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.
Whispering Streets
Barry Adamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is that the sound of sirens can you taste the heat?
I hit retaliate
When they got to me
And when I woke up a smelt disdain
I was nailed to the floor and thirsty for more
Cos the pain that nothin's changed
I don't even know how the gun got in my hand
Five bullets five names and a contract worth five hundred grand
My only apology is for what I have never done
Five bullets five names and my head swinging hight in the noon day son
Need some loving' gonna go get me some
And shine my pretty light on everyone
But I hit retaliate
When they got to me
And then I woke in a scary bed
The twist of fate you'll never escape?
Well the worst neighborhood is the one right inside of your head
I don't even know how the gun got in my hand
Five bullets five names and a contract worth five hundred grand
In a world full of nothing don't try to understand
Five bullets five names and a contract worth five hundred grand
Yeah
I don't even know how the gun got in my hand
Five bullets five names and a contract worth five hundred grand
My only apology is for what I have never done
Five bullets five names and my head swinging hight in the noon day son
Welcome to the ghetto
The lyrics to Barry Adamson's song "Whispering Streets" paint a vivid picture of a gritty urban landscape where danger is never far away. The opening lines describe a night that is filled with the ominous sound of sirens and the palpable sense of heat in the air. The singer is clearly on edge as he describes hitting back against those who have come after him, only to wake up feeling resentful and thirsty for more. The pain of this experience, and the sense that nothing ever changes, is driving him insane.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that he has unwittingly become a hitman for hire, with a contract worth five hundred grand. He has already killed five people, although he's not entirely sure how he ended up holding the gun in the first place. He feels no real remorse for the lives he's taken, but does express a sense of futility about a world that is "full of nothing." In the end, he returns to the idea of seeking love, but it's unclear whether this is a genuine desire or simply another form of escape.
Overall, "Whispering Streets" is a bleak reflection on the harsh realities of life in a tough urban environment. The song is full of vivid imagery and a sense of unease that never really lets up. It's a powerful reminder of the struggles that many people face every day, and the difficult choices that they sometimes must make just to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Night comes howling down a whispering street
The darkness envelops the silent pathway, with the possibility of danger lurking nearby.
Is that the sound of sirens can you taste the heat?
Are emergency vehicles rushing towards a nearby incident? Can you sense the tension and urgency in the air?
I hit retaliate, when they got to me
I fought back when I was attacked by someone, possibly in self-defense.
And when I woke up a smelt disdain, I was nailed to the floor and thirsty for more, cos the pain that nothin's changed drives a man insane
Upon waking up, I felt defeated and full of contempt. Despite being physically restrained, I still long for revenge, as the pain and misery of my situation has only made me crazier.
I don't even know how the gun got in my hand, five bullets five names and a contract worth five hundred grand
I have no recollection of possessing a firearm, but somehow I ended up with one, along with specific targets to hit in exchange for a large sum of money.
My only apology is for what I have never done, five bullets, five names, and my head swinging high in the noon day sun
I have regrets for actions I have not taken, but now I am doomed to suffer the consequences of my violent activities, with my head potentially placed on a noose.
Need some loving' gonna go get me some, and shine my pretty light on everyone
I crave affection and attention, so I will seek it out and provide my radiance to all those around me.
And then I woke in a scary bed, the twist of fate you'll never escape? Well the worst neighborhood is the one right inside of your head
I became conscious in a frightening and unfamiliar location, pondering whether my dismal circumstances can be reversed. But regardless of my surroundings, my own thoughts and emotions can be just as harmful and challenging as any external environment.
In a world full of nothing don't try to understand, five bullets five names and a contract worth five hundred grand
In a meaningless and chaotic world, there may be no point in trying to comprehend the motives behind my actions. All that matters is that I have agreed to a dangerous arrangement that involves killing five people for a substantial sum of money.
Welcome to the ghetto
This phrase serves as a declaration of the harsh reality and struggles of living in a low-income or dangerous urban area, which may be where the artist resides.
Contributed by Aaliyah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.