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.
Stormkeeper
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gave you no reason not to decide
Say you are leaving, you've got too much pride
It's not love if you have it to hide it
Oh woe who is the man
Who puts waves on the sand
It's the stormkeeper, stormkeeper
When I need to survive
Is the storm keeping you warm
Keeping you warm
Oh I have cried so many times
But only for things that never were mine
Heaven is sweet, love is unkind
Thoughts are twisted inside of your mind
Don't let them tell you
That this love is wrong
And don't let them fool you
That this love can't go on
In Culture Club's song "Stormkeeper," the singer reflects on a love that is sweet and sincere, but ultimately unrequited. The first verse speaks to the agony of waiting for a decision that never comes, with the singer imploring the object of his affection to be honest about his feelings. The second verse suggests that the singer has been burned by love before, but refuses to give up on the possibility of something real with this person.
The chorus centers around the metaphor of the "stormkeeper," a mysterious figure who creates waves on the sand and is able to provide comfort and shelter during difficult times. It is unclear whether this character is a real person or just a symbol, but either way, the singer seems to be asking for his help in navigating the complexities of love. The final lines of the song are an empowering message to anyone who has been told that their love is wrong or impossible, urging them to hold on to hope and believe in themselves.
Overall, "Stormkeeper" is a bittersweet exploration of the pain and beauty inherent in love, and the necessity of taking risks even when the outcome is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh I have love sweeter than lies
My love is pure and honest and not based on deceit.
Gave you no reason not to decide
I have been completely honest with you and given you all the information you need to make a decision.
Say you are leaving, you've got too much pride
You are too proud to acknowledge the depth of our love and are leaving without giving it a chance.
It's not love if you have it to hide it
True love is meant to be shared and celebrated openly, it should not be kept hidden away.
Oh woe who is the man
Who is responsible for the pain and heartache that I am feeling?
Who puts waves on the sand
Who is the force responsible for the turbulence and chaos in my life?
It's the stormkeeper, stormkeeper
It is the storm that is the keeper of my troubles.
Liven my life
Bring excitement and vibrance to my life.
When I need to survive
When I need to overcome challenges, the storm will make me stronger.
Is the storm keeping you warm
Is the chaos in your life providing you with comfort and solace?
Keeping you warm
Is the turmoil that you are going through providing you with a sense of security?
Oh I have cried so many times
I have shed many tears because of the pain you have caused me.
But only for things that never were mine
The tears were shed for things that I could never have, despite my love for you.
Heaven is sweet, love is unkind
The purity and beauty of love is often tarnished by the pain and heartache that it can cause.
Thoughts are twisted inside of your mind
You are struggling to come to terms with your feelings towards me and it is causing your thoughts to become jumbled and confused.
Don't let them tell you
Do not allow others to influence your feelings and decisions.
That this love is wrong
Our love is not wrong, it is pure and honest.
And don't let them fool you
Do not allow yourself to be deceived by the opinions of others.
That this love can't go on
Our love can survive, despite the challenges that we may face.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL CRAIG, ROY HAY, JON MOSS, GEORGE O'DOWD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind