Bauhaus first broke up in 1983. Peter Murphy began a solo career while the other members continued as Tones on Tail and later as Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had, but disappeared from the charts in their homeland. The band reunited for a 1998 tour and on a more permanent basis in 2005. The group announced plans to disband again following the release of their final album Go Away White in 2008.
The release of Go Away White signaled the end of the band and there was no supporting tour. Drummer Kevin Haskins said in an interview that they “were getting along really well, but there was an incident that occurred.” As a result, “some of us just felt that we didn’t want to carry on as a working unit.” In an interview with SuicideGirls, bassist David J said about the breakup: “You have a test tube, and you pour in one chemical, and you pour in another chemical, and something happens. It starts to bubble. Pour in another chemical, and it starts to bubble a bit more. You pour in a fourth chemical, and it bubbles really violently, and then explodes. That’s my answer.” Peter Murphy claimed in another interview that he “he was most satisfied with the bonding on an emotional level. It was good to be working together and to put the past behind us and it was very positive. The result was coming out really fast, so it was exciting and it was very enjoyable,” but in the end “That rocky character worked and I think it was a bit right to finish it, really.”
Murphy also stated in his MySpace blog that “there’s a lot more to it than this ‘incident’ that I’ve heard bandied about. In any group’s business there are constant incidents, so what? Committing to being in a band takes tolerance, love, and a massive commitment. I’ve walked on that stage at times when I could emotionally barely manage to and give it all just the same. If I’d let some disagreement or bad word distract me from that goal, then I’d need to question my integrity. Anton Corbijn once related to me how Bono of U2 talked about one of the reasons that U2 had survived was that they’re unlike many English bands; there was a kinship and priority given to each other as family. I personally sympathize with that. ‘There is no love where there is no Love.’”
A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab.
(2) Bauhaus was also the name of an Italian jazz rock band. They made recordings in 1974 but they weren’t released until almost thirty years later.
Small Talk Stinks
Bauhaus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Small talk stinks
Small talk stinks
Small talk stinks
See the young man in his new gown
Talking up to his bouffant drag
He say he loves you with flowers
Something that he's never had
Quick with a sting in its tail
String me a line that has meaning and depth
There's no small talk with walky talkies
Small talk stinks
I said it stinks
Small talk stinks
Small talk stinks
You whisper sweet nothings chit-chat back-chat
There's no idle gossip in braille
Taking combs three times a day
Twice an hour
Identikit cute lips from wall to wall
Stand in line for the photo call
See the young man in his new gown
Talking up to his bouffant drag
Small talk stinks
Small talk stinks
Small talk stinks
Small talk stinks
The lyrics to Bauhaus' "Small Talk Stinks" are a commentary on the emptiness of social conventions and the superficial nature of communication. The song explores the idea that small talk serves no real purpose and only serves to create a facade of friendliness and familiarity. The message is supported by the repetition of the phrase "small talk stinks", which emphasizes the idea that this type of communication is worthless and unpleasant.
The song focuses on a young man who is trying to impress someone by using flowers to express his love, despite never having had the experience before. This situation is presented as an example of the emptiness of social conventions - the young man is performing an expected gesture rather than expressing genuine emotions. The sentiment is emphasized by the line, "string me a line that has meaning and depth" which calls for genuine communication rather than meaningless small talk. The song also touches on the idea that physical appearance is more important than words, as the young man is described as wearing a new gown and bouffant drag while engaging in empty conversation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Small Talk Stinks" are a criticism of societal norms and the hollow communication that often takes place within them. The song paints a picture of a society where appearance and social conventions are prioritized over genuine connections between people.
Line by Line Meaning
Small talk stinks
Idle chatter is unpleasant
Small talk stinks
Again emphasizing the unpleasantness of small talk
Small talk stinks
Once more for good measure: small talk is undesirable
Small talk stinks
Repeating the phrase to really drive it home
See the young man in his new gown
Observing a man in fancy clothing
Talking up to his bouffant drag
Putting on an affected, exaggerated voice
He say he loves you with flowers
This man claims to love with grand gestures
Something that he's never had
Implying that this man has never actually experienced love
A sentence should be like a serpent
A good sentence is sharp and to the point
Quick with a sting in its tail
It should have a biting or impactful final word
String me a line that has meaning and depth
Requesting thoughtful, substantive conversation
There's no small talk with walky talkies
Walkie talkies are efficient and avoid pointless chat
Small talk stinks
Reiterating the initial sentiment
I said it stinks
Affirming the negative feeling toward small talk
Small talk stinks
Emphasizing the aversion once more
You whisper sweet nothings chit-chat back-chat
Calling out meaningless, insincere talk
There's no idle gossip in braille
Sarcasm indicating that trivial talk is pointless, even for those who can't see
Taking combs three times a day
Obsessing over trivial details
Twice an hour
Even more frequent than the previous line - an exaggeration
Identikit cute lips from wall to wall
Mocking homogenized, generic beauty standards
Stand in line for the photo call
Highlighting the superficiality of image capture
Small talk stinks
Concluding on the opening thought - that small talk is unpleasant
Small talk stinks
Repeating once more, as a final statement
Small talk stinks
Final confirmation of the idea that small talk is highly undesirable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, KEVIN HASKINS, PETER JOHN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind