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".
City Of Love
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just as the winter is dragging
What can I do with all of this?
Where can I put what I’m carrying?
All that remains is the city of love
All that remains is the city of love
The city of love
If you’ve got the will you’ve got to keep on going
No matter what the world is saying
No one can stop you, not until
You reach the end and lay down your burden
All that remains is the city of love
All that remains is the city of love
The city of love
Hold on
He said
She knows
It made sense
Don’t go
Too far
You can’t know
What matters
All that remains is the city of love
All that remains is the city of love
All that remains is the city of love
City of love
City of love
The lyrics to Deacon Blue's "City Of Love" portray a sense of weariness and longing for something meaningful. The singer expresses a loss of motivation and questions what to do with the burdens they carry. Despite the struggle, there is a glimmer of hope as they acknowledge the existence of the "city of love."
The repeated line "All that remains is the city of love" suggests that amidst all the difficulties and hardships, love is the only thing that truly matters and endures. It becomes a symbol of solace and redemption, a place where one can find a sense of purpose and belonging.
The verse "If you’ve got the will you’ve got to keep on going, no matter what the world is saying, no one can stop you" emphasizes the importance of determination and resilience. It encourages the listener to persist even in the face of adversity, as the journey towards the city of love is worth undertaking.
In the bridge section, the lyrics take on a more personal and intimate tone. The phrases like "Hold on," "She knows," and "Don't go too far" hint at a supportive relationship or conversation happening within the narrative. It shows that even in moments of doubt, there are people who understand and offer guidance, reminding us of the significance of human connections on the path towards finding love and purpose.
Overall, "City Of Love" is a song that explores the struggle to find meaning and the importance of love and resilience in navigating through life's challenges. It encourages the listener to persevere, knowing that there is a city of love waiting to be discovered.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost the will for keeping on
I have lost the motivation to continue
Just as the winter is dragging
Just like the never-ending and punishing winter
What can I do with all of this?
I don't know how to handle everything I'm facing
Where can I put what I’m carrying?
I don't know where to release the burden I'm carrying
If you’ve got the will you’ve got to keep on going
If you have the determination, you must continue pushing forward
No matter what the world is saying
Regardless of what others say or think
No one can stop you, not until
No one has the power to hinder you, at least until
You reach the end and lay down your burden
You complete your journey and let go of your troubles
Hold on
Stay strong, don't give up
He said
Someone mentioned
She knows
Some other person is aware
It made sense
It became clear and logical
Don’t go
Don't leave or go away
Too far
To an extreme distance or point
You can’t know
You are incapable of knowing
What matters
What truly holds importance
All that remains is the city of love
The only thing left is the place of love, where love still exists
City of love
A location symbolic of love and its influence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edgarwolff2181
That is Real Music!!! You hear every Beat of the Guitar, every breath of the singer , no
overdubbing, no technical Tricks and no stupid Loops!!!! SoGreat!!!
@eddiedst9066
Deacon blue, like a fine wine.
@paulinec6021
They havent lost their touch, love it and great band live, long live Deacon Blue (and Ken Bruce simply the best on radio)
@GymGarageMan
So touching so beautiful a heartfelt love letter to Glasgow this group just keep getting better!!!
@arock1988
I've never heard of these amazing people but what strikes me as someone who is a fan as of 12 hours ago is the sheer JOY these people have in playing and performing. <3 .
@dosanchoas
ck out their catalog, Amanda - a TREASURE you'll discover!!
@arock1988
@@dosanchoas I've been starting to and it's been lovely! So excited to have caught them just before the new album release too!
@darrenparr100
@@arock1988 Wow !! We need to talk... Such an amazing band :)
@bestthinger
Their earlier stuff is incredible too - enjoy being a fan
@sammcewan8295
Rain town album that’s all I have to say