Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love (Like That)". Beginning in late 1986 with the release of their single Sometimes, Erasure established themselves on the British charts; albums such as The Circus, Wild!, Chorus, I Say I Say I Say, Loveboat and Nightbird demonstrated a further diversity of sound.
The album that boosted their career tremendously was The Innocents, which was released in 1988. A Little Respect and Chains of Love both hit the Billboard Top 100. Most people will probably remember Erasure for A Little Respect, which became one of their signature songs.
Clarke formerly was a member of Depeche Mode and later had a successful career with the duo Yazoo (known as Yaz in the US). Later he split with Yazoo partner Alison Moyet and briefly formed The Assembly with producer Eric Radcliffe. After a successful Assembly single ("Never Never"), Clarke released an unsuccessful one-off single with vocalist Paul Quinn ("One Day"). He then placed a blind advertisement in Melody Maker looking for a vocalist for a new musical project. He selected Andy Bell, who was the forty-first to audition (and whose voice would often be compared to Moyet's). From the start, their success was founded upon their songwriting skills. Clarke's talent for writing melodic, catchy pop songs was evident from his years with Depeche Mode and Yazoo. Bell's gifts as a lyricist and melodist added depth and character to Clarke's style (additionally, Bell was openly gay from the beginning, and he reflected this in his lyrics at a time when society as a whole was more ignorant around queer issues than it is today - making Erasure's success all the more phenomenal). As pop craftsmen, the pair's work bears comparison with that of Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Eurythmics, OMD, Alphaville, a-ha, Roxette and other pop songwriters.
Though their productivity and record sales declined beginning in the second half of the 1990s, Erasure scored at least one Top 30 hit with the release of every new album. Few electronic bands have demonstrated the durability of Erasure.
In 2005 Erasure made a comeback with their number one position on the US Dance Chart, eighteen years after their first chart-topper. This success was mirrored in the UK with the debut single from Nightbird ("Breathe") reaching number four in the charts. Erasure also enabled fans to configure and buy their own remixes of the single 'Don't Say You Love Me' through the band website. Each variant of the song was limited to a single download.
2006 saw the release of the album Union Street, which features a collection of previously released Erasure songs that the band have reinterpreted with an acoustic / country & western style. The album is named after the recording studio in Brooklyn where it was recorded.
A new album, Light at the End of the World, was released in 2007.
Darlene
Erasure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do I do when I think about you?
Skyline
Passion
City streets that I adore
Shadows
By me grow
You got your religion
I got my addictions
We got dirty dishes in the sink
Looking from the window
Kissing in the kitchen
Fall so hard that I don't have to think
Darlene
This is where I want to be
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Falling deep under your spell
High upon the magic that you weave
Mindless
Game shows
Flicking through the multi-screen
Twilight
Time is slow
Fall so hard that I could scream
You got your religion
I got my addictions
Fall so hard that I don't have to think
Darlene
This is where I want to be
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Falling deep under your spell
High upon the magic that you weave
All the things that I adore
Ones I've chosen to ignore
Rent collectors at my door
I can't take it anymore
Where do you go when you think about me?
What do I do when I think about you?
You got your religion
I got my addictions
We got dirty dishes in the sink
Darlene
This is where I want to be
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Falling deep under your spell
High upon the magic that you weave
Darlene
This is where I want to be
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Falling deep under your spell
High upon the magic that you weave
The song 'Darlene' by Erasure is a tribute to the power of love and the overwhelming feeling it creates in a person's life. The song takes the form of a love letter, as the singer asks where the person he is thinking of goes, and what he should do when he thinks about that person. The imagery used in the song is vivid and powerful, as the singer describes the skyline, city streets, and shadows that surround him. Despite the struggles of daily life, the singer finds solace in the love that he shares with the person he is singing to.
The lyrics convey a sense of surrender and vulnerability, as the singer admits to his addictions and the dirty dishes in his sink. However, rather than being a source of shame, these things are a testament to the shared experience of the couple. They know each other's flaws and they accept them wholeheartedly. The chorus repeats the name 'Darlene', which acts as a metaphor for the power of love, and the transformative effects it has on the people it touches.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do you go when you think about me?
What place or thought do you inhabit when your mind wanders to thoughts of me?
What do I do when I think about you?
How do I respond internally when thoughts of you enter my mind?
Skyline
The view of the urban horizon from high altitude, perhaps providing an important reference point.
Passion
A feeling of intense love, desire, or enthusiasm for someone or something.
City streets that I adore
The roads and pathways of an urban environment that hold a special place in the singer's heart.
Shadows
The dark areas created when a source of bright light is blocked by an object, possibly representing the uglier or more hidden aspects of life.
By me grow
Developing alongside and influencing the singer's experiences and thoughts over time.
Rent collectors at my door
People or financial institutions demanding payment for the singer's accommodation and living space.
You got your religion
A phrase indicating that the singer's partner has a strong belief system or source of guidance in their life.
I got my addictions
Indicating that the singer may have certain compulsions or dependencies that impact their life and choices.
Looking from the window
The act of observing the outside world from a private viewpoint inside one's home, suggesting introspection or evaluation of life experiences.
Kissing in the kitchen
An intimate moment shared between the singer and their partner, taking place in a domestic setting where daily routines and rituals are carried out.
Fall so hard that I don't have to think
Being so engulfed in feelings of passion or love that one's mind is suspended from other conscious thought processes.
Darlene
A name that represents the singer's partner, conjuring up feelings of warmth and familiarity.
This is where I want to be
Expressing a desire to stay within the current time and place represented in the song, relishing the present moment.
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Being held by the singer's partner in a comforting or protective embrace, providing a sense of security and permanence.
Falling deep under your spell
Becoming entranced by the singer's partner or their love, feeling captivated or mesmerized.
High upon the magic that you weave
Feeling uplifted and inspired by the things that the singer's partner brings into their life, imbuing the world with a sense of wonder.
Mindless
Describing activities or behaviors that are lacking in focus or purpose, possibly stemming from a desire to unwind or escape.
Game shows
A television program where contestants compete for prizes or rewards.
Flicking through the multi-screen
Rapidly switching between channels on a television or other electronic device, possibly during a moment of restlessness or boredom.
Twilight
The dusk or nightfall period where the sky transitions from day to night or from night to day, representing a liminal space or state of change.
Time is slow
Feeling as if time has slowed down, either due to the stillness of the moment or the intensity of the emotions being felt.
All the things that I adore
The people or experiences that bring the singer joy or fulfillment, even when faced with other difficulties.
Ones I've chosen to ignore
Having the ability or choice to overlook certain things in one's life that may be unpleasant or challenging.
I can't take it anymore
Feeling a sense of frustration or exasperation, possibly with external circumstances or internal struggles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY BELL, VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind