They recruited rapper Kermit and drummer Ged Lynch of the Manchester-based group The Ruthless Rap Assassins, plus guitarist Wags from The Paris Angels. Recording of new material started that year, although the group were not under contract. The key addition to the band was bassist and guitarist Danny Saber, who became Ryder's key musical foil.
In 1995 they signed to Radioactive Records (an imprint of major label BMG) and released their debut album, produced by Saber and Stephen Lironi. It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah immediately charted at number 1 in the UK, and spawned three Top 20 singles. According to Songfacts, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich listed it as his favorite CD of 1996.
Black Grape's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples. Ryder's lyrics seem to derive mainly from nonsense rhymes and humorous catch-phrases. The debut album received critical acclaim in Britain, riding high during the then fashionable Britpop wave but the group made little impact in the U.S..
The subsequent album, 1997's Stupid Stupid Stupid was less favoured and charted at number 11 in the UK. The group split in 1998 after Ryder fired the rest of band while touring.
The band reformed for a one-off live show, their first in over 10 years, for Get Loaded in the Dark at the Coronet, London, on April 1, 2010. Five years later, the band announced plans for a tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album. A reunion album, Pop Voodoo, was released in August 2017, although only Ryder and Kermit remained from the original lineup, with Youth handling bass, songwriting, and production duties.
Lonely
Black Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't seem like happiness will come along
I've been lonely for so long
Don't seem like happiness will come along
These ain't rain clouds over my head
Everybody's throwing rocks in my bed
Just can't seem to get ahead in life
Won't somebody help me please
'Cause I've been lonely for so long
Don't seem like happiness will come along
I've been lonely for so long
Don't seem like happiness will come along
I lay awake every night
Tryin' to figure out how to make things right
There's got to be a better way I know
To shake this monkey off 'cause he's makin' me so
Won't somebody help me please
'Cause I've been lonely for so long
Don't seem like happiness will come along
I've been lonely for so long
Don't seem like happiness will come along
Yes, I know what it feels like to be lonely
To have your friends turn their backs on you, yes I've been lonely
To never know the real meaning of peace of mind, yes
I lay awake every night
Tryin' to figure out how to make things right
There's got to be a better way I know
To shake this monkey off 'cause he's makin' me so
Won't somebody help me please
'Cause I've been lonely for so long...
The lyrics to Black Grape's “Lonely” revolve around the singer's feelings of isolation and inability to find happiness. The song starts with the singer acknowledging that they have been lonely for a long time, and despite their best efforts, they cannot seem to find relief. They feel like happiness is something that will never come their way. The line “These ain't rain clouds over my head” suggests that the singer is carrying something heavier than just the weight of a bad day and all their troubles seem to be tied to a larger issue. The metaphorical “rocks” that others are throwing in their bed represent the various struggles and obstacles that the singer is facing. They always try their best, but every effort feels pointless.
The singer expresses their desperation for help, looking for someone who can offer them a hand in their plight. They don't want to be lonely anymore and feel like there should be a way out. The second verse implies that the singer has been losing sleep over their situation, brooding on their problems before it becomes too much to bear. They wonder what they could be doing differently to improve their situation and achieve some form of peace of mind. However, they don't know what to do or how to go about it.
Overall, the song is about mental health struggles and feeling like there is no escape from the ever-present sense of loneliness. The singer seeks comfort and help, but they cannot seem to find it, illustrating the harsh reality of living with depression.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been lonely for so long
The singer has been feeling alone and isolated for an extended period of time.
Don't seem like happiness will come along
Despite the passage of time, the singer doesn't have hope for the future.
These ain't rain clouds over my head
The struggles the singer is experiencing can't be easily brushed off like bad weather.
Everybody's throwing rocks in my bed
The artist feels like everyone is against them, and their doubts and fears are causing them distress.
Just can't seem to get ahead in life
Despite trying, the artist feels like they aren't able to find success and fulfillment in life.
Ooh, nothin' I do ever turn out right
The singer feels like their efforts always fall short, leaving them feeling dejected and hopeless.
Won't somebody help me please
The singer is desperate for support and guidance, and they are reaching out for help.
I lay awake every night
The artist has trouble sleeping and is consumed by their worries and anxieties.
Tryin' to figure out how to make things right
The artist is actively seeking a solution to their problems, but hasn't found one yet.
There's got to be a better way I know
The artist is confident that there is a solution to their problems, even if they haven't found it yet.
To shake this monkey off 'cause he's makin' me so
The singer feels like they have a figurative monkey on their back that they need to shake off in order to find relief.
Yes, I know what it feels like to be lonely
The artist has personal experience with feeling lonely and knows how painful it can be.
To have your friends turn their backs on you, yes I've been lonely
The singer has experienced the pain of being abandoned by people they thought were their friends.
To never know the real meaning of peace of mind, yes
Despite their struggles, the singer hasn't given up on the hope that they will one day find meaning and contentment in their life.
Contributed by Cole K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@philgraham1538
Discribes addiction to a tee 👌🎶
@belgradedayz
🔥🔥🔥
@kevinredbadgerwalls6995
Tune
@icecoldmythos
🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
@janinepocock9328
I had better expectations. Not from subscriber but remakes period! Most originals are better