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".
Love's Great Fears
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of seeing it all slip away
Well maybe now you`d be happy
Just to talk it out straight
If it`s just
Slipping away
About the danger of
Believing in plans in handAbout the role that you have in this delecate plan
If it`s just
Slipping away
Let`s talk it out now
Let`s name them one by one
One by one
Love`s great fears
Can`t you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Love`s great fears
Can`t you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
You know danger of believing that the summer`s gone
And with the fading light the feeling that
Love is falling
It`s all just
Slipping away
If you believe in
The dangers that you suppose
You think it can tumble down
None of us knows
It`s allSlipping away
Let`s talk it out now
Let`s name them one by one
One by one
Love`s great fears
Can`t you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Love`s great fears
Can`t you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Love`s great fears
Can`t you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Love`s great fears
Can`t you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
The lyrics to Deacon Blue's song Love's Great Fears speak about the fear of losing love or the fear of seeing it slip away. The opening lines talk about the agony of watching love slip away and how now it might be better to talk things through straightforwardly. The following lines warn about the danger of believing in plans that are made and the role each person has in a relationship. The repeated phrase "If it's just slipping away" emphasizes the idea that relationships can sometimes feel like they are falling apart or not going as planned.
The chorus, "Love's great fears, can't you see them burn, twist and turn, as you walk and learn" seems to be addressing these fears head-on. It speaks to the idea that we must face our fears and not let them consume us. The subsequent lyrics talk about the danger of accepting that love is fading away and the importance of understanding that none of us truly knows what will happen. The song suggests that it is better to talk things out and name our fears one by one rather than let them control us.
Overall, Love's Great Fears seems to be a song about the complexities and anxieties of relationships. It reminds listeners that relationships are not always straightforward and that it is important to face our fears and communicate openly.
Line by Line Meaning
You know the agony
You are familiar with the intense emotional pain
Of seeing it all slip away
That comes from watching everything you worked hard for disappear
Well maybe now you'd be happy
Perhaps now you would find contentment
Just to talk it out straight
By simply having an open and honest conversation
If it's just
Slipping away
If the situation can be characterized as slowly dissolving
About the danger of
Believing in plans in hand
Concerning the risky nature of trusting in predetermined courses of action
About the role that you have in this delicate plan
Regarding the part that you play in the fragile strategy
Let's talk it out now
Let's name them one by one
One by one
Let us communicate and articulate our concerns about the situation, methodically and thoroughly
Love's great fears
Can't you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
The various anxieties and apprehensions that come with love can be overwhelming and confusing, but with time and experience they can be overcome and understood
You know danger of believing that the summer's gone
You are aware of the peril of feeling that something has come to an end
And with the fading light the feeling that
Love is falling
The sense that love is waning as the brightness of the relationship dwindles
It's all just
Slipping away
All of it is gradually slipping from your grasp
If you believe in
The dangers that you suppose
You think it can tumble down
None of us knows
If you recognize and anticipate the risks, you may worry that everything could collapse, but in reality, nobody can be certain of what will happen
Love's great fears
Can't you see them burn
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
The many worries and fears associated with love can cause turmoil and confusion, but with experience and growth, they can eventually be understood and overcome
Twist and turn
As you walk and learn
As you navigate through the complexities of love, you may encounter unexpected twists and turns, but in the end, you will learn and grow from the experience
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JIM PRIME, RICKY ROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annfielding9854
Thanks for uploading this Very Very Special Song. I remember my Dad playing this song and now I'm a widow with two sons I GET IT. I know what what Love's Greatest Fears is. Thanks Again. Ann x
@allyross6971
I was 17 when this album came out in 1987. iconic and brilliant front cover of Glasgow. great band and brings back happy memories
@stevieh2501
I'm the same age.
Were did the time go my friend?
@graemepae2839
Meee tooo 17, in 87 :( wales
@charlesmacgregor2686
Did some fierce winching to this album at 18.
Saw them live in Newcastle supporting simple minds, magnificent gig, last one before my wife passed away.
Crying
@jca3183
this song is really one of the best I've ever heard. close to perfection
@Shelsight
One of the best songs of any debut album by any debut band, ever… it breaks my heart that it was never released as a single, but breaks my heart more when I listen to it - in a good way, as I know it’s one of the most perfect love songs ever…
@markmcl2013
Listening to Deacon Blue takes me right back when I was growing up and starting to venture into the pubs for the first time. Brilliant group fantastic songs unbelievable.
@Enrique-hc4hi
Yes.. you´re right. I have the same feeling, but from Spain
@sephenpay1
Mark Mclaughlin yep same here.was one of my first concerts saw them live 5 times back in the day..loved Raintown album