The band comprised of Andrew Sherriff (guitar/vocals), Stephen Patman (guitar/vocals), Simon Rowe (guitar), Jon Curtis (bass) and Ashley Bates (drums).
Chapterhouse took the unusual step of rehearsing and gigging for well over a year before recording even a demo tape. They were initially lumped in with the British acid rock scene, a mistake hardly rectified by the band's early performances supporting the rather laid-back Spacemen 3. Chapterhouse eventually escaped from that genre only to find themselves thrust amongst the shoegaze groups of 1991 (with the likes of Lush, Ride, Moose and Slowdive), so called because of the bands' static live shows and insular music.
Bassist Jon Curtis left early on to study, being replaced by Russell Barrett, who also fronted his own garage band, the Bikinis. Chapterhouse eventually signed to the newly formed Dedicated label, releasing a series of lavishly acclaimed singles, including Pearl, which reached the UK Top 75, and which revelled in distorted melodies and attracted a healthy following.
Their first LP Whirlpool, released in 1991, has been cited as one of the genre's high points, but failed to capture a wider market. In the same year, Chapterhouse also appeared to muted reaction at Reading Festival immediately following Nirvana's UK debut, an event which was seen to sound the death knell for shoegazing.
Blood Music, stylistically different, was released in 1993. Two singles from this album, She's a Vision and We Are the Beautiful, were relatively successful, but the album was withdrawn due to a sample-related lawsuit. Global Communication reworked Blood Music for their album Pentamerous Metamorphosis. Spooky remixed We Are Beautiful: We Are the Beautiful (Spooky's Ugly as Sin mix) / We Are the Beautiful (Spooky's Extravaganja dub mix).
The band split in 1994 and released no further new material other than a double CD in 1996 called Rownderbout, compiling their singles, various B-sides, rarities and unreleased demos. Sherriff went on to form Bio.com, Bates formed Cuba and Rowe went on to play guitar for Mojave 3.
The music of Chapterhouse was mostly out of print on CD until March 2006, when Cherry Red Records reissued the album Whirlpool with bonus tracks, and for the first time, lyrics.
The band played a version of Love Forever with Ulrich Schnauss on the Barn Stage at the 2008 edition of Truck Festival. In response to requests over the years, Chapterhouse played live at Club AC30's Reverence show at the ICA on 26 November 2009 along with Ulrich Schnauss and Kirsty Hawkshaw.
This was preceded on 23 November by a warm up show at the Luminaire in Kilburn. The band also played at The Scala in London on 18 March 2010, and undertook short tours of Japan in April 2010 and North America in May 2010. The North American tour had to be postponed due to the Icelandic ash cloud cancelling flights, stranding Patman in Japan. Chapterhouse rescheduled the North American tour for September and October 2010.
The band has yet to continue touring beyond 2010.
If You Want Me
Chapterhouse Lyrics
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I can follow you
And if you need me
To stand by you
I will see it through
Take me softly in your arms
Until we say goodbye
Let me be your guiding light
River of your dreams
Drift on gently by
Bring me to the water's edge
And bathe me flowing stream
Come with me today
'Cos I'm asking you to stay
Or drift on by
Baby, if you want me
The lyrics to Chapterhouse's song If You Want Me speak to a theme that is prevalent in love songs - the desire to be wanted and to belong. The singer is expressing their willingness to follow their lover, to stand by them through thick and thin, and to be their guiding light. They are asking for the same level of commitment from their lover, to bring them to the water's edge and to bathe them in the flowing stream. The lyrics suggest a deep love and a longing for connection and understanding between the two people. The song ends with the singer giving their lover the choice to stay or drift away, leaving the outcome of their relationship open-ended.
The lyrics of the song are beautiful and poetic, but they are also quite ambiguous and can be interpreted in various ways. Some people might see the singer as expressing a submissive desire to be controlled by their lover, while others might see them as showing strength through their willingness to stand by their partner no matter what. The river metaphor used in the song can be seen as symbolizing the flow of time or the passage of life and how we navigate it with our loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want me I can follow
I am willing to follow you if you desire my presence
I can follow you
I am capable of following you and being by your side
And if you need me
If you require my help or support
To stand by you
To be present and supportive of you
I will see it through
I will continue to help and support you until the end
Take me softly in your arms
Hold me gently and comfortingly
Until we say goodbye
Until we part ways
Let me be your guiding light
Allow me to be your source of direction and guidance
And never have to question why
And never have to doubt or question my intentions
River of your dreams
The embodiment of your hopes and aspirations
Drift on gently by
Flow calmly past the obstacles in your way
Bring me to the water's edge
Lead me to the brink of your aspirations
And bathe me flowing stream
Allow me to immerse myself in your dreams
Come with me today
Join me now
'Cos I'm asking you to stay
Because I am requesting that you remain with me
Or drift on by
Leave if that is what you wish
Baby, if you want me
My dear, if you desire my presence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL N BROWN, TIMOTHY KELLETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind