Early rehearsals in Justin's parents house were followed by a move to secret rehearsal space behind some storage cartons in the basement of Glasgow Art Centre (now defunct). Later on the band secured official rehearsal space at the Art Centre in a proper room with a cupboard to keep their gear in. Postcard Record signing and future megastars Aztec Camera rehearsed in the room next door. At this time Paul Tyagi (drums) joined the band as its first drummer. The first recorded Del Amitri track "What she Calls it" was the B side of a flexi-disc given away free with Stand and Deliver fanzine - the A side was given to another future Glasgow megaband The Bluebells. Unable to read music, early Del tracks were arranged and remembered according to 'bits' named after musical influences that included from Genesis, Captain Beefheart and Orange Juice.
Guitarists Bentley and Scobbie left in 1982 for university and the band faced a brief uncertain future until Justin Currie placed an advert in the window of a music store asking for people who could play to contact him, and the new line-up was formed with Currie (bass and vocals), Iain Harvie (lead guitar), Bryan Tolland (guitar) and Paul Tyagi (drums). The first non-flexi 45 single was 'Crows in the Wheatfield' with cover design by artist Laura Michael. Tyagi left after the release of the first album three years later becoming a successful photographer. Currie and Harvie were the only members of the band to remain present throughout its history – they were also the main songwriters of the group.
Jon McLoughlin (recorded and toured with the band during 'Some Other Suckers Parade') passed away in March 2005 from complications of Diabetes. He was 42.
Paper Thin
Del Amitri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Made a killing on copper mine
Loved beautiful girls
Got a taste for fancy wine
And the suits he wore
Were paper thin
He built a big white house
Took a beautiful wife
Bought her every possible thing
And the silk she wore
Was paper thin
Well they traveled in style
Paid cash for everything
Had a beautiful child
Had a champagne christening
But as they raised their glasses in toast to him
He saw the crystal was paper thin
So shadows came
Whispering words to him
Sold the company out
And cashed all those futures in
But it all still looked so
Paper thin
Well it was late one night
And the rain was streamin' down
He called his wife's name out
And said honey it's over now
I'm gonna burn it all
I can't take this anymore
But as he struck the match
She took a pistol from the drawer
She said I ain't going down with you
Pulled the trigger in
And the bullet it passed right through
Like he was paper thin
Del Amitri's song Paper Thin tells the story of a self-made man who made a fortune on a copper mine, loved beautiful women and had a taste for fancy things. The suits he wore and the silk his wife wore were paper thin. The couple built a big white house in the valley of the kings, traveled in style, had a beautiful child, and celebrated with a champagne christening. However, as he raised his glass to toast himself, he realized that everything was paper-thin, everything he had, all the wealth and the success were nothing but superficial.
The shadows started whispering to him, and he sold his company and cashed out his futures. However, everything still looked so paper-thin. One night, during the rain, he decided to burn it all down and end his life. But his wife, who was tired of living in this empty charade, took a pistol and pulled the trigger, killing him. The bullet passed through him like he was paper-thin, symbolizing how fragile and superficial everything they had was.
The song is a commentary on the emptiness of materialism and the pursuit of success at any cost. The man in the song had everything he wanted, but it was not enough. The lyrics tell the story of how the couple's lives were nothing more than a façade, hiding their emptiness and misery. In the end, the singer realizes that all his wealth was nothing but paper thin and fails to provide him with true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
He was a self made man
He was a man who achieved success through his own efforts.
Made a killing on copper mine
He made a huge profit from owning a copper mine.
Loved beautiful girls
He had a fondness for attractive women.
Got a taste for fancy wine
He developed an appreciation for expensive wine.
And the suits he wore Were paper thin
The expensive clothing he wore was a façade that hid his true self.
He built a big white house
He constructed a large mansion.
In the valley of the kings
His home was located in an affluent neighborhood.
Took a beautiful wife
He married an attractive woman.
Bought her every possible thing
He purchased everything his wife could possibly want.
And the silk she wore Was paper thin
Despite her expensive clothing, she was not truly fulfilled or happy.
Well they traveled in style
The couple journeyed in luxury.
Paid cash for everything
They only used cash to make purchases.
Had a beautiful child
They had a lovely son or daughter.
Had a champagne christening
Their child was christened with champagne.
But as they raised their glasses in toast to him
As they celebrated their success with him.
He saw the crystal was paper thin
He realized that the joy and success they enjoyed was fragile and superficial.
So shadows came Whispering words to him
He became paranoid and began to hear voices, possibly due to his guilt.
Sold the company out
He sold his business to make money.
And cashed all those futures in
He turned planned investments into cash.
But it all still looked so Paper thin
Despite his wealth, he felt unfulfilled and uncertain.
Well it was late one night
At night, when he was alone.
And the rain was streamin' down
In the pouring rain.
He called his wife's name out
He shouted for his wife.
And said honey it's over now
He declared that their life and relationship was finished.
I'm gonna burn it all
He intended to destroy everything they had accumulated.
I can't take this anymore
His guilt and feelings of emptiness had become unbearable.
But as he struck the match
Just as he was about to light the fire.
She took a pistol from the drawer
His wife retrieved a gun from the drawer.
She said I ain't going down with you
She refused to die with him.
Pulled the trigger in And the bullet it passed right through
She shot at him, and the bullet entered and exited without harming him, as if he was insubstantial.
Like he was paper thin
She saw through the façade he had created for himself.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUSTIN CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dave Cornett
nice cover
scottericksonmusic
Thanks for listening