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.
These Boots Are Made for Walking
Barry Adamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something you call love but confess
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
And now someone else is getting all your best
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt,hah
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches, yeah
And what he knows you ain't have time to learn
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
Are you ready, boots?
Start walkin'
Barry Adamson's cover of Nancy Sinatra's hit song "These Boots Are Made for Walking" is an ironic and defiant anthem for any woman who has been wronged by a man. In the opening verse, the singer calls out the man's deception, claiming that he has been unfaithful ("You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'") and that someone else is benefitting from his lies ("now someone else is getting all your best"). The singer then asserts her power by declaring that her boots, made for walking, will eventually "walk all over" him as a consequence of his wrongdoing.
The second verse continues in the same vein, with the singer calling out the man's dishonesty and poor decision making. She asserts that he has been on the wrong path ("You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'"), but that her boots will eventually lead her away from him. The final verse takes a more aggressive approach, with the singer declaring that she has "found me a brand new box of matches," implying that she is ready to take action against the man who has wronged her. The song ends with a final call to action, as the singer asks her boots if they are ready to start walking.
Overall, "These Boots Are Made for Walking" is a powerful anthem of female empowerment and resistance, with the singer refusing to be victimized by a man's lies and deceit. The song is an enduring classic, and Barry Adamson's cover of it adds a layer of grit and defiance to the already powerful lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
You keep saying you got something for me
You often claim to have something that you will give to me.
Something you call love but confess
You assert to have love for me, but acknowledge it may be something else.
You've been a'messin' where you shouldn't 've been a'messin'
You have been meddling with affairs that don't concern you.
And now someone else is getting all your best
Your best attention and care is being given to someone else now.
Well, these boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
These boots that I have were manufactured for walking, and that's what they'll do.
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
Someday soon, I'm going to use these boots to metaphorically trample you.
You keep lyin' when you oughta be truthin'
You are keeping lies instead of telling the truth.
You keep losing when you oughta not bet
You keep losing in situations where you should have avoided risks.
You keep samin' when you oughta be a'changin'
You're insisting on staying the same when you should be changing something about yourself.
What's right is right but you ain't been right yet
You've been doing the things that are wrong, and you've not done what's right yet.
These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
These boots were designed to move from one place to another, and I'm going to use them for that purpose.
One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you
One day, I will use these boots to dominate you completely.
You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
You keep engaging in activities that are not appropriate for you.
And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt,hah
You believe that you will never get into trouble, but I know that's not true.
Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches, yeah
I've just discovered a new way to fight back.
And what he knows you ain't have time to learn
You don't have enough time to learn the information that my ally already knows.
Are you ready, boots?
I'm now ready to use my boots for their intended purpose.
Start walkin'
Let's begin our journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE HAZLEWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BarryAdamsonMusic
R.I.P Anita. Love you.
@greendragon9919
❤
@ritahorvath8207
Fly high, Anita. You will be dearly missed. 🖤
@lornai7171
RIP Anita.
@jackevans3480
R.I.P wonderful Anita xxx.
@marchoebel3474
RIP Anita....Thanks for Inspiration and your Music.....Love Marc from Germany.....❤💯😪🙏
@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws
Poor thing thats Young...RIP babygirl!♥️
@minhthunguyendang9900
On 1st watching I thought the baby a dummy !
@maurrod
Thank you Anita! Walk to eternity ❤️❤️❤️
@kmdionis
Thank you for this, @Barry Adamson! I love Anita Lane's work--her collaborations and her albums. She co-wrote some of my favorite Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds songs. I always hoped to hear more from her. Few artists from my time wrote such curious and poetic lyrics and were so cool and intelligent and glamorous--in a way that felt new and necessary. The 1st time I heard her, I was like... Finally an artist whose sensibility I can relate to. I hope she's in a peaceful place. Thank you, Anita Lane. 💗