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".
Waves Of Sorrow
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you'll watch and wait and lie beneath each one
When the last things gone and broken you'll never even know
But another place will open and you'll begin again
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Just gifts of love baby
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Just gifts of love baby
And in your waving sorrow and in your drowning pain
Caught in the seconds glimpse the will to love again
When the last things gone broken you'll never even know
But another place will open and you'll begin again
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Just gifts of love baby
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Just gifts of love baby
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
There are waves and waves of sorrow still to come
And you'll watch and wait and lie beneath each one
There are waves and waves of sorrow still to come
In the song "Waves of Sorrow" by Deacon Blue, the lyrics speak to the inevitability of facing difficult times, represented as waves of sorrow that continue to come. The imagery of waves conveys the relentless nature of sorrow and challenges in life. The listener is urged to watch, wait, and endure these waves, lying beneath each one, suggesting a sense of surrender and acceptance of the pain that comes with these experiences.
The repetition of the idea that when the last thing is gone and broken, the individual may not even realize it, hints at the deep-seated nature of suffering and loss. However, the lyrics offer a glimmer of hope by suggesting that a new beginning awaits, and another place will open for the person to start afresh. This theme of renewal and resilience in the face of sorrow is a central message of the song.
The lines "No sorrows like sorrow and pain, Just gifts of love baby" suggest a nuanced perspective on suffering, indicating that sorrow and pain are not to be avoided but embraced as opportunities for growth and connection. The idea that these challenges are ultimately gifts of love underscores the transformative power of difficult experiences in shaping one's character and capacity for love and empathy.
The repetition of the phrase "No sorrows like sorrow and pain, Just gifts of love baby" throughout the song reinforces the idea that despite the waves of sorrow still to come, there is a deeper meaning and purpose behind these struggles. The lyrics convey a message of hope, resilience, and the ability to find love and renewal even in the darkest moments of life. Overall, the song encourages listeners to face their sorrows with courage and openness, knowing that new beginnings and opportunities for love and growth will always emerge.
Line by Line Meaning
There are waves and waves of sorrow still to come
Numerous waves of grief and sadness are yet to arrive in your life.
And you'll watch and wait and lie beneath each one
You will observe, endure, and feel the weight of each wave of sorrow as it crashes down upon you.
When the last things gone and broken you'll never even know
When everything you cherish is lost and shattered, you may remain unaware of the extent of your losses.
But another place will open and you'll begin again
However, a new opportunity will arise, allowing you to start afresh.
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
There is no suffering quite like deep emotional anguish and heartbreak.
Just gifts of love baby
Yet, amidst the suffering, there are also precious reminders of love.
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Indeed, the intensity of grief and hurt is unparalleled.
Just gifts of love baby
Nonetheless, these painful experiences can reveal the strength of love that surrounds you.
And in your waving sorrow and in your drowning pain
Amidst the turmoil of your grief and the overwhelming nature of your suffering,
Caught in the seconds glimpse the will to love again
In fleeting moments, you may rediscover the desire to embrace love once more.
When the last things gone broken you'll never even know
As before, when all you hold dear is lost and fractured, you might not realize the full impact of it.
But another place will open and you'll begin again
Yet, a new chapter in your life will emerge, presenting you with opportunities to restart.
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
The depth of sorrow and anguish is unique and profound.
Just gifts of love baby
And still, those experiences can lead to the revelation of love's true essence.
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Indeed, the weight of grief and suffering is unmatched.
Just gifts of love baby
However, amidst this, moments of love shine through as precious treasures.
No sorrows like sorrow and pain
Once more, it is evident that sorrow and pain are unparalleled in their intensity.
Just gifts of love
Yet, even within that pain, there lie beautiful tokens of love.
There are waves and waves of sorrow still to come
Indeed, many more waves of grief await you in the future.
And you'll watch and wait and lie beneath each one
You will experience them fully, enduring each surge of sorrow as it passes over you.
There are waves and waves of sorrow still to come
Ultimately, numerous additional challenges of sadness will inevitably arise.
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