In the late 1960s he led a blues-rock trio called Love Sculpture, who scored a quasi-novelty hit by reworking Khachaturian's classical piece "Sabre Dance" as a speed-crazed rock number. "Sabre Dance" became a hit after garnering the enthusiastic attention of British DJ John Peel.
After Love Sculpture split, Edmunds had a number one single with "I Hear You Knocking", a Smiley Lewis cover. His only acting role followed, as a band member in the David Essex movie Stardust (1974 movie). After learning the trade of producer, culminating in a couple of singles in the style of Phil Spector, "Baby I Love You" and "Born To Be With You", he became linked with the pub rock movement of the early 1970s, producing Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe, and also The Flamin' Groovies, using a stripped down, grittier sound.
His own solo LP from that era, Subtle As A Flying Mallet, was similar in style. In 1977, the Brinsley Schwarz connection brought about a collaboration with Nick Lowe under the name Rockpile, with Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. For contractual reasons they could not record as Rockpile until 1980, but contemporary solo LPs (such as Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust and Edmunds' own Repeat When Necessary) were in fact group recordings. Dave Edmunds had more hits during this time, including Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk", Nick Lowe's "I Knew The Bride", Hank DeVito's "Queen of Hearts" ), Graham Parker's "Crawling From The Wreckage", and Melvin Endsley's "Singing The Blues" (originally a hit for Guy Mitchell).
Unexpectedly, after Rockpile relased their first LP under their own name (1980's Seconds Of Pleasure), the band split, generally attributed to tensions between Edmunds and Lowe. Edmunds spent the 1980s collaborating with and producing an assortment of artists, from Paul McCartney to King Kurt, and from The Stray Cats to Status Quo. He recorded the soundtrack for Porky's Revenge, supplying the main theme, "High School Nights", and was the musical director for a television special starring Carl Perkins, with assorted guests including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Rosanne Cash.
On his 1983 and 1984 releases, Information and Riff Raff, Edmunds collaborated on two songs with Jeff Lynne, the lead musician of Electric Light Orchestra. He recorded less frequently after the mid 1980s.
Edmunds now lives in Wales in semi-retirement, touring Scandinavia infrequently, after surviving a quadruple bypass several years ago.
Slipping Away
Dave Edmunds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little bit further now every day
I'm holding on, but I can't believe
This is how you want it to be
Oh, you're slipping away
Oh, you're slipping away
You never talk to me the way you did before
You ride through the city with your head held high
And all I can do is watch you go by
Oh, you're slipping away
Oh, you're slipping away
I'm gonna give it all I've got to give
I've got to hold on, see what tomorrow brings
You're slipping away, but give me one more try
One more chance to wipe these tears from my eyes
You're slipping away
Oh, you're slipping away
Dave Edmunds’s song “Slipping Away” is a heartbreaking ballad about a crumbling relationship. The singer feels as though their partner is slowly slipping away from them, a little bit more each day. They cling on, trying to hold their relationship together, but they can’t believe that this is really what their partner wants. The first verse sets the stage for the rest of the song, with the singer expressing their fear and sadness at losing their loved one. The repetition of “slipping away” throughout the song emphasizes just how painful this experience is for them.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer’s emotions. They feel as though they are walking down a long, dark road, unable to communicate with their partner in the way they used to. They watch as their partner goes about their life, head held high, while they are left behind. The chorus repeats, emphasizing that the singer is losing their partner bit by bit and they are unable to stop it.
In the final verse, the singer pleads with their partner to give them one more chance. They vow to give it their all and hold on, even though they know it might not work. The chorus repeats one last time, driving home the pain of losing someone you love.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of sadness and desperation, with the repetition of “slipping away” emphasizing just how much the singer is losing. The song is a powerful reminder of how painful it can be to watch someone you love slowly slip out of your grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
I can feel you slipping away from me
I am beginning to sense that you are moving away from me
A little bit further now every day
You are slipping away from me gradually each day
I'm holding on, but I can't believe
I am trying to hold on, but I am finding it hard to believe
This is how you want it to be
I am becoming convinced that this is what you want
Oh, you're slipping away
You are definitely slipping away from me
It feels like walking down a long, dark road
This situation feels like a long, difficult, and uncertain journey
You never talk to me the way you did before
You no longer communicate with me the way you used to
You ride through the city with your head held high
You move through the city with confidence and pride
And all I can do is watch you go by
But all I can do is watch you move on without me
I'm gonna give it all I've got to give
I am going to try my best to make it work
I've got to hold on, see what tomorrow brings
I need to keep holding on and hope for the best
You're slipping away, but give me one more try
You are slipping away, but please give me one more chance
One more chance to wipe these tears from my eyes
One more chance to make things right and stop crying
You're slipping away
Your love is slipping away from me
Oh, you're slipping away
Oh, how you are slipping away from me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF LYNNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@patrickbrent642
This was my favourite back in Summer '83...this and Electric Avenue from Eddy Grant. This immediately takes me back to Summer '83, when summer was great and those 3 months off from school lasted forever. Spending the days in the sun, swimming, riding your bike, staying up late etc...now at 52, I hate hot weather. Summer is fighting traffic every day, working long hours! I look forward to fall, now my favourite time of year. But I still love this song more than ever, reminds me of those endless summers of my childhood. Great times, great song. Sounds better almost 40 years later!!!! Long live rock!!
@klaws32
Man, every single thing you said is true! I'm 54, i remember that summer well, Lets Dance was popular that summer, too. Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics and Shes a Beauty by Tubes, too.
@patrickbrent642
@@klaws32 Oh yeah! Love those songs too! And let's not forget The Safety Dance...I had them all in my collection
@marshalllancaster2314
Martin Briley, Todd Rundgren, Rick Springfield. What a summer that was. New Wave took over like in no other summer.
@Milesco
Yeah, I too have fond memories of 1983. Just turned 16...hanging out and driving around with my friends...the radio was full of great New Wave tunes like She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby), Lies (The Thompson Twins), Always Something There to Remind Me and Promises, Promises by Naked Eyes, Our House by Madness, Space Age Love Song and Wishing (I Had a Photograph of You) by A Flock of Seagulls, Puttin' on the Ritz by Taco, You Should Hear How She Talks About You by Melissa Manchester, "Stand By" by Roman Holiday, and many others.
I really miss those fun, carefree days! 😥
@henryhenrison7122
Are you me?!😅
@burlingtonbill1
Dave Edmunds + Jeff Lynne = Pure Ecstasy. Awesome 80's single. Too easily overlooked !
@CSavageSr
wait. Jeff was involved?
@CSavageSr
yes. now i hear.
@tonyfan3
Oh that’s interesting Jeff Lynne being a part of the music. Definitely hear it now! 😮