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".
Still In The Mood
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under a blueblack sky
They talked the slow way home
Of years passed closely by
They caught only a casual look
From strangers with things to do
Only a loveless heart
Could feel anything less than sure
That they're still in the mood
Still in the mood
After the time has passed
They were still in the mood
You'd take the chimes of midnight
To be the drum of your heart's desire
And you'd change all you're golden rings
For one time on the wheel of fire
So take off your shabby coat
Let all the leaves fall down
Leave this stuff till morning
And then come gently round
To be still in the mood
Still in the mood
When the sun has come up
We'll be still in the mood
We're still in the mood
Still in the mood
After the time has passed
We are still in the mood
The song “Still in the Mood” by Deacon Blue tells the story of a couple who are deeply in love despite having been together for many years. They walk home together under a waning moon and blue-black sky, talking slowly about the years that have gone by. They catch only a casual look from strangers who have places to be, whose loveless hearts could feel nothing less than sure. Despite the passing of time, the couple is “still in the mood” for love. They would take the chimes of midnight to be the drumbeat of desire in their hearts, willing to trade all their golden rings for one more moment of fire before taking off their coats and letting the leaves fall down to embrace the morning.
The lyrics convey both a deep sense of comfort in the couple’s love for each other and a sense of urgency to live life to the fullest while they still can. The moon and sky indicate the passing of time, and the casual looks of strangers, while they do not know it, signify the hardening of hearts against love. The imagery of falling leaves suggests that even in this autumnal stage of their relationship, the couple will continue to shed old ways and experiences to make room for new growth. The song is an ode to love that persists despite the passage of time and the obstacles life may present.
Line by Line Meaning
By the light of the waning moon
Under the dim light of the moon fading away, they were together
Under a blueblack sky
They walked together under the dark blue sky
They talked the slow way home
They spoke unhurriedly on their way back
Of years passed closely by
They reminisced about the years that they had spent near each other
They caught only a casual look
They were glanced at casually by strangers rushing past
From strangers with things to do
Those strangers had other activities to attend to
Only a loveless heart
A person incapable of love
Could feel anything less than sure
Would not be certain of the love between the two of them
That they're still in the mood
Despite the passage of time, they remain in love
Still in the mood
They still have the same devoted feelings
After the time has passed
Even though years have elapsed
They were still in the mood
Their love never faded
You'd take the chimes of midnight
You would liken the striking of midnight to the beating of your heart
To be the drum of your heart's desire
Which would mean it is the beat of your desires
And you'd change all you're golden rings
You would trade your valuable possessions
For one time on the wheel of fire
For a chance at living your life to its fullest extent
So take off your shabby coat
Remove any hindrances that may be limiting you from being happy
Let all the leaves fall down
Allow all doubts and worries to disappear
Leave this stuff till morning
Resolve these issues the following day
And then come gently round
Now you can approach everything with a clear mind and positive attitude
When the sun has come up
After the new day has started
We'll be still in the mood
They will still be passionately in love
We're still in the mood
As of now, they remain loving
After the time has passed
Even though years have elapsed
We are still in the mood
They still have the same adoring feelings
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ricky Ross
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