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.
Fly Away
Erasure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From a broken heart
You have your love I've got to know
What you say to me?
Why'd you throw it all away?
Where you go to I don't know
Whisper softly through the trees
Calling to me
Hear there gently sighing pleas
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
And I care if you forget about me
And I cry
And I cry
'Til you take it all from my heart
Fly away
Upon the wings of love
Though I'll be here again tomorrow
Like an angel
Falling softly upon her knees
Calling to me
Hear her gently sighing pleas
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
And I care if you forget about me
But I cry
And I cry
'Til you take it all from my heart
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
And I care if you forget about me
And I cry
And I cry
'Til you take it all from my heart
The lyrics to Erasure's song "Fly Away" describe the pain of a love that has gone wrong. The singer is addressing the person who has left, asking why they ended the relationship and where they have gone. They are experiencing a broken heart and are struggling to come to terms with the situation. The metaphor of angels' tears and whispers softly through the trees emphasize the feelings of sadness and heartbreak.
Even though the singer knows that their lover won't come back, they continue to wait and hope. They are becoming increasingly distressed and the repeated lines "I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back, I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack" show their desperation. Despite this, they still care about the person who left and are crying for them to take away the pain.
Overall, the song captures the complicated emotions of heartbreak, including feelings of loss, sadness, and hopelessness. The lyrics are delivered with a great deal of emotion and sincerity, making it a raw and powerful ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly away
Escape the pain of heartbreak by leaving
From a broken heart
To heal from the hurt caused by love
You have your love I've got to know
Feeling like love was taken away unfairly
What you say to me?
Asking for an explanation for the rejection
Why'd you throw it all away?
Questioning why the relationship ended
Where you go to I don't know
Feeling lost and uncertain without the person
As tears of angels
Feeling overwhelming sadness and helplessness
Whisper softly through the trees
Feeling like nature empathizes with the pain
Calling to me
Feeling like the universe is reaching out for comfort
Hear there gently sighing pleas
Hearing a pleading, comforting voice in nature
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
Doubting that the relationship will be restored
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
Struggling to move on and feeling like patience is running out
And I care if you forget about me
Worried about being forgotten and the relationship being dismissed
And I cry
Feeling the pain and sadness of the loss
And I cry
Continuing to feel the pain and sadness of the loss
'Til you take it all from my heart
Hoping for the pain to eventually fade and the heart to heal
Fly away
Yearning for peace and escape from the pain
Upon the wings of love
Finding hope and healing through love
Though I'll be here again tomorrow
Knowing that the hurt will still be present the next day
Like an angel
Finding comfort in the thought that there are higher powers guiding us
Falling softly upon her knees
Surrendering to the pain and allowing oneself to feel it fully
Calling to me
Finding comfort in the presence of something greater than oneself
Hear her gently sighing pleas
Feeling heard and understood by the higher powers
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
Continuing to doubt the possibility of reconciliation
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
Feeling like time is running out and patience is wearing thin
And I care if you forget about me
Desperately wanting to be remembered and not forgotten
But I cry
Continuing to grieve and feel the pain
And I cry
Allowing oneself to feel the full range of emotions and process the pain
'Til you take it all from my heart
Hoping for eventual healing and peace from the hurt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRYAN WESTON BELL, ROBERT BRUCE COLBECK, DARRYN WILLIAM S HARKNESS, DAMON AARON NEWTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind