Their first album, 1982's Kissing to Be Clever, became a major international hit, spawning the hit singles "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (which went 'all the way' in the BBC-Charts in late 1982), "Time (Clock of the Heart)", and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya". Unique in his eccentric manner of dress and androgynous look, Boy George became a worldwide celebrity.
Their second album, 1983's Colour By Numbers also did extremely well, giving the band its second number one hit in the UK with "Karma Chameleon." Karma Chameleon reached No.1 in many countries and they even starred in UK's Top of the Pops in September 1983. However, trouble was brewing within the Culture Club camp. Unknown to the public, George was having an affair with drummer Jon Moss. The affair (which lasted over four years) was often problematic and the pressure to hide the relationship started to take its toll.
The band also started to lose its place musically. Their next album, 1984's Waking Up With the House on Fire was a major disappointment. Though the band gained a small comeback with 1986's From Luxury to Heartache (thanks to the hit "Move Away"), both George's and Jon's fights created much tension, eventually leading to the breakup of the band. Around this time, George also became addicted to heroin, which created a frenzy with the tabloids. Eventually, George would let go of the habit and begin his solo career. A minor hit from the "Hiding Out" soundtrack called "Live My Life" peaked at U.S. #40. While George scored several hits in Europe and finally hit the U.S. top 20 with 1992's "The Crying Game", he was never able to reach the success he achieved with Culture Club.
In 1998, the band put their problems aside and decided to do a reunion tour. Kicked off with a performance on VH1 Storytellers, the tour was a major success. Shortly after, Culture Club recorded a new album titled Don't Mind If I Do. Though never released in the U.S., the first single, "I Just Wanna Be Loved" (UK #4), was featured on a compilation based around the Storytellers performance.
The band went on to tour for a few more years. Recently, however, Culture Club has been inactive, largely due to Boy George's concentration on his successful career as a DJ. In late 2006, Culture Club announced a reunion - albeit, without Boy George as lead singer.
I'm Afraid Of Me
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need the distractions
Fire, desire, love and reaction
He must be someone
Yes even me
Something for nothing
Some wish to see
Life beyond reason
Who will I be (who will I be)
I'm afraid of me
I'm afraid of me
Always survive days
Cut and discretion
Touched in a sane way
Leave no impression
He must be someone
Yes even you
Fool my direction
Some wish to see
Love without treason
Who will love me (who will love me)
[Chorus:]
I'm afraid of me
I'm afraid of me
(Afraid to love you)
I'm afraid of me
I'm afraid of me
Some days in more ways
I need the distractions
Fire, desire, love and reaction
He must be someone
Yes even me
Something for nothing
Some wish to see
Life beyond reason
Who will I be (who will I be)
Always survive days
Cut and discretion
Touched in a sane way
Leave no impression
He must be someone
Yes even you
Fool my direction
Some wish to see
Love without treason
Who will love me (who will love me)
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Culture Club's "I'm Afraid Of Me" depict the fear of self and the uncertainty of one's identity. The song portrays being lost in oneself and the world, and the need for distractions, like fire, desire, love, and reaction. The lyrics suggest that the need for distraction is essential to avoid confronting a deeper sense of self-identity that may not be comfortable or familiar. The song speaks to the fear of not knowing who you are and what you truly want.
The song also touches upon the theme of betrayal, which is illustrated in the lines, "Love without treason / Who will love me." The fear of being hurt or let down by others when one is unsure of the self is a common experience. The song suggests that finding love requires a sense of self-assurance that is yet to be discovered by the singer. The chorus repeats the line, "I'm afraid of me," emphasizing the fear of confronting the deeper sense of self to the point of fear and anxiety.
Overall, "I'm Afraid Of Me" illustrates the human experience of being lost, uncertain, and afraid of oneself, and the need for distractions to avoid confronting uncomfortable or unfamiliar feelings. The song speaks to the universal experience of searching for meaning, purpose, and identity and the fear of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Some days in more ways
Sometimes I feel like I need to find different ways to escape from reality
I need the distractions
I want to keep my mind busy to forget my problems and fears
Fire, desire, love and reaction
I crave strong emotions and experiences that make me feel alive
He must be someone
I think that I need to find someone to love and be loved by to be truly happy
Yes even me
Even though I have flaws and insecurities, I still hope to find someone who accepts me for who I am
Something for nothing
I wish that I could have love and happiness without having to work for it or face any challenges
Some wish to see
There are people who want to see me fail or suffer, for their own reasons
Life beyond reason
Sometimes I think that there must be more to life than just logic and rationality, but I'm not sure what that is
Who will I be (who will I be)
I'm not sure what kind of person I will become or what my future holds
I'm afraid of me
I'm scared of who I am and who I might become, and I don't know how to face those fears
Always survive days
I try to endure and overcome difficult times, no matter how hard they are
Cut and discretion
I sometimes hurt myself or engage in risky behavior to cope with my emotional pain
Touched in a sane way
I hope to feel a sense of balance and stability in my life and relationships, without losing my mind or sense of self
Leave no impression
I want to keep my struggles and scars hidden from others, and not leave any trace of my pain or weakness
Fool my direction
I sometimes make bad choices or follow the wrong path, even though I know better
Love without treason
I want to experience genuine love and trust in a relationship, without any betrayal or deception
Who will love me (who will love me)
I wonder if anyone can truly love and accept me for who I am, with all my flaws and fears
[Chorus:]
[Chorus:]
I'm afraid of me
I'm scared of who I am and who I might become, and I don't know how to face those fears
I'm afraid of me (Afraid to love you)
I'm also scared of giving my heart to someone else, as I fear I might hurt them or get hurt
I'm afraid of me
I'm scared of who I am and who I might become, and I don't know how to face those fears
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GEORGE ALAN O'DOWD, JONATHAN AUBREY MOSS, MICHAEL EMILE CRAIG, ROY ERNEST HAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind