daylight will reform, with the exception of the late John McGeoch. McGeoch will be replaced by Luxuria/Apollo 440 member Noko.
Goddess Of Love
Barry Adamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I hit a red light I'm gonna lose my head
Slip into fifth and crank it up
Now that push has come to shove
The lyrics of Barry Adamson's song "Goddess Of Love" portray a sense of frustration and urgency that the singer is feeling. The opening verse paints the picture of the singer stuck in traffic with a dead cell phone, adding to his frustration. The line "If I hit a red light I'm gonna lose my head" shows the desperation of the singer to get somewhere. The following lines "Slip into fifth and crank it up, Now that push has come to shove" imply that the singer feels the need to take action and has reached a point of no return in his situation.
The chorus of the song, "The Goddess of Love is coming, But not for me" repeats several times and suggests that the singer holds a sense of yearning for something that is out of his reach. The lyrics convey the idea that the singer's pursuit of love is fruitless, but he can't help but hope.
Overall, the song showcases the universal theme of wanting something but not being able to have it. The feeling of frustration and even desperation that is present in the song's lyrics make it a relatable piece for anyone who has experienced unrequited love or desires that seem to be perpetually out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh God this cell phone's dead
My cell phone has lost power and I am unable to communicate or use its features
If I hit a red light I'm gonna lose my head
I am in a state of great agitation worrying that I will be delayed by traffic lights
Slip into fifth and crank it up
I will switch my car into the fifth gear and adjust the sound system to a high volume for an exhilarating experience
Now that push has come to shove
I must take decisive action now that the situation is becoming critical
Contributed by Jake S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.