In 1990 the band won two Brit Awards: Best British Group, and Best British Album for "The Raw and the Cooked" which also reached number one in the US album charts. It was re-packed as a remix album ("The Raw & the Remix" and spawned six singles over three years; "She Drives Me Crazy","Good Thing", "Don't Look Back", "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be", "I'm Not Satisfied" and "It's O.K. (It's Alright)".
The trio split in 1992, though they recorded a new track in 1996 to promote their The Finest compilation. Gift soon reactivated the brand and toured in the 2000s as Roland Gift and the Fine Young Cannibals.
Fine Young Cannibals appeared as the house band in the 1987 film comedy Tin Men, peforming some of the songs that ended up on The Raw and the Cooked. Steele and Cox had previously recorded under the moniker Two Men A Drum Machine and a Trumpet.
As Hard as It Is
Fine Young Cannibals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of Fine Young Cannibals' "As Hard as It Is" depict the loneliness and heartache felt by the singer after the departure of a loved one. Life has become quiet and unfulfilling since they've been gone, and the singer laments how hard it is to cope without them. The repetition of the phrase "as hard as it is" emphasizes the difficulty and pain of separation.
The lyrics also express a sense of desperation as the singer expresses their longing for the loved one's return. They miss them terribly and burning for one is not enjoyable. The lines "I missed you bad, I want you now" are particularly poignant in conveying the intensity of the singer's emotions.
Overall, the lyrics of "As Hard as It Is" are a powerful representation of the emotional toll of separation and the longing for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Life's been quiet since you've been gone
My life has become very peaceful since you left me.
It's no fun burning for one
Being alone is not fun, it feels like I'm on fire with no one to extinguish it.
I was happy before you came
Before you entered my life, I was content with everything.
Lord know as hard as it is, as hard as it is
It's difficult, and I know that with certainty.
Now you've gone, it's just not the same
My life feels incomplete and different without you.
He knows just how hard it is
I am aware of how difficult it is to live without you.
It drives me mad not now having you
Not having you in my life drives me insane.
They know how hard it is
The people around me are aware of how challenging it is for me.
I missed you bad, I want you now my darling,
I have a strong desire to have you back in my life, my love.
Lord know as hard as it is, as hard as it is
It's very tough, and I know that for sure.
Lord knows as hard as it is, as hard as it is
It's incredibly arduous, and He knows that too.
He knows just how hard it is
God is aware of how difficult living without you is for me.
Contributed by Joseph B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Edward Heynes
Listening to this song on vinyl as I type this... Oh man. This is a classic. The London Records pressing sounds amazing. Nostalgic, poignant, yet uplifting at the same time. The Cannibals were light years ahead of anything pop had to offer when this was released in early 1989.
Daniel Chavis
Amen
sadcore
Amazing song, right up there with "I'm not the man I used to be". Pathos and beauty...two things this song has, that is sorely lacking in the 99 percent of 2010s-era crap falsely called music.
ROB TER
I love this album!
John Loughead
I do too
MANU-TONYO
I hear you Rob,it's been recurring in my life since it came out,same feelings every time I find it again
David Webb
Can't believe how long it is since I listened to this
A classic
Paul Lennon
Been the hardest 2wks of my life, yet it was the best decision i ever made, yet this awesome tracks helped me get through it..
Don't let the barstards get you down man.
God bless x
Onwards & upwards
Yacov Mitchenko
Returning to this album after 30 years and it's still fresh! This song is beautiful and just maybe the best they ever composed. Easy to listen to multiple times. Memorable. Their lyrics are not strong generally; cliches abound. With the Cannibals it's all about the guy's voice and the melody. They were masters at making the melodies stick in the mind and their style was unique.
Nobodyyy94
Überragender Song des für mich besten Albums ever...