Electronic were a duo formed in Manchester, UK in 1989 consisting of New Or… Read Full Bio ↴Electronic were a duo formed in Manchester, UK in 1989 consisting of New Order vocalist Bernard Sumner and ex-The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe from Pet Shop Boys and Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk also collaborated with the band.

They released three albums during the '90s, with their debut Electronic selling over a million copies worldwide. However, the follow-up Raise the Pressure, despite debuting in the UK Top 10, was a commercial flop by comparison. The group's highest charting singles is 1992's Disappointed, which reached #6 in the UK. The band's biggest American hit was 1989's Getting Away With It which reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Twisted Tenderness was released in 1999 and again hit the UK Top 10. This third and final studio album was co-produced by influential New York club DJ and dance producer Arthur Baker, with whom Sumner had previously worked on New Order's 1983 hit Confusion, amongst other songs. Marr and Sumner remained the only official members of the band, but were joined by Doves Jimi Goodwin on bass and Black Grape drummer Ged Lynch.

In September 2006 the duo's work was compiled on the album Get The Message - The Best Of Electronic.

When She's Gone
Electronic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm shaking like a leaf on a tree do you understand, will you come with me don't make a sound don't even breathe they'll understand why don't we leave We can steal a ride on a bus drive down a road all covered in dust head north by north west till we reach the coast we'll find an address that don't get the post When she's gone even though she won't be long it just tears my world apart puts a hole right through my heart She let me see her new tattoo it was my name written in blue a mark of pain across her chest I was the lover on her breast
So come with me and don't be afraid we could be free out of the shade your life has begun come on lets run over the ground in an air raid we've got the gun don't be afraid When she's gone even though she won't be long it just tears my world apart puts a hole right through my heart Only when this girl has gone will I know if I am wrong who would choose a life of one I can't carry on when she's gone.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Electronic's song "When She's Gone" depict the desperation of a man who is about to lose his significant other. The opening lines "I'm shaking like a leaf on a tree do you understand, will you come with me" portrays this desperation. The man wants to leave with his partner without being noticed. He is afraid of what might happen if they are caught. His partner seems to be understanding of his situation, which gives him hope that they can escape together.

The lyrics then describe a journey that the couple will undertake together. The man suggests that they can steal a bus and drive until they reach the coast, where they can find a place to hide. The line "We'll find an address that don't get the post" suggests that they are looking for a place where they will not be easily found. The journey becomes more chaotic as they take control of their lives. The line "we've got the gun don't be afraid" amplifies the chaos, making it evident that they will stop at nothing to run away.

The chorus "When she's gone even though she won't be long it just tears my world apart puts a hole right through my heart" talks about the man's emotions as he tries to cope with the possible loss of his significant other. The lyrics "who would choose a life of one I can't carry on when she's gone" highlights the man's inability to have a life without his partner.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm shaking like a leaf on a tree do you understand, will you come with me
I'm nervous and anxious, please come with me

don't make a sound don't even breathe they'll understand why don't we leave
Let's be quiet and leave unnoticed

We can steal a ride on a bus drive down a road all covered in dust
Let's take a shortcut on an old bus through a gravel road

head north by north west till we reach the coast we'll find an address that don't get the post
We'll go towards the northwest until we find a secluded address by the coast

When she's gone even though she won't be long it just tears my world apart puts a hole right through my heart
Her absence hurts me deeply and leaves a void in my life

She let me see her new tattoo it was my name written in blue a mark of pain across her chest I was the lover on her breast
She got a tattoo of my name on her chest and it symbolizes her love and pain

So come with me and don't be afraid we could be free out of the shade your life has begun come on lets run over the ground in an air raid we've got the gun don't be afraid
Let's escape together and start a new life, taking control of our future

Only when this girl has gone will I know if I am wrong who would choose a life of one I can't carry on when she's gone.
I can only realize if I was wrong when she's gone and I can't bear a life without her

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BERNARD (GB 2) SUMNER, JOHNNY MARR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS