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.
Your Kisses Are Charity
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night you breathed the deepest sigh
Turned away with those cold cool eyes
You said won't you give me space to breathe
And my tears gave you confidence to leave
Now you say I'm just to much for you
There are things you'll never know
You'd better go, go, go, go, yeah
All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity, yeah
Yesterday you were my brightest star
But even when you're near I don't know where you are
I was wrong to show my weaker side
Now it's much too late to cry, cry, cry
I was blind to put my trust in you
If you leave me, I'll fall apart
Did you plan to make a fool out of me
From the start, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity, yeah, yeah
Now you say, I'm too much for you
There are things you'll never know
If you lie and cheat so easily
You'd better go, go, go, go, yeah
All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
(All I know) all I know is how I feel
(And my heart) and my heart was always yours to steal
(But you take) yeah you never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity, yeah
Your kisses are charity
The lyrics of Culture Club's "Your Kisses Are Charity" are a commentary on a relationship that has reached a breaking point. The singer is expressing how he feels about the situation, calling out his partner for their lack of commitment and emotional investment in the relationship. The first verse sets the scene, as the singer recounts their conversation with their partner the night before. The partner has asked for space, which the singer has tearfully provided, but this has ultimately given the partner the confidence to leave. The singer accuses their partner of lying and cheating, leading to them telling them to leave.
The second verse delves more deeply into the history of the relationship. The singer suggests that they used to see their partner as a "brightest star," but now they don't know where they are, even when they're physically present. The singer realizes that they were wrong to show their "weaker side" and put their trust in their partner. This realization comes too late, however, as their partner has already taken advantage of them. The chorus repeats throughout the song, with the singer expressing their frustration that their partner takes from them without giving anything in return.
All in all, the lyrics of "Your Kisses Are Charity" paint a picture of a relationship that has soured due to one partner's lack of investment. The singer is left feeling used and uncared for, leading them to long for something more substantial than their partner's empty gestures.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing affirmation or assent.
Last night you breathed the deepest sigh
You were experiencing deep disappointment.
Turned away with those cold cool eyes
You showed no emotion or compassion as you turned away from me.
You said won't you give me space to breathe
You asked for some distance between us.
And my tears gave you confidence to leave
My tears made you feel justified in ending our relationship.
Now you say I'm just to much for you
You're admitting that you can't handle me.
There are things you'll never know
I have secrets and thoughts that I'll never share with you.
If you lie and cheat so easily
Your integrity is questionable and you're willing to deceive me.
You'd better go, go, go, go, yeah
You need to leave and exit my life.
All I know is how I feel
The only constant is the way that I feel.
And my heart was always yours to steal
My heart has always been open and vulnerable to you.
But you take and never give to me
You only take and never reciprocate my love.
Your kisses are charity
The only affection you provide me is given out of pity.
Yesterday you were my brightest star
You once were the most important person in my life.
But even when you're near I don't know where you are
You're physically present, but emotionally you're distant and unavailable.
I was wrong to show my weaker side
I regret revealing my vulnerability to you.
Now it's much too late to cry, cry, cry
It's too late for me to show remorse or sadness over the situation.
I was blind to put my trust in you
I should not have trusted you with my heart.
If you leave me, I'll fall apart
My emotional well-being is dependent on you and your love for me.
Did you plan to make a fool out of me
You intentionally took advantage of my feelings for you.
From the start, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
From the beginning of our relationship, you were planning to deceive me.
Your kisses are charity, yeah
Your affection is given out of pity and not genuine love.
Now you say, I'm too much for you
You admit that you can't handle me and my emotions.
There are things you'll never know
I have secrets and thoughts that I'll never share with you.
If you lie and cheat so easily
Your integrity is questionable and you're willing to deceive me.
You'd better go, go, go, go, yeah
You need to leave and exit my life.
All I know is how I feel
The only constant is the way that I feel.
And my heart was always yours to steal
My heart has always been open and vulnerable to you.
But you take and never give to me
You only take and never reciprocate my love.
Your kisses are charity
The only affection you provide me is given out of pity.
Your kisses are charity, yeah, yeah
Your affection is given out of pity and not genuine love.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management
Written by: George O'Dowd, John Themistocleous, Jonathan Moss, Michael Craig, Roy Ernest Hay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BGANDMJLOVER2
Your Kisses are charity lyrics
Last night, you breathed the deepest sigh
Turned away with those cold cool eyes
You said you won't give me space to
breathe
And my tears gave you confidence to leave
Now you say I'm just too much for you
There are things you'll never know
If you lie and cheat so easily
You'd better go,
Go Go Go, yeah
All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity
Yesterday you were my brightest star
But even when your near
I don't know where you are
I was wrong to show my weaker side
Now it's much to late to cry cry cry
I was blind to put my trust in you
If you leave me I'll fall apart
Did you plan to make a fool out of me
From the start
yeah yeah yeah, yeah
All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity yeah yeah
Now you say I'm too much for you
There are things you'll never know
If you lie and cheat so easily
You better go,
Go Go Go, yeah
All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity.
Eliya
this song is absolutly brill!! I love culture club so much! Boy George is amazing!! <3 <3 best band ever
UET2
This is pure gold! I miss the days when we had quality music on TV and the radio...
freddie meyer
boy george is such an underrated singer and songwriter! my hero when i was little 😗😗
mikesmithsupersaiyan
I think Boy George has one of the greatest abilities to make matters of the heart plain and simple, no matter how complex. Culture Club had some silly songs, but when they hit the mark, they are the best.
Jev Rango
Boy George is such an amazing singer and songwriter! I Listened To Boy George's Music During COVID-19! 😗😗
LynnT
Love all your songs Boy George and Culture Club. Your music is so universal.
Yat Grave
I never heard this before and i think i'm in love with the song now
Mewtwo
Cuando Armando encuentra a Betty dormida en la oficina 🥰
Yenifer Aguirre
Me dio mucha risa, justamente estoy viendo esa escena 😅
The Deadman
Cuando pense que boy george despues de culture club musicalmente habia muerto, me he equivocado totalmente, me siguen enamorando sus rolitas romanticas, ya porque amo a este hombre, porque es una riata parada en lo que hace jajaja. Culture Club forever oh yeah.