Rules Of The Game
Bucks Fizz Lyrics


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Love was your hero
Why did you let it go?
Face of the week
It was TV Times
You've got your life
And I've got mine, so you say

Fame goes to your head
Pictures above every boy's bed
You don't answer the 'phone anymore
In case it's the public
Oh, what a bore they can be!

Love is the ballet where the dancer falls
Love is the game where the loser calls
Always make sure that you know the rules of the game
The rules of the game
The rules of the game
The rules of the game

Success, it was short-lived
You begged me to forgive
The way you had acted
The way that you were
A desperate attempt to regain the love that was there

Love is the ballet where the dancer falls
Love is the game where the loser calls
Always make sure that you know the rules of the game
The rules of the game
The rules of the game
The rules of the game

When you were offered a second chance
You ran to their arms without a glance at me

Love is the ballet where the dancer falls
Love is the game where the loser calls
Always make sure that you know the rules of the game
The rules of the game




The rules of the game
The rules of the game

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bucks Fizz's song "Rules Of The Game" tell the story of a failed romance, where one person became consumed by fame and success, and let love slip away. The first verse describes the singer's former lover, who was once a hero to them, but let their love go. The second verse laments the effects of fame, where the lover becomes distant and unapproachable. The chorus emphasizes the importance of knowing the rules of love, comparing it to a ballet and a game where falling and losing are inherent. The bridge describes a moment where the singer's ex-lover had a chance to reconcile, but chose fame over love once again.


The lyrics paint a cautionary tale about the seductive nature of fame and success, and how it can come at the cost of personal relationships. It highlights the importance of balancing personal relationships with external achievements and successes, and the consequences of not doing so. Ultimately, the "rules of the game" emphasize the importance of knowing oneself and being true to one's values in all aspects of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Love was your hero
You were deeply in love with someone.


Why did you let it go?
You broke up with your love and don't understand why.


Face of the week
You were featured in a magazine as the hot person of the week.


It was TV Times
The magazine you were featured in was the TV Times.


You've got your life
You have moved on and are living your life as you see fit.


And I've got mine, so you say
The person you were in love with has also moved on and is living their life without you.


Fame goes to your head
You have become famous and it has started to affect your thinking and decision-making.


Pictures above every boy's bed
Your pictures are being put up in every boy's room.


You don't answer the 'phone anymore
You are avoiding answering phone calls, especially from the public.


In case it's the public
You are avoiding the public because they can be annoying.


Oh, what a bore they can be!
You find the public to be boring.


Love is the ballet where the dancer falls
Love is like a ballet performance where the dancer falls and gets back up again.


Love is the game where the loser calls
Love is like a game where the person who loses has to reach out to the other person.


Always make sure that you know the rules of the game
Always make sure you understand the dynamics of a romantic relationship.


The rules of the game
Understanding the dynamics of a romantic relationship.


Success, it was short-lived
Your success was only temporary and didn't last long.


You begged me to forgive
You are apologizing and begging for forgiveness.


The way you had acted
You are admitting that you acted poorly in some way.


The way that you were
You are apologizing for your behavior and actions.


A desperate attempt to regain the love that was there
You are trying everything to regain the love that you lost.


When you were offered a second chance
You were given a second chance to fix things.


You ran to their arms without a glance at me
You chose someone else over the person who gave you a second chance.




Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@pietrorusso9996

A personal favourite of mine from their entire discography, along with I Hear Talk and When We Were Young.
Such a criminally underrated and overlooked hidden gem.

@HarryYT22

One of my favourite Bucks Fizz songs ever! Shame it was a never hit! Very catchy and I love Cheryl's vocals.

@sebastianmontagu198

They were very experimental in their production. Always loved this track. My Camera Never Lies blows my mind still.

@catgirlKL

Love this song, so powerful, superb vocal from Cheryl, one of their best I think.

@cazemerto

I love this song! I’m listening to loads of Buck’s Fizz hits. Loved them as a kid!

@paulrennie2603

Production on all fizz records is fantastic - LOVE this

@jacneilsmith2988

The best one they ever did - sounds even better on vinyl!

@catgirlKL

It ismy favourite Buckd Fizz song too, very powerful.

@Retro_andy_1977

Superb song
Wish it had gone higher in the charts than it did
It deserved a lot more

@chrisbeaven6521

The first Bucks Fizz single that failed to make the UK top 40 charts at the end of 1983 but still think it was one of their best productions.

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