1) A Lond… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple bands / artists using the name Darts;
1) A London Based 'doo-wop' vocal group.
2) A Melbourne based indie-punk band.
1) Darts were a nine-piece, London-based 'doo-wop' vocal group formed in 1976 by bass singer Den Hegarty who, along with Griff Fender, Rita Ray and Horatio Hornblower, had previously performed with Rocky Sharpe and the Razors.
Their first hit was a medley of The Rays' "Daddy Cool" and Little Richard's "The Girl Can't Help It", which reached no.6 in the UK charts at the end of 1977.
They had a total of 12 single chart hits including three consecutive British No. 2's ("Come Back My Love", "The Boy From New York City" and the self-penned "It's Raining"), the only act to achieve this without ever reaching the No. 1 spot. They also released four albums; "Darts", "Everyone Plays Darts", "The Amazing Darts" (a "best-of" compilation) and "Dart Attack". "Darts" and "Everyone Plays Darts" reached the top ten in the album charts, no mean feat in a country where doo-wop was never a big craze.
Hegarty left the group in 1978 and was replaced by Kenny Andrews. The band recorded their fifth album but it remained unreleased until very recently; it has now become known as "Frantic Antics - The Lost Studio Album".
The band continued performing, including a tour of the USA and a Stateside album entitled "Darts Across America". Several personnel changes (including comedian Lenny Henry taking the role of bass singer for a short while) occurred until the band split in 1985. Since then, a variety of "best of" albums have been released, including a Warner's "The Platinum Collection".
Since 2005, the band sporadically reform for one-off concerts, with Griff Fender, Den Hegarty, Horatio Hornblower and others playing to great aplomb to sold-out venues.More information at www.amazingdarts.com
2) Melbourne based indie-punk band "Darts", kicked started their career when they won the chance to perform on the Groovin The Moo Festival main stage via triple J Unearthed. In 2012, their debut album ‘Habitual Slack’ was released in Melbourne with mastering duties left to the renowned Howie Weinberg. (Nirvana, Modest Mouse, Sonic Youth, Yeah Yeah Yeah's) The well received album was enough to get them invited back to Groovin The Moo Festival a second time in 2012. http://dartsmusic.com
Westward Bound
Darts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My stormy bay harbouring fleets
Of desperation, waves of sound
Oh god help me, I'm westward bound
They look to me to make a stand
I've lost my gun, I'm not a man
I'm just a boy with years intact
Out on the porch I hear a thud
My place is here stuck in the mud
They walk on by, so gracefully
Out in the street, crowded lonely
Oh how they sway, those saddened eyes
Mirroring back those stormy skies
No mark i've left before I die
I'll fade away, unnoticed sigh
I get called out down by the sea
The one I love is yet to be
Born standing up, I'm on my knees
The one I love is yet to be
And heaven holds those in lament
Scattered in dust, my name's regret
In my reprise, so safe and sound
Oh god help me, i'm westward bound
They'll take me
Come take me
The lyrics of Westward Bound by Darts are tinged with regret, guilt and sorrow. The first line, "I shot a man down in the street" immediately sets a remorseful tone for the rest of the song. The singer is haunted by the act of shooting a man and seems to be on the run. The line "my stormy bay harbouring fleets" seems to indicate that he is seeking refuge somewhere. However, the "waves of sound" suggest that he is not finding solace in the place he seeks, but rather is surrounded by chaos and noise. The singer is crying out to God for help, feeling lost and directionless as he heads westward.
The second verse reveals that the singer has lost his gun and feels less of a man as a result. He describes himself as "just a boy with years intact," showing that he feels inadequate to face the situation he is in. He reveals that he shot the man in the back, suggesting a moment of cowardice that he now deeply regrets. The third verse is more reflective, as the singer watches the world go by outside his door. He observes the people outside with "saddened eyes" and sees their sorrow reflected back in the stormy skies. He laments that he will "fade away, unnoticed sigh" and that he has left no mark on the world.
Overall, the lyrics of Westward Bound are about a man who is running from his past, feeling haunted by his actions and unable to escape his guilt. He longs for redemption but also feels a sense of resignation that he will never be able to fully atone for what he has done.
Line by Line Meaning
I shot a man down in the street
I killed someone in public
My stormy bay harbouring fleets
My troubled mind is holding many negative thoughts
Of desperation, waves of sound
I am feeling hopeless and overwhelmed
Oh god help me, I'm westward bound
I am seeking help from a higher power and leaving for the West
They look to me to make a stand
People are counting on me to take action
I've lost my gun, I'm not a man
I am feeling powerless without my weapon
I'm just a boy with years intact
I am a young person with my whole life ahead of me
The man I shot, shot in the back
The person I killed was not facing me
Out on the porch I hear a thud
I hear a disturbing noise outside
My place is here stuck in the mud
I feel trapped and unable to move forward
They walk on by, so gracefully
People around me seem to be moving with ease and poise
Out in the street, crowded lonely
Despite the crowds, I feel alone and isolated
Oh how they sway, those saddened eyes
People's eyes reflect their own sadness
Mirroring back those stormy skies
Their eyes resemble stormy weather
No mark i've left before I die
I have not made a significant impact before my death
I'll fade away, unnoticed sigh
I will disappear without making a splash
I get called out down by the sea
I am summoned to go down to the ocean
The one I love is yet to be
I have not found my true love yet
Born standing up, I'm on my knees
Although I was born strong, I am now humbled
The one I love is yet to be
I still haven't found my destined love
And heaven holds those in lament
The grieving are taken to heaven
Scattered in dust, my name's regret
My name will be remembered with shame
In my reprise, so safe and sound
In my reflection, I am at peace
Oh god help me, i'm westward bound
I still seek divine intervention on my journey westward
They'll take me
They will capture me
Come take me
I am ready to be taken away
Contributed by Joseph F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.