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.
Swing The Heartache
Bauhaus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lipstick stained on whipcream lies
I feel that if I had been uglier
It would have been easier
There it sat, blinked and spat
In a black feather hat
And said "the rat"
But she wants to be a better singer
Swing the Heartache
Just for her sake
But she wants to be a better singer
Swing the Heartache
Just for her sake
The lyrics of Bauhaus's "Swing The Heartache" paint a picture of a woman who is struggling with her identity and trying to find success. The lines "Out of her mouth it came as no surprise/Lipstick stained on whipcream lies" suggest that the woman is using her appearance and charm to get ahead, rather than her talent. The singer then reflects on the idea that if he had been less attractive, he might have had an easier time achieving success - a commentary on the superficial nature of the music industry.
The second stanza continues with the idea of success being linked to appearance, with the reference to a rat in a black feather hat - an image that conjures thoughts of someone who is able to manipulate their look to gain acceptance. The singer then acknowledges that he has achieved some level of success, but it is not enough for the woman he is addressing. She wants to be a better singer - something that cannot be achieved through appearance alone. The chorus provides the answer - to "Swing the Heartache" - to invest deeply in the emotion behind the music.
Overall, the lyrics deal with the idea that success is often shallowly linked to appearance, but true artistry requires more. The singer observes this in the woman he is addressing, who is struggling to find her voice amidst the pressures of the industry. The solution, as proposed by the chorus, is to invest in the emotional connection to the music, rather than just the superficial trappings of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Out of her mouth it came as no surprise
Her words did not shock me
Lipstick stained on whipcream lies
Deceitful words covered in sweet talk
I feel that if I had been uglier
I believe it would have been easier if I was less attractive
It would have been easier
Life would have been simpler
There it sat, blinked and spat
The object was still and suddenly made a noise
In a black feather hat
Wearing a distinctive article of clothing
And said "the rat"
Made the statement "the rat"
I now possess quasi success
I have almost achieved success
But she wants to be a better singer
She desires to improve her singing abilities
Swing the Heartache
Endure the hardships
Just for her sake
Only for her benefit
But she wants to be a better singer
She desires to improve her singing abilities
Swing the Heartache
Endure the hardships
Just for her sake
Only for her benefit
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, KEVIN HASKINS, DAVID JAY, PETER JOHN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A Mc
Ash’s guitar on this is, once again, that otherworldly song all its own.
midnightmosesuk
This is the sound of alienation, pain and anger. This is the sound of self doubt and loathing being driven into your skin like a poisoned tattoo needle. This is a deeper level of self understanding. This is Bauhaus.
DurbanNiks101
Whooa maaan. So profound but so true my man.
Stjepan Vorkapić
How many tattoos you have?
Lee Jarvis
Brave, brave music. Nothing commercial here. Just bold self expression and poetry in its purist experimental form. What Bauhaus have always done best..Miss this..
Jason Collins
One of those songs that pushed the limits of my sonic experience as a teenager. 17 and in love with Bauhaus: it never got any better than that.
Vincent Atkins
One of my favourite recorded guitar performances. I don't how Daniel Ash came up with this stuff!!!
R
By far the best band
abalancedact
Bauhaus FOREVER!!! Just amazing stuff!
Audrey Hunter
this band got me through my early teens I love them