Culture Club was a popular 1980s pop group, perhaps most noticeable for the… Read Full Bio ↴Culture Club was a popular 1980s pop group, perhaps most noticeable for their gender-bending frontman George O'Dowd, known by his stage name Boy George. The other members of the band were Roy Hay on guitars and keyboards, Mikey Craig playing bass and Jon Moss (ex Damned, London, Adam and the Ants) on drums.

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.

Weep for the Child
Culture Club Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey you, do you ever cry - for the child?

Falling in love with strangers, feeling incomplete, hey that's me
Some are fly, some are shy, some are acting like they own the street, ooh
One minute we're together then the next you're acting really cool, so cool
You can play me any way but don't ever treat me like a fool, no no no

Sometimes so hateful

Sometimes so shy
Don't ask me why

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand
Don't leave me alone to make it tonight
No don't go

Wearing your desperation wrapped me on your sleeve, yes you do
You've got everything you want but you just can't get the things that you need, oh no no no

Sometimes you fake it
Sometimes you lie
Don't ask me why

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand, raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand
Don't leave me alone to make it tonight, no no no

Sweet baby

You never understood
You never treat me right

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand, raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand, do you understand?
Don't leave me alone to make it tonight, yeah

Weep for the child
Weep
Weep
Weep
In your heart

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand, raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand, no need
Don't leave me alone to make it

Alone to make it
Alone to make it tonight

Overall Meaning

The song "Weep for the Child" by Culture Club explores the complexities of relationships and the pain that comes with feeling incomplete. The lyrics suggest a sense of longing for something more, for someone to truly understand and accept them. The opening line, "Hey you, do you ever cry - for the child?" is a plea for emotional vulnerability and honesty. The song speaks to the idea that we all have a wounded inner child that needs to be acknowledged and cared for. The chorus, "Weep for the child, better raise your hand, we're twisting the style, ain't no need to understand," is an anthem for those who feel misunderstood and alone. It is a call for empathy and support.

The verses of the song suggest a complicated relationship. The lines "One minute we're together then the next you're acting really cool, so cool, you can play me any way but don't ever treat me like a fool" speak to the frustration of not knowing where one stands in a relationship. The lyrics "Sometimes so hateful, sometimes so shy, don't ask me why" suggest confusion and mixed emotions. The bridge of the song, "Wearing your desperation wrapped me on your sleeve, yes you do, you've got everything you want but you just can't get the things that you need, oh no no no" is an observation about how people often seek out what they think they want, only to find that it doesn't fulfill them.

Overall, "Weep for the Child" is a poignant exploration of human emotion and the importance of empathy and understanding in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey you, do you ever cry - for the child?
Do you ever feel emotional for someone in need, especially a child?

Falling in love with strangers, feeling incomplete, hey that's me
I have a tendency to fall in love with unfamiliar people, and I feel empty inside without them.

Some are fly, some are shy, some are acting like they own the street, ooh
People have different personalities, some are confident, some are shy, and some act like they are superior to others.

One minute we're together then the next you're acting really cool, so cool
We can be close and affectionate at one moment, then distant and aloof the next.

You can play me any way but don't ever treat me like a fool, no no no
You can manipulate me however you want, but don't disrespect me by making me look foolish.

Sometimes so hateful
At times, I can be filled with anger and resentment.

Sometimes so shy
At other times, I can be very timid and self-conscious.

Don't ask me why
I don't have an explanation for these shifting emotions.

Weep for the child
Feel sorrow and compassion for those who are in need, especially children.

Better raise your hand
Take action and help, even if it means asking for assistance.

We're twisting the style
Our behavior and actions are different from societal norms.

Ain't no need to understand
There's no reason for others to comprehend or approve of our actions.

Don't leave me alone to make it tonight
Don't abandon me and force me to deal with the challenges of the night by myself.

Wearing your desperation wrapped me on your sleeve, yes you do
You are openly and blatantly showcasing your desperate emotions to me.

You've got everything you want but you just can't get the things that you need, oh no no no
You possess everything you desire, but you cannot obtain the things that you truly require.

Sometimes you fake it
Occasionally, you pretend to be someone you're not.

Sometimes you lie
Other times, you tell untruths.

Weep for the child
Once again, express heartbreak and grief for those in need.

Sweet baby
An affectionate term of endearment.

You never understood
You never comprehended my needs or feelings.

You never treat me right
You don't treat me the way I deserve to be treated.

Weep for the child
Offer sympathy and concern for the impoverished and vulnerable.

In your heart
This feeling should come from an emotional place.

Alone to make it tonight
Once again, do not abandon me to face life's challenges alone.

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management
Written by: GEORGE ALAN O'DOWD, JOHN THEMIS, JONATHAN AUBREY MOSS, MICHAEL E. CRAIG, ROY ERNEST HAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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