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".
Real Gone Kid
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I've got in these books
Just to find you some words
Just to get some reward
And I'll show you all the photographs
That I ever got took
And I'll play you old 45s
That now mean nothing to me
[Chorus]
And you're a real gone kid
And maybe now baby (maybe now baby)
Maybe now baby (maybe now baby)
Maybe now baby (maybe now baby)
I'll do what I should have did
Now I've stood on your shadow
And I've watched it grow
And it's shaken and it's driven me
And let me know
About all the old 45s
And the paperback rooms
And it's scattered all the photographs
Of summers and suns
[Chorus]
Cause you're a real gone kid
I cried and I craved
Hoped and I saved
And I put away those souvenirs (souvenirs, souvenirs)
Cried and I craved
Hoped and I savedAnd I put away those souvenirs (souvenirs, souvenirs)
[Chorus]
Cause you're a real gone kid
The lyrics to Deacon Blue's "Real Gone Kid" describe feelings of deep regret and an overwhelming desire to make things right with a lover. The singer seems to be at the end of his tether, willing to discard all of his past experiences in order to find the right words to express how he feels. He talks about tearing out pages from books to find the perfect words, playing old 45's that no longer hold any meaning to him, and showing all the photographs he ever took in a desperate attempt to connect with his partner. The singer acknowledges that he has made mistakes and failed to act how he should have, but he's now determined to make things right.
The chorus, "And you're a real gone kid" seems to be a term of endearment for the lover. The phrase "real gone" can signify that someone is a great person or an exciting, dynamic individual. By referring to his partner as a "real gone kid," the singer is expressing his admiration and affection for them. The repetition of "maybe now baby" in the chorus seems to suggest that the singer is hopeful that their renewed efforts will finally make things right and that they can move forward together.
Overall, "Real Gone Kid" is a deeply emotional song that pulls at the heartstrings. It speaks to the human experience of making mistakes, feeling regret, and being determined to make things right with the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
And I'd tear out the pages
I would go to great lengths to find the right words for you.
That I've got in these books
My willingness to find the right words is so strong that I would rip them out of books.
Just to find you some words
I want to find words that will fulfill your desires and bring you joy.
Just to get some reward
I am motivated by the prospect of making you happy.
And I'll show you all the photographs
I want to share all my memories with you.
That I ever got took
I collected these pictures to treasure these moments in my life.
And I'll play you old 45's
I will bring out my old music to bond with you.
That now mean nothing to me
The meaning of the music has changed for me, but I want to share it with you anyway.
And you're a real gone kid
You are someone who is always on the go and full of energy.
And maybe now baby
Perhaps now is the time to act on my feelings.
Maybe now baby
I need to stop delaying and take action.
Maybe now baby
There is a sense of urgency to express my love.
Maybe now baby
I can no longer wait to show my affection.
Maybe now baby
There is no better time than the present.
Maybe now baby
I should not let fear hold me back.
I'll do what I should have did
I will finally act on my true feelings.
Now I've stood on your shadow
I've been watching you closely and admiring you from afar.
And I've watched it grow
I have seen your potential and growth first-hand.
And it's shaken and it's driven me
Your charisma and energy have compelled me to act.
And let me know
Your presence has shown me what I truly desire.
Let me know let me know let me know let me know
I am now certain of my feelings after observing you for so long.
About all the old 45s
I want to share the music that has impacted me with you.
And the paperback rooms
I want to share my love of books and reading with you.
And it's scattered all the photographs
I've collected all these memories and want to share them with you.
Of summers and suns
These photos depict my happiest moments in life.
Cause you're a real gone kid
You have a youthful spirit and a desire to experience life to the fullest.
And maybe now baby
I can no longer deny my feelings and need to act on them.
Maybe now baby
There is no better time than the present to pursue a relationship.
Maybe now baby
I have been putting off my feelings for too long and need to act on them.
Maybe now baby
I am certain in my heart that I cannot let this opportunity go to waste.
Maybe now baby
I need to be brave and take action.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICKY ROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@solaire-jd8jd
Ah, Deacon Blue. This was really a 90s song - the last decade before all the angst.
High school of course was the best and worst of times. We were all just kids (real gone) and these songs were the soundtrack of our lives.
I moved on after a difficult adolescence, and went from strength to strength. Model looks, money, opportunities and most importantly a loving family.
I didn't (sadly) get to know many people at school, and lost contact with them all. That said, I hope they are somewhere in the world, and safe and happy - especially the girl who looked like the blonde at 0:26.
Super cute.
Peace.
@fraggit
This was in the charts when I met my wife at 21, she was 19. Got married 6 years later, first daughter 3 yrs after that and still happily married with two very grown up daughters, happy times, sigh. I hope anybody reading this is as fortunate as me.
@daveworsley8289
Me 2❤
@daveworsley8289
Going to see them in South Africa in Feb2024
@deedee1942
My hubby and I echo your sentiment .God bless your family for another good year ahead.
@bodhid
That’s all anyone could want. The older I get the more I grasp what really matters.
@jakeandrew9777
Good stuff bro! Sending love to your family
@ruthharvey5896
This was played at my sisters funeral the other day. I will play this song with it hitting a little different from now on. Rest in peace my beautiful angel, Elizabeth. Forever 39 💙💜💚💛🧡❤️
@TGBatty
Wow that is so powerful..so sorry for your loss
@shashiheera1414
May she rest in peace
@lifeonmars740
❤