Members included Cedric Sharpley, Chris Payne and Rrussell Bell.
They signed to Elton John's Rocket Label and released their first single; 'Ex Luna Scientia' in 1981. Neither this single nor follow up 'Oh! 2025' charted, but the band did score a minor hit later that year with 'Love Needs No Disguise', featuring Gary Numan on lead vocal. The single reached number 33 in the UK charts.
An album; 'For Future Reference' including the three singles, plus subsequent fourth release; 'I Only Find Rewind' also failed to chart.
In 1982 Dramatis released three singles; 'The Shame', 'Face On The Wall' and 'I Can See Her Now' (their only solo chart single, reaching number 57).
No further material was released and the band members returned to sporadic touring with Numan who recommenced live work in 1983.
The 'For Future Reference' album has been unofficially released on CD via the 'Dressed to Kill' label, erroneously credited to Tubeway Army.
On Reflection
Dramatis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought I knew you
But as they all say
You always lose
You find the right face
In every street cafe
I though I knew the score
But I was wrong again
All seem ex-directory
And when friendship
Seems harder to dial
Then sometimes
Like a 'B' movie ending
I see life
As a series of old cliches
She had the perfect smile
Oh I can see her now
In every movie ad
And every back street bar
I was enchanted
In every single way
She kept the key but she
Didn't want to stay
Do you remember
When we were oh so young
We saw no end to time
Our love could never die
Now I'm an old man
Too old for crazy games
But I'll still dream of you
Until your image fades
LEAD VOCALS - Denis
The lyrics in Dramatis's song On Reflection reflect on the singer's past relationships and how they thought they knew their partners, but ultimately ended up losing them. The singer reminisces on finding the right person in every street cafe, but still being wrong about their relationships. They speak about how old friends seem to have disappeared and how friendships are harder to maintain as time goes on.
The song then shifts to talk about a woman with the perfect smile who enchanted the singer in every single way, but ultimately did not stay with them. The singer then reflects on their youth and how they thought their love would never die, but as an old man, they now understand that their love was not meant to last. Despite this, the singer admits that they will still dream of this person until their image fades.
Overall, the lyrics in On Reflection showcase the feelings of loss, nostalgia, and regret that can come with aging and looking back on past relationships. The singer understands that they may have been wrong in the past, but they still hold onto the memories and dreams that come with them.
Line by Line Meaning
And on reflection
Looking back on the past and contemplating the memories.
I thought I knew you
Assuming that I fully understood who you were.
But as they all say
As the old adage goes.
You always lose
Nothing is permanent, everything fades away eventually.
You find the right face
Chance encounters can lead to meeting someone who seems perfect.
In every street cafe
The possibility of finding someone new in any location.
I thought I knew the score
Believing that I had everything figured out.
But I was wrong again
Realizing that I was yet again mistaken.
And when old friends
Revisiting past connections.
All seem ex-directory
Finding that the people from my past are no longer reachable.
And when friendship
When relationship as friends.
Seems harder to dial
Becoming more difficult to reconnect with past acquaintances.
Then sometimes
Occasionally.
Like a 'B' movie ending
A predictable and clichéd conclusion.
I see life
I perceive existence.
As a series of old cliches
A repetition of unoriginal ideas and patterns of behavior.
She had the perfect smile
She appeared flawless on the surface.
Oh I can see her now
It's easy to picture her in my mind.
In every movie ad
She would fit perfectly in the advertisements for films.
And every back street bar
Imagining her presence in every other shady hangout spot.
I was enchanted
I was captivated by her presence and perceived perfection.
In every single way
She was amazing in every possible aspect.
She kept the key but she
She held the key to my heart, but she
Didn't want to stay
Was not interested in maintaining a long-lasting relationship.
Do you remember
Asking if they recall the past.
When we were oh so young
Back when we were quite young.
We saw no end to time
We believed that time was infinite and would never end.
Our love could never die
We were convinced that our love would be eternal.
Now I'm an old man
Currently I'm an elderly man.
Too old for crazy games
I have grown too old to engage in reckless activities.
But I'll still dream of you
I will continue to have thoughts and dreams about you.
Until your image fades
Seeing you will slowly become a distant memory.
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.