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.
That Fool Was Me
Barry Adamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
without a mama's arms to hold him tightly,
chilled to the bone
and knowing there'll
never be no place I can call my own
and you came my way.
Like a summer's day
you warm the very cockles of my soul.
but totally blind to what makes a man stand tall.
Please don't need me to be untrue
`cause when you do I feel blue.
Please don't feed me the way you do
`cause, mama, I'll be bigger than you.
Everybody get out my way,
I got something to say.
You take your time and you blow my mind.
There's something about you, baby,
and they all agree.
There I go, I sing it sweet and low,
only a fool would leave you
and that fool was me.
In every hope there's a heartache baby
rising from the broken mind that can't let go,
but then there's a rise,
potentially
someone that I would give until I die.
What can you do? The damage is done,
sticking out like a sore thumb.
It's time to move on
when I take the train whose destination
is dysfunction junction.
Please don't need me to be untrue
`cause when you do I feel blue.
Please don't feed me the way you do
`cause, mama, I'll be bigger than you.
Everybody get out my way,
I got something to say.
You take your time and you blow my mind.
There's something about you, baby,
and they all agree.
But there I go, I sing it sweet and low,
only a fool would leave you
and that fool was me.
That fool was me.
We're finally free.
The song "That Fool Was Me" by Barry Adamson showcases themes of vulnerability, self-growth, and introspection through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors. The first stanza sets the tone as the singer expresses feeling like a newborn babe without a mother's arms to hold him tightly. The idea of being cold and without a home is a poetic way to show the singer's sense of detachment and disorientation. However, the arrival of another person, whom the singer likens to a warm summer day, brings comfort and joy. Despite this, the singer admits to being blind to what makes a man stand tall.
The chorus reinforces the singer's fear of being compromised or engulfed by the relationship as they plead with the partner not to need him to be untrue or feed him the way they do. They reassure their intentions of growing emotionally beyond their partner, and as a result, the lyrics exude a somber confidence rather than a sense of superiority. The second stanza is mired in melancholy as the singer acknowledges the hope and heartache that comes with gaining emotional depth. Still, they express hope in finding someone who they will give until they die. However, they also express the damage that has already been done and the difficulty in moving on, likening it to a train destined for dysfunction junction.
Overall, the song is a beautiful exploration of the intense emotions that come with growing in a relationship, the fear that comes with being vulnerable, and the eventual triumph that comes with healing and growth
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I feel like a newborn babe
without a mama's arms to hold him tightly,
chilled to the bone
and knowing there'll
never be no place I can call my own
and you came my way.
Feeling lost and helpless, with no one to rely on or any sense of belonging, until you entered my life.
Like a summer's day
you warm the very cockles of my soul.
You bring comfort and happiness to me, like a warm summer day.
Squeaky and clean
but totally blind to what makes a man stand tall.
Innocent and pure, yet unaware of what it truly takes to be a strong and confident individual.
Please don't need me to be untrue
`cause when you do I feel blue.
It hurts me to have to pretend to be someone I'm not, just to please you.
Please don't feed me the way you do
`cause, mama, I'll be bigger than you.
Don't try to control and manipulate me, or I'll eventually surpass you and your ways.
Everybody get out my way,
I got something to say.
I have an important message to share, so don't stand in my way.
You take your time and you blow my mind.
There's something about you, baby,
and they all agree.
You have a way of captivating me and others around you, leaving a lasting impression.
There I go, I sing it sweet and low,
only a fool would leave you
and that fool was me.
I sing about how foolish I was to have left you, realizing how valuable and meaningful you are to me.
In every hope there's a heartache baby
rising from the broken mind that can't let go,
but then there's a rise,
potentially
someone that I would give until I die.
Every time I hope for something better, I'm reminded of the pain of past disappointments, but I keep rising and hoping for someone like you, who is worth giving everything for.
What can you do? The damage is done,
sticking out like a sore thumb.
It's time to move on
when I take the train whose destination
is dysfunction junction.
I acknowledge the harm that has been done, which is obvious and painful, but it's time to leave behind the negativity and take a new path towards healing and growth.
That fool was me.
We're finally free.
Realizing my foolish mistakes has led to a sense of freedom and liberation, as I move towards a better future with you.
Contributed by Victoria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.