The band had their first UK Top 30 hit in 1985 with the piano-based #30 single “You Are My World”. The following year they had their biggest hit with an energetic cover version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ soul classic “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (in a version inspired by Thelma Houston’s cover) which spent four weeks at number one and became the UK’s biggest selling single of 1986. It also made the US Top 40. It featured Sarah Jane Morris as co-vocalist, taking advantage of the contrast between Morris’ deep and rounded contralto and Somerville’s soaring falsetto. Morris performed both backing and co-lead vocals on many of the Communards’ other recordings, and appeared in group photos as an unofficial third member.
Later that year The Communards had another UK Top 10 hit with the single “So Cold the Night,” which reached number 8. In 1987, they released an album titled Red, which was partly produced by Stephen Hague. Red featured a cover version of the Jackson 5’s hit “Never Can Say Goodbye” (in a version inspired by Gloria Gaynor’s cover), which the Communards took to Number 4. Their last released single was “There’s More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl” in 1988, which reached Number 20 and was, consequently, their final Top 20 hit.
They split in 1988 and Somerville began a solo career. Coles followed his Christian leanings and, after periods as a journalist for the Times Literary Supplement and Catholic Herald, he was ordained in the Church of England, spending time as the curate of St Botolph’s (The Stump) in Boston, Lincolnshire. He is now the assistant priest at St Paul’s Knightsbridge and Chaplain to the Royal College of Music and is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 4.
Reprise
Communards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lie you lived deceiving me
All the dreams you will destroy
And leave me lost and vulnerable.
Hush now baby don´t you cry
Mother loves you only pressure heavy
On her mind
Nothing left to pay only tears and
Sweat
Life goes down, down, down, down
Life goes down.
Life goes down, down, down, down
Life goes down
Why do you abuse your friend?
It´s not her fault that you can´t find a
Means to an end
Can´t you see it´s working well,
The way they turn you against
Yourself?
Life goes down, down, down, down
Life goes down
The lyrics to "Reprise" by Communards deal with the theme of betrayal and loss. The singer sings about discovering the truth about someone they loved and trusted, who had been living a lie and deceiving them. This revelation shatters the singer's dreams and leaves them feeling lost and vulnerable. The verses are filled with a sense of pain and accusation, as the singer demands answers and exposes the betrayal. The chorus, on the other hand, takes a more resigned tone, acknowledging the downward spiral of life and its inevitability.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that the song is about a romantic relationship that ended in betrayal. The singer likely invested a lot of time and emotions into the relationship, only to find out that the other person had been lying and manipulating them. The line "All the dreams you will destroy" suggests that the singer had high hopes and expectations for the future, which were now shattered. The line "Why do you abuse your friend?" could be referencing the fact that the other person had also turned against the singer's friends or support system, making the betrayal all the more painful.
Overall, "Reprise" is a melancholy song that expresses the pain of loss and betrayal. The music and vocals complement the lyrics well, with a haunting melody that reinforces the sense of sadness and resignation.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I know the truth about you
I have come to realize the reality regarding your character and behavior.
The lie you lived deceiving me
You have intentionally misled and deceived me in the past.
All the dreams you will destroy
Your actions will shatter and ruin all my ambitions and hopes.
And leave me lost and vulnerable.
As a result, I will feel disoriented and exposed to harm.
Hush now baby don´t you cry
Please stop crying, my child.
Mother loves you only pressure heavy
Although I love you sincerely, I am experiencing great stress and strain.
On her mind
My thoughts are occupied with various concerns and worries.
Every day brings one more debt
Each day adds another debt or burden to my life.
Nothing left to pay only tears and Sweat
I have nothing to give but my emotions and hard work.
Life goes down, down, down, down
My life seems to spiral out of control, lower and lower.
Why do you abuse your friend?
Why do you mistreat your companion?
It´s not her fault that you can´t find a Means to an end
It is not her responsibility that you cannot find a solution or conclusion to your issues.
Can´t you see it´s working well,
Can you not realize that your behavior and actions are having harmful outcomes?
The way they turn you against Yourself?
The manner in which you are manipulating and harming yourself by trusting destructive people.
Life goes down, down, down, down
Your life is progressively worsening.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD COLES, JIMMY SOMERVILLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lesanneesvinyles8603
Ma chanson préférée des Communards, elle me donne des frissons à chaque fois.
@stevebennet6539
Listening to this, I realise how far we have come from the time when an album was dedicated to 'Margaret Hilda Thatcher'.
@victoriaparker2705
Love the piano playing and violin.
@vedatozdemir7036
piano is the God in man
@stevehollamby8237
Funny you say piano is the God in man ..cos it's Richard Coles playing who is now the Reverend Richard Coles lol
@carolynrumsby9831
I think you'll find that's a cello not a violin
@victoriaparker2705
@Sébastien A thank you for letting me know.
@darrenbanks2602
Wonderful piano playing from the Rev
@melissamixon6212
Just beauty…
@jankrijgsheld
Beautyfull but the saddest song i've ever heard