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.
You're Gone
Del Amitri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lip-read with the sound turned down
It was Pro-Celeb mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
With Esther Rantzen
Playing the one who's drowned
In a room next door a couple is fighting
But isn't that just one of love's charms
And fifteen minutes later you're
Lying in each other's arms
And you're gone
They say that it's better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all
But if you sit down and count the cost of
All those losses
There's no profit at all
This city gets crazy at Christmas
Glitter guards the crucifix all over the place
Its head gets too big for its body
And its mouth gets
Too big for its face
And you're gone
Never throw away an old newspaper
Everyday's rich with its current accounts
Prince visits Philippines and parliament debates it
Back page, column five
Somebody's wedding's announced
Sunday night's the night for loving
And squeezing out the weekend's last drops
Sunday night's the night for forgiving
Maybe that's why
They shut the shops
And you're gone
One day you wake up
And all the pain you've given out gets returned
But I'm not sorry now
I've payed for what I've learned
And you're gone
I turned on a T.V. station and
Lip-read with the sound turned down
It was the Church of Christ playing the Price Is Right
Where everybody starves
While Leslie Crowther counts
"You're Gone" by Del Amitri is a song that is generally about loss, whether it's the loss of love, youth, or life. The lyrics of the song describe a world that is often confusing and unpredictable, where everything seems to be constantly changing, and where it's easy to lose sight of what's really important.
In the first verse, the singer describes turning on a TV and watching a scene of CPR being performed by Esther Rantzen, who is playing the "drowned" one. In the next room, a couple is fighting, but the singer suggests that this is just one of the many moods that come with love, and that it can quickly change to intimacy. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "and you're gone," which can be interpreted as a reference to the fleeting nature of life or the feeling of loss that accompanies the end of a relationship.
The second verse takes a more philosophical approach, reflecting on the idea that it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. However, the singer suggests that when you tally up all the losses, there's no profit at all. The verse also turns to the holiday season and how the city becomes overwhelmed with glitz, but the meaning of the religious holiday seems to get lost. The final verse acknowledges that pain and heartbreak can come back around, but the singer has no regrets and has learned from their mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
I turned on a T.V. station and
I switched on the TV and
Lip-read with the sound turned down
I watched in silence, reading the actors' lips
It was Pro-Celeb mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
I saw a show where famous people kiss each other to revive their passion
With Esther Rantzen
Hosted by British television personality Esther Rantzen
Playing the one who's drowned
Acting as the person who needs to be resuscitated
In a room next door a couple is fighting
I heard a couple arguing in the neighboring room
But isn't that just one of love's charms
But isn't that what makes love exciting
When moods change as fast as lightning
When emotions shift quickly
And fifteen minutes later you're
And just fifteen minutes later you are
Lying in each other's arms
Holding each other closely
And you're gone
But now you've left me
They say that it's better to have loved and lost
People say it's preferable to experience love and heartbreak than to never have loved
Than never to have loved at all
Than to never have been in a relationship
But if you sit down and count the cost of
But when you think about the price you pay for
All those losses
All the heartbreak and disappointment you experience
There's no profit at all
The emotional cost of love can outweigh the benefits
This city gets crazy at Christmas
The holiday season drives people in the city a bit mad
Glitter guards the crucifix all over the place
Decorations cover the religious symbols throughout the area
Its head gets too big for its body
The city becomes too full of itself
And its mouth gets
And its inhabitants become
Too big for its face
Too self-assured
And you're gone
But now you've left me
Never throw away an old newspaper
One should not discard old news
Everyday's rich with its current accounts
Every day brings new developments
Prince visits Philippines and parliament debates it
Prince's visit to the Philippines was a topic of discussion in the government
Back page, column five
The article was published on the back page of the newspaper, column five
Somebody's wedding's announced
The newspaper reported someone's upcoming nuptials
Sunday night's the night for loving
Sunday evenings are perfect for romance
And squeezing out the weekend's last drops
Savoring the final moments of the weekend
Sunday night's the night for forgiving
Sunday evenings are also a time for forgiveness
Maybe that's why
Perhaps that explains why
They shut the shops
Stores close early on Sundays
And you're gone
But now you've left me
One day you wake up
One day, you realize
And all the pain you've given out gets returned
That all the hurt you've caused others comes back to you
But I'm not sorry now
But I don't regret it
I've payed for what I've learned
I've suffered the consequences and learned from my mistakes
And you're gone
But now you've left me
It was the Church of Christ playing the Price Is Right
I saw a religious program where people compete to win prizes by answering questions
Where everybody starves
Where everyone is in need
While Leslie Crowther counts
Hosted by British television personality Leslie Crowther
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAIN WALLACE HARVIE, JUSTIN CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Balance Point 71
Best song by them. Saw them in Austin. They killed it.