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.
Sucker for Love
Erasure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All that's artificial
Sometimes below
The belt I hit you
For without love
Hell freezes over
And wherever you go searching
Give me back my calling cards and vices
My dignity and romance novels too
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
If you wanna know the truth
I'm feeling open ended
For without love
I'm not tremendous
The world we share
It's not pretending
And whenever you go AWOL
Know I'll be there
Give me back the photographs I sent you
My residence and cool emotion too
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
You gotta ride
Ride, ride, ride
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The lyrics to Erasure's song Sucker for Love are complex and ambiguous, but seem to touch on themes of love and loss. The singer is confessing that they are a "sucker for love," meaning that they are drawn to love and will go to great lengths for it. However, they also acknowledge that sometimes their pursuit of love can be "artificial," meaning that they may try too hard or be insincere in their efforts. They also admit to hitting their partner "below the belt" at times, suggesting that they are not a perfect partner.
The chorus repeats the phrase "the love we have is for the better now," which could suggest that the singer and their partner have been through difficult times but have come out on the other side with a stronger love. They also express a willingness to forgive and move forward, asking for their "calling cards and vices" back, as well as other items that may have symbolized their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a complex and often contradictory relationship between the singer and their partner, but ultimately one that is rooted in a powerful and transformative love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a sucker for love
I find it hard to resist falling in love
All that's artificial
Things that are fake or not genuine
Sometimes below / The belt I hit you
Sometimes I say hurtful things to you
For without love / Hell freezes over / And wherever you go searching / Know I'll want some
Without love, life is unbearable and I'll always want to find love
Give me back my calling cards and vices / My dignity and romance novels too
I want to regain my sense of self, including my bad habits and romance books
The love we have / Is for the better now / The love we have / Is for the better now / The love we have / Is for the better now / The love we have / Is for the better now
Our love has improved and is stronger now
If you wanna know the truth / I'm feeling open ended / For without love / I'm not tremendous
To be honest, I feel incomplete without love in my life
The world we share / It's not pretending / And whenever you go AWOL / Know I'll be there
Our relationship is real and I'll always be there for you, even when you're distant
Give me back the photographs I sent you / My residence and cool emotion too
I want to retrieve everything I gave you, including my sense of detachment
You gotta ride / Ride, ride, ride
You have to keep going, even when it's tough
The love we have / Is for the better now / The love we have / Is for the better now / The love we have / Is for the better now / The love we have / Is for the better now
Our love continues to improve and grow stronger
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY BELL, VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind