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)
Tennis
Chris Rea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She pours the coffee and she says
"What was wrong with you last night?"
"Dreams, just dreams my love, we're half asleep"
But the headline's on tennis
So it seems, everything's all right
There's a girl from the Midwest, with a pretty face
Scratched where it itched, they said it was a disgrace
want to stay at home and watch that girl play"
Do you like tennis?
Yes I do
There are people in boats in the middle of the sea
Crying and dying like Jews
Do you like tennis?
Freedom is the man with the red grenade
She ran out of gas, got beat and raped
Do you like tennis?
Well do you like tennis?
Yes I do
The lyrics of "Tennis" by Chris Rea are a great example of how a song can mask a deep and heavy message beneath seemingly carefree and fun music. In the opening lines, the singer is talking to his partner, who is asking about some strange behavior he exhibited the night before. The singer brushes it off as just being dreams, but the real reason behind his worries will soon become clear. The lyrics then shift to a news headline about tennis, a seemingly random subject, but actually serving as a metaphor for the way society often ignores and forgets about the suffering of those who are less fortunate.
The lyrics then introduce a character, a girl from the Midwest, who is evidently struggling with some kind of ailment. Her pain is belittled and dismissed, and she is judges harshly, both for her perceived physical flaws and her desire to take a day off work to watch a tennis match. The sarcastic question "Do you like tennis?" is repeated throughout the song, serving as a way to challenge how we choose to spend our time and what we choose to care about. The last lines of the song are particularly striking, as the singer contrasts the beauty and luxury of tennis with the cruelty and suffering in the world, including references to the Holocaust and sexual violence.
Overall, "Tennis" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that forces the listener to confront uncomfortable truths and question their own priorities and values. While the music is catchy and upbeat, the lyrics are dark and heavy, revealing the harsh reality of the world we live in.
Line by Line Meaning
In the morning madness and the stabbing light
The morning is chaotic and bright, causing discomfort and agitation.
She pours the coffee and she says
His partner begins his day with a mundane task by offering him coffee.
"What was wrong with you last night?"
The partner asks about his behavior the previous night, suggesting something was not right.
"Dreams, just dreams my love, we're half asleep"
He dismisses her concern, attributing his behavior to his dreams and drowsy state.
But the headline's on tennis
Despite the chaos, the news about tennis gives them a sense that all is well.
So it seems, everything's all right
The focus on tennis eases their worries and gives them a false sense of security.
There's a girl from the Midwest, with a pretty face
Chris Rea introduces the story of a girl from the Midwest with an attractive appearance.
Scratched where it itched, they said it was a disgrace
The girl is criticized for scratching an itch, which is seen as inappropriate or shameful.
"I don't want to go to work today
The girl expresses a desire to skip work and do something else instead.
want to stay at home and watch that girl play"
She wants to watch a female tennis player instead of going to work.
Do you like tennis?
The question is repeated throughout the lyrics, presumably to emphasize its importance.
Yes I do
The answer to the question is always affirmative, indicating a strong preference for tennis.
There are people in boats in the middle of the sea
Chris Rea paints a bleak picture of people stranded in the ocean.
Crying and dying like Jews
The comparison to Jews suggests a tragic and persecuted group of people.
Freedom is the man with the red grenade
The mention of a red grenade could be a symbol of a dangerous or explosive situation.
She ran out of gas, got beat and raped
Another story of a woman who faced violent adversity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tigranchilingaryan2599
31.08.2022 My official birth day
is 31.08.1953 . I was born on 01.09. 1953. and the god /internet/
at first brings for me one a new
best song by young CHRIS REA
"Tennis" / Rpscpop, 10.05. 1980/.
You are my star, deat CHRIS REA.
Sposibo vsem lyubitelem. poklonn-
nikam muziki CHRIS REA i Vam.
Ya chasto slushayu evo pesni
" The Road To Hell" , "Auberge",
i s etovo momenta i konechn.
" Tennis",
@user-ub9bw3bb7s
Крис Ри, любимый певец, любимая музыка. Кайф моей души. Любовь, молодость, счастье! ❤❤
@user-in1te6ol9e
Согласна! Шикарный певец! Мною❤️
@user-zp8ry5xv5o
А вы шикарная Женщина, Здравствуте, я бы познакомился с вами
@baraskparas9559
Only Chris Rea could write and sing a song about tennis and make it work. Everyone else would get a cold stare if not worse.
@mortenbay
"Freedom is a man with a red grenade / She ran out of gas, got beat and raped / Do you like Tennis?"
This song is as much about Tennis as The Road to Hell is.
@baraskparas9559
@Morten Bay The dramas played out during a match of tennis are human dramas involving competition, injustice and sometimes violence such as when a ball is smashed into an opponent or threats are made. Wanker!
@user-gb2be5ld1f
Стинг в этом
@user-gb2be5ld1f
Стинг в этом 00
@user-gb2be5ld1f
Стинг э
@user-jc4dk4ie6u
Фраза: в человеке должно быть всё прекрасно, ассоциируется у меня с Крисом! Душа, голос и внешность очень гармоничны! Хочется пожелать ему здоровья.❤️♥️💖