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".
The Very Thing
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll stand outside this orchard and we'll talk
When all is said all is done
We'll still be thinking about home
They say that love might be the very thing
If only it could be
And making love is more than anythingAnd all these thing like buildings
And faces
And memories
And places
Don't count for anything
I'll gladly draw the lines of duty
Watching summer turn to gold
She's not content with responsibility
She wants to have and then to hold
They say that love might be the very thing
If only it could be
And making love is more than anything
And all these thing like buildings
And faces
And memories
And places
Don't count for anything
[Repeat: x3]
One day all of us will work
The lyrics of "The Very Thing" by Deacon Blue speak to the idea that no matter what we accomplish in life or what we accumulate, it is love that ultimately matters. The first verse discusses the idea of working and standing outside an orchard talking, with the implication being that they are taking a break from work to appreciate the beauty around them. The second verse further emphasizes the importance of love, positing that it is more valuable than buildings, memories, and places. The chorus repeats the idea that love might be the very thing that makes life worth living.
The final verse of the song speaks to the tension between responsibility and love. The singer is willing to fulfill their duty and watch summer turn to gold, but their partner wants more than just responsibility - they also want to hold and be held. This speaks to the idea that it can be difficult to balance the demands of adult life with the desire for intimacy and connection.
Overall, "The Very Thing" is a song that encourages listeners to prioritize love over material possessions and to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
One day all of us will work
At some point in our lives, we will all engage in some form of work or occupation.
We'll stand outside this orchard and we'll talk
We will gather outside and have conversations, possibly while enjoying the scenery of an orchard.
When all is said all is done
After everything has been said and done, and all events have occurred.
We'll still be thinking about home
Despite our various experiences in life, we will still yearn for our homes and the comfort they provide.
They say that love might be the very thing
It is believed that love could be the key to happiness and fulfillment.
If only it could be
However, it is often difficult to achieve this ideal state of being.
And making love is more than anything
Intimate relations hold a special significance that cannot be replaced by anything else.
And all these thing like buildings
Tangible objects such as buildings and structures, which may seem important, are ultimately insignificant when compared to love and human connection.
And faces
Even the faces of loved ones, while meaningful, cannot replace the depth of love and affection shared between two individuals.
And memories
Memories, while cherished, can only provide a fleeting sense of nostalgia when compared to the fulfillment of love.
And places
Likewise, places and locations hold little significance when compared to the importance of human connection and affection.
Don't count for anything
Ultimately, none of these material things can compare to the importance and value of love and human relationships.
I'll gladly draw the lines of duty
The singer is willing to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations with a sense of pride and willingness.
Watching summer turn to gold
Observing the natural beauty of seasonal change, as summer fades into autumn and the leaves turn golden.
She's not content with responsibility
The subject of the song is not satisfied solely with fulfilling their duties, and seeks deeper meaning and fulfillment in life.
She wants to have and then to hold
The artist desires not just to possess things, but to hold and cherish them as important and meaningful parts of their life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: 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