Book Of Love are a synthpop group that was formed in Philadelphia in 1984 b… Read Full Bio ↴Book Of Love are a synthpop group that was formed in Philadelphia in 1984 by art school students Ted Ottaviano, Susan Ottaviano, Jade Lee, and Lauren Roselli. Although Ted and Susan share the same last name, they are not related to each another. The group is best known for its songs "Boy" and "I Touch Roses", both of which were Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charting hits, as well as "Sunny Day", which prominently appeared in the horror/thriller film 'The Silence of the Lambs' (band member Lauren Roselli also appeared in the movie).

They additionally have had several other dance-inspired tunes throughout the 80s and early 90s that gained underground popularity. Other examples of their songs include 1986's "You Make Me Feel So Good" and "Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)" as well as 1991's "Alice Everyday" and 1992's "Flower in My Hand". The group's new wave sound has showed a debt to eccentric art rock as well as electronic music artists of the early 80s. For example, their remix of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells (Theme From the Exorcist)" was another number one smash for them.

Book of Love came to an end in 1993, with the group being dormant for some time. A best-of collection titled 'I Touch Roses: The Best of Book Of Love' came out in 2001. Receiving some critical praise, with Allmusic's Michael Gallucci labeling it as having "spare synth-pop and sunny melodies", a new Peter Rauhofer remix of "Boy" successfully hit the dance charts and brought the group back into the spotlight. They're toured occasionally since then. Ted and Lauren have also released music recently with a new project called The Myrmidons. Ted has done production work for NYC-based duo Dangerous Muse as well.

Sea of Tranquility
Book Of Love Lyrics

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I'm seeing stars
Up in the air
My head in the clouds
Imagining you there
I know the place
I would like for us to be
Floating along
In peace and serenity

In the sea of tranquility
Not even you
Could ruin my perfect day
But it wasn't perfect
Without you anyway
I'm seeing stars
Up in the sky
Making a wish
As you drift by

In the sea of tranquility
Seeing stars
Whenever you're around
High hopes
Keep my feet off of the ground
But the sky is falling
And I don't know what to think
Sailing on the ocean
In a ship that's gonna sink

In the sea of tranquility

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Book of Love's song "Sea of Tranquility" describe an idyllic location of peace and serenity where the singer imagines being with someone special. The opening lines evoke a sense of stargazing and daydreaming - a state of being lost in thought while observing the vast expanse of the sky. The singer's thoughts turn to the person they long to be with, and they reflect that being together in this distant, tranquil location would be perfect.

The chorus of the song reiterates the idea of the sea of tranquility being a sanctuary from the frustrations and imperfections of daily life. The singer imagines that not even the person they desire could ruin their perfect day if they were together in this idyllic place. However, the singer acknowledges that the day wasn't perfect without the person they long for, indicating that their presence is an essential part of the singer's happiness.

In the final verse, the song takes a darker turn. The images of the sky falling and a sinking ship contrast sharply with the initial vision of peaceful floating. It's as if the singer recognizes that their daydreams are not a permanent refuge from reality, and the promise of escape and joy is ultimately fleeting. The overall effect is of longing and desire, tempered by a sense of impermanence and the inevitability of disillusionment.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm seeing stars
I'm overwhelmed with feelings of admiration and infatuation

Up in the air
I'm flying high emotionally

My head in the clouds
I'm lost in a dreamlike state of mind

Imagining you there
My thoughts are consumed with thoughts of you

I know the place
I envision a special location for us to be together

I would like for us to be
I desire to share this special moment with you

Floating along
I want us to be free and at peace

In peace and serenity
I want to experience pure relaxation and calmness

In the sea of tranquility
Metaphorically speaking, I want to be in a place of peace and calmness

Not even you
Even if you tried

Could ruin my perfect day
I'm having a great day and nothing can bring me down