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".
message to michael
Deacon Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kentucky bluebird fly away
And take a
Message to Michael, message to Michael
He sings each night in some cafe
In search to find wealth and fame
I hear Michael has gone and changed his name
Its a year since he was here
Kentucky bluebird , fly away
And take a
Message to Michael, message to Michael
Tell I miss him more each day
As his train pulled out down the track
Michael promised he'd soon be coming back
Oh tell how my heart just breaks into
Since he'd journeyed far
And even though his dreams of fame fell through
To me he will always be a star
Spread you wings for New Orleans
Kentucky bluebird fly away
And take
Message to Michael , message to Michael
Ask him to start for home today
When you see him please let him know
Rich or poor I will always love him so
Fly away Kentucky bluebird
Fly away Kentucky bluebird, fly
Fly away Kentucky bluebird
Fly away
Come on, come on, come on, home tonight
Take it, take it, home tonight
All the lights will be shining home tonight
Baby come home,baby come home
The Deacon Blue song "Message to Michael" is a heartfelt plea from a lover to a musician who has left to pursue their dreams. The lyrics begin with the singer telling the Kentucky bluebird to fly away and take a message to Michael, who is now singing in a cafe somewhere in search of wealth and fame. The singer notes that Michael has changed his name and it has been a year since he was last there. The next verse is the singer saying that they miss him every day and that Michael promised to return. The chorus repeats the message to Michael and asks him to start for home today, and the bridge talks about how the singer's heart breaks since Michael journeyed far and that he will always be a star.
Line by Line Meaning
Spread you wings for New Orleans
Leave Kentucky and go explore the world outside of your comfort zone.
Kentucky bluebird fly away
Leave behind the old and embrace new experiences.
And take a message to Michael, message to Michael
Pass along a message to someone who is far away.
He sings each night in some cafe
Michael performs regularly in hopes of becoming famous.
In search to find wealth and fame
Michael is chasing his dreams of success and fortune.
I hear Michael has gone and changed his name
Michael has altered his identity to pursue his aspirations.
Its a year since he was here
Michael has been away for quite some time.
Tell I miss him more each day
Express how much this person is missed and longed for.
As his train pulled out down the track
Michael left by train to chase his dreams.
Michael promised he'd soon be coming back
Michael will be returning home soon as he promised.
Oh tell how my heart just breaks into
The singer's heart is filled with sadness and despair.
Since he'd journeyed far
Michael has gone on a long journey in search of success.
And even though his dreams of fame fell through
Although Michael did not achieve the level of success he was hoping for, he remains important to the singer.
To me he will always be a star
Michael will always be significant and talented in the eyes of the singer.
Ask him to start for home today
Encourage Michael to come back home to be with the singer.
When you see him please let him know
When you come across Michael, pass along an important message to him.
Rich or poor I will always love him so
Regardless of Michael's financial status, the artist will always love him deeply.
Fly away Kentucky bluebird
Leave behind the past and start anew.
Come on, come on, come on, home tonight
Urgently call for Michael's return.
Take it, take it, home tonight
Take whatever action is necessary to bring Michael home.
All the lights will be shining home tonight
Everything will come together once Michael finally returns home.
Baby come home,baby come home
Express deep longing and desire for this person to come back home.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
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