Clifford T. Ward typified the early 70s bedsitter singer-songwriter with a series of albums that were at best delightful and at worst mawkish. Ward left grammar school before A-levels to work as a clerk, but by 1962 was fronting local beat group Cliff Ward and the Cruisers. The group changed their name to Martin Raynor and the Secrets and made their recording debut for EMI Records in 1965, before recording several more tracks as the Secrets for CBS Records.
In 1967 Ward enrolled at Worcester teacher training college to study English and divinity, after which he taught at Bromsgrove high school. His debut album appeared on disc jockey John Peel's brave-but-doomed Dandelion Records label in 1972. His second album and his first release for Charisma Records, Home Thoughts, proved to be his finest work and gave him wider recognition. Ward constructed each song as a complete story sometimes with great success.
The beautiful "Gaye" became a UK Top 10 hit but surprisingly the stronger "Home Thoughts From Abroad" and the infectious and lyrically excellent "Wherewithal" failed to chart. Mantle Pieces and Escalator contained a similar recipe of more harmless tales like the minor hit "Scullery" with affecting lyrics like; "You're my picture by Picasso, you'd brighten up any gallery'.
Ward's refusal to tour and promote his songs did not help endear the singer to his record company, however, and he switched to the Phonogram Records label for 1975"s No More Rock 'N' Roll. In later years although still recording the occasional album and still reluctant to perform live, Ward received kudos as a songwriter with his material being recorded by artists such as Cliff Richard, Art Garfunkel and Justin Hayward.
He was struck down with multiple sclerosis in 1987 and his health rapidly deteriorated. He managed to record 1991's vinyl-only album Laugh It Off, and friends and colleagues pieced together two more albums of new songs, out-takes and demos to give the ailing Ward some financial assistance. He finally succumbed to pneumonia December 18th 2001.
Crisis
Clifford T. Ward Lyrics
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Crisis
Crisis
Crisis.
Crowded room, cigarette smoke, fast talkers, sheep in wolves clothing
Glasses chinking, spilling drink, drinking, filling, wolves in sheep's clothing
Suddenly from out the mass that familiar face emerges
"Hey what you doing here? You had better explain"
He says "I left my engine running and I think I'll do the same!"
She says "Come back here, explain yourself!"
He stops to think it out
And regaining all his confidence says "What about yourself?"
It's a crisis
Crisis
Crisis
Crisis.
Music loud, people louder, sophisticated ugly sight
Discreet departure, lady friend, back to his place, three wrongs don't make a right
Suddenly through the front door wife and boyfriend, big surprise
Recurrence of the previous scene, you think these people would get wise.
"Hey what you doing here? You had better explain"
He says "I left my engine running and I think I'll do the same!"
She says "Come back here, explain yourself!"
He stops to think it out
And regaining all his confidence says "What about yourself?"
It's a crisis
Crisis
Crisis
Crisis
(Repeat and fade).
The song "Crisis" by Clifford T. Ward tells a story of infidelity and deceit, set in a crowded room full of people hiding their true selves, represented in the line "fast talkers, sheep in wolves clothing." The song gives us a glimpse into the mind of the singer who is caught in a crisis when he comes face to face with his wife and her lover while having an affair of his own. The lyrics describe the chaos and noise in the background with "music loud, people louder," emphasizing the tension and urgency of the situation.
The first verse sets the scene of a crowded room with lots of activity, while the second verse introduces the characters involved in the crisis, the singer and his wife. The lyrics reveal the singer's initial attraction to a familiar face before realizing that it's his wife, creating the first wave of confusion and guilt. When his wife confronts him, he tries to defend himself by making her feel guilty too, saying "What about yourself?" At this point, the chorus plays with the word "crisis" repeated continuously, portraying the severity of the situation and the chaos that ensues.
The final part of the song reveals that the singer's wife has also been having an affair, further complicating the scenario. The song ends in the chorus which repeats hauntingly, as if to emphasize the point that the crisis may never be resolved.
Overall, the song delves into the complexities of human relationships and the difficult decisions one has to make when faced with infidelity. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the emotions and turmoil that accompany such situations, making it a relatable and thought-provoking piece.
Line by Line Meaning
Crowded room, cigarette smoke, fast talkers, sheep in wolves clothing
The environment is full of people who are not what they seem, trying to impress others with loud, insincere talk, and who use smoke to obscure their flaws.
Glasses chinking, spilling drink, drinking, filling, wolves in sheep's clothing
People seem to be indulging in alcohol to excess, perhaps out of nervousness or to escape reality. The constant clinking of glasses and spilling of drinks further adds to the chaos of the scene.
Suddenly from out the mass that familiar face emerges
Amidst the chaos, the singer sees someone familiar, perhaps someone they have been trying to avoid or hadn't expected to see in that setting.
First reaction, she looks nice, then realises it's his wife!
At first, the singer thinks the familiar person looks good, but quickly realizes it is their spouse, implying the singer was there doing something they shouldn't have been.
"Hey what you doing here? You had better explain"
The wife confronts the singer about their presence there, demanding an explanation for their behavior.
He says "I left my engine running and I think I'll do the same!"
The singer responds with a flippant comment that does not address the issue and seems to want to avoid the question altogether. A metaphorical way of saying he's in too deep to stop or leave.
She says "Come back here, explain yourself!"
The wife is not satisfied with the singer's response and demands they come back and try again to explain their actions.
He stops to think it out
And regaining all his confidence says "What about yourself?"
The singer stops for a moment to gather their thoughts and eventually turns the tables by seeking to divert the attention back to the wife and their own behavior.
Music loud, people louder, sophisticated ugly sight
The scene described earlier is even more chaotic and ugly now as the music and people seem to be more intense in their revelry, making the situation even more complicated.
Discreet departure, lady friend, back to his place, three wrongs don't make a right
The singer has left the original chaotic setting with someone who is not their spouse, implying they are involved in extramarital activities. The phrase "three wrongs don't make a right" implies that the singer knows what they're doing is not acceptable, but is still doing it anyway.
Suddenly through the front door wife and boyfriend, big surprise
Recurrence of the previous scene, you think these people would get wise.
The wife and her boyfriend have caught the singer in the act, making the situation even more dire. The repeated scenario shows that these events may have happened before, and the fact that the individuals involved didn't learn from their mistakes is lamentable.
"Hey what you doing here? You had better explain"
The wife once again demands an explanation from the singer for their presence there and their behavior.
He says "I left my engine running and I think I'll do the same!"
Once again, the singer tries to deflect with a non-answer, implying they do not have a good explanation for their actions.
She says "Come back here, explain yourself!"
The wife again demands that the singer come back and try to explain their actions more fully.
He stops to think it out
And regaining all his confidence says "What about yourself?"
Once again, the singer tries to shift the focus back onto the wife, indicating they do not want to take responsibility for their actions.
"It's a crisis
Crisis
Crisis
Crisis."
The repeating chorus emphasizes and underscores the gravity of the situation. The word "crisis" repeats to reflect the growing tension and urgency of the encounter, signaling that something must be done to address the situation at hand.
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.