This was quickly followed in 1961, by his only number one hit in the UK singles chart - "Well I Ask You". The song was written by Les Vandyke, who had earlier penned two chart topping singles for Adam Faith. These were "What Do You Want", and "Poor Me". The further quirky connection is that both artist's stage names owed more than a little of their originality to Genesis, Chapter One.
Success was short-lived for Eden Kane. A couple of flops, financial problems, and a change in record labels did little to sustain his career. One comeback hit with "Boys Cry" in 1964, was just a hiccup on the general downward spiral. However, he was arguably the last British teen idol before the arrival of The Beatles, and his five chart singles all made the Top Ten. Certainly not, therefore, a one hit wonder.
The family was far from finished. His brother, Peter Sarstedt, got to number one himself in 1969, with "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)"; whilst the youngest brother Clive (who used his second name to call himself, Robin Sarstedt) reached the top three in 1976, with his rendition of the old classic, "My Resistance Is Low".
As a footnote, in the mid 1970s all three brothers sang together briefly, but it generated no more chart action for Kane. As of 2006, all three of the Sarstedt brothers are still active in the music business.
Kane was a contract actor on the Star Trek team, and made many appearances in the TV series under his real name of Richard Sarstedt.
[edit] Singles discography
* "Well I Ask You" - 1961 - Number 1
* "Get Lost - 1961 - Number 10
* "Forget Me Not" - 1962 - Number 3
* "I Don't Know Why" - 1962 - Number 7
* "Boys Cry" - 1964 - Number 8
I don't know why
Eden Kane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a way to treat a guy
What a way to cheat and lie
Because I wanted you
Well I ask ya
Did you have to bring me down
Did you have to go to town
Don't think you're getting away with it
You're gonna pay me some how
You cruelly wrecked my life
But oh you want me now
Baby just you ask me
Get down on your knees and try
I won't break till I see you cry
Like me when I ask you
Alright
Don't think you're getting away with it
You're gonna pay me some how
You cruelly wrecked my life
But oh you want me now
Just you ask me
Get down on your knees and try
I won't break till I see you cry
Like me when I ask you
Well I ask ya
Well I ask ya
Well I ask ya
In the song "Well I Ask You" by Eden Kane, the singer addresses a person who has treated him poorly and accuses them of cheating and lying. He wonders why he was treated this way because he had wanted this person so badly. The singer is hurt and upset because this person has smashed his world into two and makes them aware that they will have to face the consequences of their actions. Although the person who hurt him now wants him back, the singer is not ready to forgive them easily. He wants them to feel the same pain he did, and he won't break until he sees them cry just like he did when he asked them what they had done wrong.
The lyrics of the song express the pain of betrayal and the singer's determination to seek revenge for the emotional suffering he endured. The lyrics also reflect the cultural and social values of the time, where cheating and lying were considered unacceptable and immoral.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I ask ya
Expressing disbelief or shock at a situation
What a way to treat a guy
Expressing disappointment over mistreatment
What a way to cheat and lie
Expressing anger over disloyalty and deceit
Because I wanted you
Admitting love or infatuation towards someone
Did you have to bring me down
Expressing hurt from someone's actions causing sadness or depression
Did you have to go to town
Expressing frustration over someone's actions taken towards others
And smash my world in two
Hyperbolic expression of how someone's actions destroyed the singer's happiness
Don't think you're getting away with it
Asserting that someone will be held accountable for their actions
You're gonna pay me some how
Demanding some form of repayment or retribution for someone's actions
You cruelly wrecked my life
Blaming someone for ruining the artist's life
But oh you want me now
Implying that the person who caused the singer pain now wants them back
Baby just you ask me
Telling the person who caused pain to beg for forgiveness
Get down on your knees and try
Demanding that the person who caused pain show genuine remorse
I won't break till I see you cry
Asserting that the singer will not forgive until they see the person who caused pain cry
Like me when I ask you
Drawing a parallel between the singer's emotions and the emotions they demand the other person to express
Alright
Expression of finality or acceptance
Writer(s): TURK ROY, AHLERT FRED E
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@susanallen2702
fab
@nevittwoods1730
xmas 1982 party for ex old londoners
@ryancrockford-musicuk1013
When I was a child my dad would always play Eden Kane records, Get Lost and Forget me not mostly. I have to say I have never heard this great tune until now! It bares a resemblance to a Billy fury bside called 'If I Lose You' 👍
@nevittwoods1730
best singer we've had in ''ere for a while
@nevittwoods1730
🎹🎹🎹🎹🎙
@paulspalace
Brilliant i found this on an old 45, many years ago, love the over run by the drummer on the big finish.
@nevittwoods1730
Haunted pub 🍺💷🚬
@nevittwoods1730
miss those old sit ins
@theking-nz1ut
I ain't heard this single since I was a kid. 👍
@nevittwoods1730
Not heard in 40 years