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 Hurts
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Any heart not tough nor strong enough
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Love is like a cloud holds a lot of rain
Love hurts, ooh, ooh, love hurts
I'm young I know but even so
I know a thing or two I learned from you
I really learned a lot, really learned a lotLove is like a stove burns you when it's hot
Love hurts, mmm, mmm, love hurts
Some fools dream of happiness
Blissfulness, togetherness
Some fools fool themselves I guess
But they're not fooling me
I know it isn't true, know it isn't true
Love is just a lie made to make you blue
Love hurts, ooh, ooh, love hurts
The Deacon Blue song "Love Hurts" is a lamentation on the painful and often destructive nature of love. The lyrics describe how love can leave one with scars and wounds, and that it takes a strong heart to withstand the pain that comes with it. The comparison of love to a cloud that holds a lot of rain hints at the volatile and unpredictable nature of love, which can often lead to hurt and disappointment. The second verse further emphasizes this theme as the singer admits to being young, but having learned a lot about love, likening it to a hot stove that can burn you if you get too close.
The chorus of "Love hurts, ooh, ooh, love hurts" reinforces the idea that love is not always a blissful experience, but rather can be painful and heartbreaking. The final verse takes a cynical perspective on love, with the singer stating that some people may fool themselves into believing in a fairy tale kind of love, but they are not fooling him. He asserts that love is often just a lie used to make people feel blue.
Overall, the lyrics of "Love Hurts" paint a bleak picture of love, but one that is often all too true. It acknowledges the pain that can come with love while also recognizing the lessons that can be learned as a result.
Line by Line Meaning
Love hurts, love scars, love wounds and mars
Love can be painful and leave lasting marks on your heart and soul, making it difficult to trust again.
Any heart not tough nor strong enough
Only those with a resilient and strong heart can survive the pain and scars that come with love.
To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain
Those who desire love must be willing to endure hardships and hurt to truly experience it.
Love is like a cloud holds a lot of rain
Love is unpredictable and can bring a storm of emotions and uncertainty, just as a cloud can release a downpour of rain.
I'm young I know but even so
Although I may not have experienced love for very long, I have already learned some of its complexities and difficulties.
I know a thing or two I learned from you
You have taught me valuable lessons about love, both good and bad, that I will carry with me in future relationships.
I really learned a lot, really learned a lot
I have gained a deeper understanding of love and its complexities through my experiences with you.
Love is like a stove burns you when it's hot
Just as a stove can burn you when it's hot, love can also cause pain and hurt when it becomes too intense or overwhelming.
Some fools dream of happiness
Some people have unrealistic expectations about love, believing that it will always bring happiness and bliss.
Blissfulness, togetherness
They imagine a perfect and harmonious relationship with their partner.
Some fools fool themselves I guess
However, these individuals are deluding themselves and ignoring the harsh realities of love and relationships.
But they're not fooling me
I recognize that love is difficult and unpredictable, and I don't believe in idealized notions of it.
I know it isn't true, know it isn't true
I am aware that the notion of love as something perfect and blissful is unrealistic and untrue.
Love is just a lie made to make you blue
Love can often let you down and disappoint you, leaving you feeling sad and melancholic.
Love hurts, ooh, ooh, love hurts
Despite its challenges, love is still worth pursuing, even if it may leave you hurt and scarred in the end.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Boudleaux Bryant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nigel Smith
on Long Window To Love
This whole explanation is completely wrong. The song is about the Labour Party not winning a general election