Their first album, Broadcast, released in 1986, was the first U.S. number one album for Richard Branson's Virgin Records. It included "(I Just) Died in Your Arms", their most popular single, which reached number one in the U.S., and number four in the UK; the album also yielded an additional U.S. top-ten hit with "I've Been in Love Before". The band received a Grammy nomination in 1987, for "Best New Artist".
After the band broke up in 1993, guitarist Kevin MacMichael joined forces with Robert Plant, and played on his critically acclaimed Fate of Nations album. MacMichael died of lung cancer on New Year's Eve 2002, at his home in Nova Scotia, at the age of 51.
The band was reformed in 2006 by Nick Van Eede, with a completely new line-up. They have released one album, Grinning Souls, in February 2006 on the Hypertension record label. The new band toured Germany early the same year and are currently planning tours in the UK and Denmark.
The Broadcast
Cutting Crew Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That every word is true
That a change is going to come
You can hear it in
The broadcast on your radio
Why are you running,
Was it something that somebody said?
Are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it look natural
Cause the more that you see
It's the less that you know,
It's the more that you give
Believe me when they call for you
As you cry out in the night
These four suspicious riders
Have been circling the borders
of your bungalow
But how they ever got to you
I swear I'll never know
Was it just the laws of nature
That's been causing all the
voices on your telephone?
Why are you running>
Believe me and I'll pray for you
(We'll give you what you wanted)
With all my fickle heart
I could sell you hallelujahs
Recorded on a chrome cassette in stereo
So come and make your home with me
It really isn't far
Fly down to California and become
A Christian soldier on
My late, late show
Why are you running?
The Cutting Crew's song The Broadcast is a somber and ominous tune that tackles the themes of fear, paranoia, and the idea of imminent change. The song starts with the singer telling the listener to believe that every word he's about to say is true as he warns of an inevitable change that's coming. The change is so profound that it can be heard in the broadcast on your radio. This statement could be interpreted in a myriad of ways, but the most obvious interpretation is that the world is on the brink of something so monumental that everyone can sense it, and it's being reported through various media channels.
The singer then poses a series of questions to someone who seems to be running from something. He asks whether they're hiding from voices in their head or something somebody said to them. He claims that he can make it look natural, whatever "it" may be, and the more that "you see, the less that you know, it's the more that you give" – implying that knowledge only leads to more confusion and sacrifices. The verses also mention suspicious riders who have been circling the borders of the person's bungalow, and asks how they got there. The final verse then concludes with the singer telling the listener that they'll pray for them and offer an escape to California where they can become a Christian soldier on their late, late show.
Overall, The Broadcast is a song that raises more questions than it answers. It's an enigma of a tune that leaves the listeners to interpret the lyrics in their own way, and it's that ambiguity that draws people in. The song's haunting melody and powerful vocals make it a timeless classic to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Believe me when I say to you
Trust my words, they are sincere and truthful, and I am not lying.
That every word is true
Everything that I say is correct and accurate, without any errors or falsehoods.
That a change is going to come
A transformation or alteration is imminent and on the way, so be prepared for it.
You can hear it in
It is audible and discernible, and you can perceive or detect it through your senses.
The broadcast on your radio
The emitted transmission of sound waves, received by an electronic device, that you are currently listening to.
Why are you running,
What is the reason or cause that you are swiftly moving your legs, running away from something or someone?
Was it something that somebody said?
Did a specific person communicate some information that caused you to flee out of fear or shame?
What are you hiding from,
What is the object or entity that you are concealing yourself from, trying to avoid detection or capture?
Are the voices alone in your head?
Are the sounds that you hear in your mind, without any external stimuli, responsible for your current actions and behavior?
I can make it look natural
I have the ability to make a situation that would normally seem odd or peculiar appear as if it is typical and unremarkable.
Cause the more that you see
When you observe something, the additional information that you acquire can lead to a greater level of awareness and understanding.
It's the less that you know,
Paradoxically, as you obtain more facts and details, you might become more uncertain or confused about the subject matter.
It's the more that you give
By providing extra resources or assistance, you can contribute to a cause or project, facilitating its successful completion.
Believe me when they call for you
Have faith in me when an urgent or important request is made, summoning you for help or support.
As you cry out in the night
During the period after dusk and before dawn, when the sky is dark and people sleep, and you shout or weep in despair or fear.
These four suspicious riders
These four unknown, distrustful, or threatening individuals, who might have sinister agendas or motives.
Have been circling the borders
They have been moving in circular paths around the perimeters of your property, staying on the outer edges.
of your bungalow
Of the small or modest house, cabin, or cottage where you reside, which is usually designed for summer vacation or weekends.
But how they ever got to you
It is perplexing or bewildering to understand how they found or approached you, and their presence raises suspicion.
I swear I'll never know
I guarantee that I will never learn or comprehend how they managed to locate you and invade your privacy.
Was it just the laws of nature
Can it be explained by natural factors or phenomena, such as random chance, coincidence, or predictable patterns?
That's been causing all the
The root cause of all the negative, unsettling, or scary events that have occurred.
voices on your telephone?
The strange or unfamiliar sounds that you hear when you answer the telephone, which might indicate that someone is spying or threatening you.
Believe me and I'll pray for you
Put your trust in me, and I will offer a supplication or invocation to a divine being, asking for their help or mercy.
(We'll give you what you wanted)
(We promise to fulfill your desires or wishes, and make them a reality.)
With all my fickle heart
With all of my indecisive, changeable, and capricious emotions or sentiments.
I could sell you hallelujahs
I could persuade or convince you to purchase units of enthusiastic praise or worship, typically aimed towards a deity or religious figure.
Recorded on a chrome cassette in stereo
Pre-recorded onto a magnetic tape, coated with a thin layer of chromium dioxide, that can store audio signals and played back in high-quality sound through two or more channels.
So come and make your home with me
Therefore, please come and reside with me in my residence, and I will shelter, protect, and care for you.
It really isn't far
The distance between your current location and my abode is relatively short, and it won't take you long to arrive.
Fly down to California and become
Travel by plane to the state of California, and transform or change into something new or different.
A Christian soldier on
A devout or loyal follower of the Christian faith, who is also brave, courageous, and virtuous in their deeds and actions.
My late, late show
The final segment of my evening television program or live performance, which might include special guests, popular songs, or comedic skits.
Why are you running?
Once again, what is causing you to flee or escape, and what are you trying to evade or avoid?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EEDE, TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind