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.
Tell Her This
Del Amitri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't holding on no more
Tell her something in my mind freezes up from time to time
Tell her not to cry
I just got scared that's all
Tell her I'll be by her side, all she has to do is call
I drank too much and shouted it aloud
Tell her something in my heart
Needs her more than even clowns need the laughter of the crowd.
Tell her what was wrong
I sometimes think too much
But say nothing at all
And tell her from this high terrain, I am ready now to fall.
Tell her not to go
I ain't holding on no more
Tell her nothing if not this; all I want to do is kiss her.
Tell her something in my mind
Freezes up from time to time.
The lyrics of Del Amitri's song Tell Her This describe a man who is afraid of losing the person he loves. He encourages his partner not to leave him by telling her that he will be there for her whenever she needs him. However, the lines "tell her something in my mind freezes up from time to time" and "I sometimes think too much but say nothing at all" suggest that he has trouble expressing his true feelings to her. The man also admits that he has made mistakes in the past, such as drinking too much and losing control.
The singer's desire to fall from the "high terrain" and his admission that he thinks about his situation too much add a sense of vulnerability to the lyrics. He acknowledges that he is not perfect and that he needs his partner in his life. The final lines "Tell her nothing if not this; all I want to do is kiss her" show his yearning for physical connection with his loved one.
Overall, the lyrics of Tell Her This are a plea from a man not to lose the person he loves. He acknowledges his flaws and expresses his fear of not being able to express what he really feels. The song has a vulnerability that makes it relatable to anyone who has struggled to express their emotions in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell her not to go
Requesting someone to communicate with the person not to leave.
I ain't holding on no more
Not having anything more to hold onto in the relationship.
Tell her something in my mind freezes up from time to time
Sharing the fact that the person's mind stops working due to overwhelming emotions every now and then.
Tell her not to cry
Asking someone to tell the person not to weep.
I just got scared that's all
Explaining that the person's action was due to fear.
Tell her I'll be by her side, all she has to do is call
Ensuring that the person will be there for the other person's support whenever needed.
Tell her the chips are down
Informing that things aren't going well.
I drank too much and shouted it aloud
Admitting an instance when the person drank excessively and spouted everything out.
Tell her something in my heart
Sharing the fact that the person's heart craves something strongly.
Needs her more than even clowns need the laughter of the crowd.
Expressing how much the person needs the other at this point.
Tell her what was wrong
Asking someone to inform the person what went wrong.
I sometimes think too much
Admitting that the person often thinks too deeply about things.
But say nothing at all
Expressing that the person doesn't speak out despite thinking about things.
And tell her from this high terrain, I am ready now to fall.
Indicating that the person is ready and willing to face the outcome.
Tell her not to go
Requesting once again for someone to tell the person to stay.
I ain't holding on no more
Stating that the person is letting go of something.
Tell her nothing if not this; all I want to do is kiss her.
Asking someone to inform the person that all the person desires is to kiss her/him.
Tell her something in my mind freezes up from time to time.
Reiterating the fact that the person's thoughts stop working from time to time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUSTIN CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jutwilton7363
Some songs just get better with age ...magical !!!
@garethsavage3068
A beautiful, underrated song.
@markrowe6967
So glad Del Amitri are back. Fatal Mistakes is a brilliant brilliant album!!
@chrisevans4486
Hello my beautiful great fans , thanks for your support, how are you doing, I hope everything is fine, you can speak with me or write me in the hangout app with my email... Thanks ....
Chrisevans6679@gmail.come
@robwakelin5559
Watching this now, hearing of Justin's health problems, you can see and hear it affect the performance. The speed, the messed up lyrics and so on.
Always my favourite band ❤
@anjamaciossek3640
My "ears" were hypnotized in London in 1989. The effect seems to be
unbroken and has been reactivated by the new and mature album "Fatal
Mistakes". Great performance! Wish them all the best! 🍀🍄☀️🌈
@GordonCooperPiano
Love love love this and all who created it.
@MrShane82
They still got it!! Awesome set they did is all I wanna say glad they are back for sure! State side fan since a young lad ;)
@chrisevans4486
Hello my beautiful great fans , thanks for your support, how are you doing, I hope everything is fine, you can speak with me or write me in the hangout app with my email... Thanks ....
Chrisevans6679@gmail.com
@JankoDeGraaf
What a magic band, so many great and sad memories listening to their music