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.
Take Me Back
Erasure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way to your heart
There are voices like water
Inside your heart
Echo
Take me back to the place where I once belonged
A place where you and I could sing this song
Take me back where I hear waterfalls flowing
Let me dive into the lake where winter hides the snow
Then comes the summertime
Fields of scarlet poppies grow
Take me back where I see butterflies to-ing, fro-ing
And the river flows
I am never gonna take it back again
And the river flows
I am never gonna get it back again
We don't know anything
Trapped in a world full of strangers
Please don't tell me anything
I'd rather fall into you
Let me sleep a little while underneath the tree
And dream of dragonflies
Where the weary willow weeps for me
Take me back where I see dandelions blowing
And the river flows
I am never gonna take it back again
And the river flows
I am never gonna get it back again
And the river flows
I am never gonna take it back again
And the river flows
I am never gonna get it back again
And the river flows
I am never gonna take it back again
We don't know anything
Trapped in a world full of strangers
Please don't tell me anything
I'd rather fall into you
The lyrics of Erasure's song Take Me Back are filled with imagery and symbolism, making it open to interpretation for the listener. At the heart of the song is a plea to be taken back to a place of comfort where the singer feels at home. The powerful repetition of "take me back" throughout the song is reflective of a desire to return to simpler times when life was easier.
The opening lines "There are voices like water, Inside your heart, Echo" set the tone for the rest of the song. It is a reference to the voice inside that yearns for something that has been lost. The imagery of water is often associated with emotions, and the voice inside the heart echoes, suggesting that the voice inside the singer is getting louder and more insistent.
As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more concrete, with references to waterfalls, lakes, and rivers. These elements of nature serve to highlight the need for harmony and balance in a world that feels chaotic and uncertain. The desire to return to nature is further emphasized in the line "Fields of scarlet poppies grow," which suggests a desire for peace and tranquility.
The chorus serves as a reminder that the singer cannot go back to the past. The repeated refrain of "I am never gonna take it back again" suggests a sense of acceptance that what is lost cannot be regained. The final lines of the song, "We don't know anything, Trapped in a world full of strangers, Please don't tell me anything, I'd rather fall into you" reinforces the message that sometimes, all we need is connection with another person to find solace in a chaotic world.
Overall, the lyrics of Take Me Back by Erasure serve as a reflective piece on the human condition. It speaks to the yearning for peace and harmony in a world that is often fractured and discordant.
Line by Line Meaning
The way to your heart
Desire to be close to the person's heart
The way to your heart
Repeated desire to be close to the person's heart
There are voices like water
Sensations within the heart that feel fluid and graceful
Inside your heart
The internal experience of these sensations
Echo
Reverberation in the heart
Take me back to the place where I once belonged
Yearning to return to a joyful, unidentifiable past
This could be any place
The specific location isn't important because the feeling is universal
A place where you and I could sing this song
An inclusive desire to share the experience with the unnamed person
Take me back where I hear waterfalls flowing
Specifically, return to a place with waterfalls
Let me dive into the lake where winter hides the snow
Imagining a place where swimming in a cold lake is an enjoyable activity at any time of the year
Then comes the summertime
Looking forward to summer days filled with sunshine and warmth
Fields of scarlet poppies grow
A tranquil scene of natural beauty
Take me back where I see butterflies to-ing, fro-ing
Yearning for a place where the simple beauty of butterflies in motion is a common sight
And the river flows
Continuity of life and experiences
I am never gonna take it back again
The past is not something to undo or change
And the river flows
Continuity of life and experiences
I am never gonna get it back again
The past is not something to retrieve or hold on to
We don't know anything
There is much to learn about ourselves and the world around us
Trapped in a world full of strangers
Feeling disconnected or isolated from others
Please don't tell me anything
Content to simply be with the unidentified person and not discuss anything that would take them out of the moment
I'd rather fall into you
Content to be present with the person and trust in their care and guidance
Let me sleep a little while underneath the tree
Imagining a peaceful nap in nature
And dream of dragonflies
Finding magic and beauty in simple things
Where the weary willow weeps for me
Finding comfort in the natural world even when feeling alone or sad
Take me back where I see dandelions blowing
Finding wonder and magic in the simple beauty of dandelions
And the river flows
Continuity of life and experiences
I am never gonna take it back again
The past is not something to undo or change
And the river flows
Continuity of life and experiences
I am never gonna get it back again
The past is not something to retrieve or hold on to
And the river flows
Continuity of life and experiences
I am never gonna take it back again
The past is not something to undo or change
And the river flows
Continuity of life and experiences
I am never gonna get it back again
The past is not something to retrieve or hold on to
We don't know anything
There is much to learn about ourselves and the world around us
Trapped in a world full of strangers
Feeling disconnected or isolated from others
Please don't tell me anything
Content to simply be with the unidentified person and not discuss anything that would take them out of the moment
I'd rather fall into you
Content to be present with the person and trust in their care and guidance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY BELL, VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Татьяна
Прекрасная,волшебная,чарующая музыка !🥰
Scott Beckstead
This is such a beautiful song....this album will always be so special to me.
Jeff Johnson
just curious, what memories have you associated with this song? cause this song is special to me as well. This one by Agnesfashionart has been a personal favorite for more than a decade. ☮️🎶
Jeff Johnson
just curious, what memories have you associated with this song? cause this song is special to me as well. This one by Agnesfashionart has been a personal favorite for more than a decade. ☮️🎶
ソトヤママリアテレサ
''i say i say i say'' is the name of the album. and this song will always be in my heart. 🎶 -from j from my wife's YouTube.☮️🎶
makaryus
I say I say I say is an album that is sent to humanity from heaven and composed by 2 divine creatures named Andy Bell and Vince Clarke.. It is just an incredible masterpiece!!!
Maura De Michelis
makaryus that's why i could never forget Andy Bell and his voice
Lola Hashem
I completely agree.
erasure2804
I know right.. and to those who didnt even knew about this album existance. Pity them
BillAnt
@erasure2804 Pity them fools! ;D