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.
Hideaway
Erasure Lyrics
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To let them know the way he felt inside
He could not stand to hide it
His mother she broke down and cried
Oh my father
Why don't you talk to me now
Oh my mother
Are you still proud of your little boy
Don't be afraid (Be afraid)
You don't have to hide away
The boy he was rejected
By the people that he cared for
It's not what they expected
But he could not keep it secret anymore
Far from home now
Waiting by the telephone
There's a new world
You can make it on your own
Are you still proud of your little boy
Don't be afraid (Be afraid)
You don't have to hide away
No
(Don't be afraid)
(Love will mend your broken wing)
(Time will slip away)
(Learn to be brave)
Oh my father
Why don't you talk to me now
Oh my mother
Do you still cry yourself to sleep
Are you still proud of your little boy
Don't be afraid (be afraid)
You don't have to hide away
(Don't be afraid)
(Love will mend your broken wing)
(Time will slip away)
(Learn to be brave)
The lyrics to Erasure's song "Hideaway" speak of a young boy who has decided to reveal his true feelings to his mother and father. He was tired of hiding his feelings and his sexuality and wanted to live as his true self. However, the boy was met with rejection from those who he cared for and expected support from. His mother cried, and his father stopped talking to him. Despite this rejection, the boy found courage within himself to venture out into a new world, away from the judgment of others.
The song speaks to the experience of many people in the LGBTQ+ community who often face rejection, discrimination, and mistreatment from those around them, including family members. It highlights the pain and struggle of living in secret and hiding one's true self, as well as the importance of bravery and finding the strength to be true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
One day the boy decided
The young individual took a step towards expressing his true feelings.
To let them know the way he felt inside
He opened up to the people about his innermost emotions.
He could not stand to hide it
He was tired of concealing his thoughts and feelings.
His mother she broke down and cried
The boy's mom couldn't contain her emotions and started crying.
Oh my father
The boy addressing his dad
Why don't you talk to me now
He questions why his father isn't talking to him now.
Oh my mother
The child talking to his mother.
Do you still cry yourself to sleep
Enquiring whether his mother still weeps until she falls asleep.
Are you still proud of your little boy
The boy wonders if his parents are still proud of him.
Don't be afraid (Be afraid)
Although they might be scared, they shouldn't shy away from embracing him.
You don't have to hide away
They don't have to hide him from the world just because he is different.
The boy he was rejected
People he cared for no longer accepted him.
By the people that he cared for
He was rejected by the people he cared about the most.
It's not what they expected
The people's reaction wasn't what he had hoped for.
But he could not keep it secret anymore
He couldn't keep his secret concealed anymore.
Far from home now
He is now far from home, feeling insecure and lost.
Waiting by the telephone
The young man waits by the phone for a breakthrough in his life.
There's a new world
He realizes that a new world and possibilities exist.
You can make it on your own
Motivating himself to succeed independently.
Don't be afraid (Be afraid)
Although the situation may be terrifying, don't give up and continue to forge ahead.
You don't have to hide away
One doesn't need to feel the obligation to hide from society due to their differences.
No
An exclamation to his inner convictions to who he is.
(Don't be afraid)
A constant reminder to himself and others to overcome their fears.
(Love will mend your broken wing)
Love serves as a remedy to his distress and pain.
(Time will slip away)
Time waits for no one, so take advantage of every moment.
(Learn to be brave)
Reflecting on the life lessons gained through his struggles.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY BELL, VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind