He has never toured the United States, where he is best known for the 1978 single "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, earning him a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist in 1978. A decade later, "Working On It" topped the Mainstream Rock chart. He has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Rea
Studio albums
Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? (Magnet, 1978)
Deltics (Magnet, 1979)
Tennis (Magnet, 1980)
Chris Rea (Magnet, 1981)
Water Sign (Magnet, 1983)
Wired to the Moon (Magnet, 1984)
Shamrock Diaries (Magnet, 1985)
On the Beach (Magnet, 1986)
Dancing with Strangers (Magnet, 1987)
The Road to Hell (WEA, 1989)
Auberge (EastWest, 1991)
God's Great Banana Skin (EastWest, 1992)
Espresso Logic (EastWest, 1993)
La Passione (soundtrack, EastWest, 1996)
The Blue Cafe (EastWest, 1998)
The Road to Hell: Part 2 (EastWest, 1999)
King of the Beach (EastWest, 2000)
Dancing Down the Stony Road/Stony Road (Jazzee Blue, 2002
Blue Street (Five Guitars) (Jazzee Blue, 2003)
Hofner Blue Notes (Jazzee Blue, 2003)
The Blue Jukebox (Jazzee Blue, 2004)
Blue Guitars (Jazzee Blue, 2005)
The Return of the Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes (Jazzee Blue, 2008)
Santo Spirito Blues (Jazzee Blue, 2011)
Road Songs for Lovers (Jazzee Blue, 2017)
One Fine Day (Rhino, limited release, 2019)
Crack That Mould
Chris Rea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crack the shell, that's how it's got to be
Nothing for certain, ain't no way of knowing
Only believe in things that you see
Flow with the river, run with the tide
Mix with your brother, 'cause he's right by your side
Crack that mold
Little pretty chicken you can't stay in there forever
Now there ain't no such thing as only one kind of weather
You got to bend, learn, take the rough with the smooth
Understand everything
Crack that mold
Now there ain't no such thing as only one kind of weather
Pick up them shoes, go running down that road
You know that precondition is such a heavy load
You got to live love, put down that written word
Crack that mold
Now there ain't no such thing as only one kind of weather
In Chris Rea’s song “Crack That Mould,” the lyrics are a compelling call to action for individuals to break free from the confines of the mold they were created in. The song acknowledges a universal truth - that each of us lives with certain preconceptions and limitations, whether they are internal or ingrained by external forces like society or our upbringing. Rea urges the listener to break free from these limitations, saying that they must “crack the shell” and embrace the unknown. The notion of “nothing for certain, ain’t no way of knowing” is a reminder that life is a journey and that we must be open to the uncertainty and challenges that come our way.
The verses in “Crack That Mould” are full of metaphors underscoring the importance of being adaptable and finding one’s own voice. Rea encourages the listener to “flow with the river” and to “run with the tide,” meaning that we need to adapt to the ebbs and flows of life. He emphasizes that we should “mix with our brother,” or connect with others regardless of apparent differences, and that we must “learn” and “understand everything,” highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding. Overall, the song is about discovering oneself and breaking free of social norms or limitations to live a fulfilling life on one's own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
You got to break the back of the mold you were made in
You need to escape the mold that society has placed you in, and push yourself beyond your own limitations.
Crack the shell, that's how it's got to be
Break free from your current situation, and don't be held captive by your own doubts and fears.
Nothing for certain, ain't no way of knowing
The future is unpredictable, and you can never be absolutely certain of what's to come.
Only believe in things that you see
Don't believe in abstract concepts or empty promises; only believe in the things that you can observe and experience firsthand.
Flow with the river, run with the tide
Go with the flow of life, and adapt to the changing circumstances that you encounter.
Mix with your brother, 'cause he's right by your side
Join forces with those around you, and support one another as you all strive to achieve your goals.
Crack that mold
Don't be held back by society's expectations, and strive to break free from the limitations that have been placed on you.
Little pretty chicken you can't stay in there forever
You can't remain complacent and stagnant in your current situation forever.
Now there ain't no such thing as only one kind of weather
The world is constantly changing, and you must adapt to new situations in order to succeed.
You got to bend, learn, take the rough with the smooth
You need to be flexible, open to new experiences, and able to handle both the good and the bad aspects of life.
Understand everything
You must strive to understand the world around you in order to succeed and grow as a person.
Pick up them shoes, go running down that road
Take action, be proactive, and pursue your dreams with determination.
You know that precondition is such a heavy load
The expectations and obligations placed upon you by society can be a heavy burden to bear.
You got to live love, put down that written word
You must embody love and compassion in order to make a positive impact on the world, and not just rely on empty promises or written documents.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ANTON REA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind