This predominantly Glaswegian act became one of the top-selling UK bands of the late 1980s/early 1990s. The group's members were Ricky Ross, Lorraine McIntosh, James Prime, Dougie Vipond, Ewan Vernal and Graeme Kelling.
Ross, a former school teacher originally from Dundee, was the group's frontman, penning the vast majority of Deacon Blue's songs. He married female vocalist Lorraine McIntosh in the later years of the band's career. McIntosh, born May 1964 in Glasgow joined the band in 1987 as a vocalist.
The band's first album, Raintown, produced by Jon Kelly and released in 1987, is regarded by many as the band's finest effort, spawning the singles "Dignity", "Chocolate Girl" and "Loaded". Many consider Raintown to be a concept album, since nearly all the songs contribute to the overall theme of being stuck in a dead-end life in a deprived city longing for something better. The city that the album's title refers to is Glasgow, and the memorable cover art of the album is a shot of the River Clyde's docks taken on a miserable day from Kelvingrove Park.
The second album, 1988's When The World Knows Your Name, was the band's most commercially successful, with the mega-selling singles "Real Gone Kid", "Wages Day" and "Fergus Sings The Blues". However, music critics began deriding the band at this stage for pursuing commercial success over artistic quality, citing the earlier achievements of Raintown.
Jon Kelly returned to the producer's chair in 1991 for Fellow Hoodlums, and the album was met with more critical success, but by now the group's honeymoon period was over and their success started to wane. This album was followed up with Whatever You Say, Say Nothing in 1993, a much more experimental album which gained praise from the critics, but was a commercial failure.
The band released a Greatest Hits compilation the following year.
With Vipond's decision to quit the group in favour for a career in television, Deacon Blue split up in 1994.
Five years later, the band held an unexpected reunion gig in 1999, and this led on to a new album, Walking Back Home, with the band now working on a part-time basis.
The band released another album, Homesick, in 2001.
Though Graeme Kelling died from cancer in 2004, the band has vowed to continue in his absence.
The year 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite".
The band performed at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, as the pre-match entertainment for the Rugby League Super League Grand Final on the 14 October, and continued on to a full UK tour in November.
The album The Hipsters was released in 2012.
http://www.deaconblue.com/, followed by A New House, Believers, City of Love and Riding On The Tide Of Love.
In 2023 the band released a greatest hits set titled "All The Old 45's" along with a box set of all their albums titled "You Can Have It All".
Circus Lights
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're thankful for this blessed rain
And you think you'd know
But your old friends have to tell you again
Your books taught you all you know
Your tastes and patterns and your tv shows
But you can never follow where they won't let you goSometimes it's so hard to know
You want to display your charms
On this bright night
You want to display your charms
On this bright night
You want to display your charms
Over these circus Christmas lights
Your cares your misanthropy
Your distant gaze is missing me
And your jewelery that's what blinded me
From the reality
You want to display your charms
On this bright night
You want to display your charms
On this bright night
You want to display your charms
Over these circus Christmas lights
You want to display your charms
On this bright night
You want to display your charms
On this bright night
You want to display your charms
Over these circus Christmas lights
Over the sea
Over the land and the city
Deacon Blue's song Circus Lights is a poignant and introspective track that speaks to the idea of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself, as well as the desperation to be seen and acknowledged by others. The opening lines immediately set the tone for the track, with the singer noting how exhausted and angry he feels, despite being grateful for the rain. He comes to the realization that although he thought he had everything figured out, he still finds himself lost and in need of guidance from his old friends.
The lyrics also speak to the idea of being trapped by one's own tastes and patterns, and the difficulty of breaking free from these constraints. The singer acknowledges that he wants to be seen and admired, but that he is also aware of the superficiality of this desire. He recognizes that his own misanthropy and detachment from others is making it difficult for him to truly connect with those around him, and that he is often blinded by the allure of material possessions.
Overall, Circus Lights is a powerful commentary on the struggles of modern life, and the ways that we can become disconnected from both ourselves and others. It speaks to the idea of wanting to be seen and acknowledged, even while recognizing the futility of these desires. The track is a true testament to Deacon Blue's ability to capture complex emotions through their evocative lyrics and haunting melodies.
Line by Line Meaning
You're tired and you say you're angry
You're exhausted and upset
You're thankful for this blessed rain
You're grateful for the rain that brings relief
And you think you'd know
You believed you understood things
But your old friends have to tell you again
But your previous companions have to remind you about the same things
Your books taught you all you know
You gained knowledge from your reading material
Your tastes and patterns and your tv shows
Your preferences, style, and television entertainment shaped you
But you can never follow where they won't let you go
But you can never move forward if others restrict you
Sometimes it's so hard to know
Oftentimes it's challenging to discern
You want to display your charms
You desire to showcase your attractive qualities
On this bright night
On this luminous evening
Over these circus Christmas lights
Above these festive illuminations
Your cares your misanthropy
Your concerns and hatred of humanity
Your distant gaze is missing me
You're not focusing on me due to your aloofness
And your jewelry that's what blinded me
And your ornaments that's what deceived me
From the reality
From the actuality
Over the sea
Across the ocean
Over the land and the city
Across the terrain and urban areas
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@janekellie3472
I Remember first Running To Glasgow
I tried calling A Wee Bluff....To My Nosey
" Scouse Woman" Friend's.
....Whom I Tried To Blag..It didn't take effect.... So Three Birds Jumped On Board 2.
Did they BEHAVE THEMSELVES ?!?!?!?!!!!
.... At The Radisson...NAH...
SO , The Glasgow Hotel On Jamaica ST
TOOK US ON...Oh My Friends Caused...
A Pain In The Arse & The Travis At The Barra 's Voice...Had No Other Choice..But To
Comply..I'd Love To Tell You Why.
See Deacon Blue ..The Stars Of The Show
Where Playing In Their Home Glasgow.
# The Motto Of The Story...
Never Let 2 Scouse Woman Set Free
Cause Their Keeper ....Me...
Cried When Her Friends Back Home Did They Have To Go..
__''______________________
@NFTinvestments74
Their voices just compliment each other like nothing else. It's stunning!
@rogerbillings5081
Every time I hear a Deacon Blue song it's my instant favourite - until I hear their next song! Utterly brilliant band!!!
@andydaly8157
Lorraine Mackintosh.......
Absolutely hypnotic ❤️❤️❤️
@JoeDiducaPhotography
This is at the Glasgow SECC in December 1989. My friends were at the show. Growing up in Glasgow in the late 80s Deacon Blue were utterly woven into the human experience as much as food and sleep. I finally got to see them at Glasgow Green on The Big Day in summer 1990. Fantastic.
@alanmcnamara4180
I was there
@eightiesmusic1984
A great comment. It must have been an exciting time. It is a shame that The Big Day has not been released on DVD as far as I am aware. Deacon Blue's performance on the day looks good though it is hard to tell from the poor quality footage on You Tube. Ricky Ross' condemnation of Labour ( I am a socialist) for betraying Scotland was entirely apt and it is just as valid today when considering the political class as a whole. I live in England and have to say I am very impressed by the conduct of SNP MPs in parliament; it is clear they know their subjects and they speak with a directness combined with authenticity.
@pencil123ify
A very happy time
@boxingiconsandlegends2915
Circus lights, my favourite Deacon Blue song. Back to the days in 89’ when I fell in love 😍
@MrMarky2007
The instrumental intro to this is unreal !
@Sunset_City_Blues
MrMark2007 It's brilliant. When I listen to tracks like this I wonder why Deacon Blue didn't have more success. It's good to see they're still around though, 30 years after they formed.