John Watts recorded and performed as 'John Watts' during 1981-83 before forming The Cry in 1984. Watts later continued with a new incarnation of Fischer-Z in 1987, with him being the only original member. Albums were released with a similar line-up until 1995 when John Watts returned to being 'J M Watts', 'Watts' and John Watts. In 2002 the moniker was revived once more for the album "Ether". There was a 2004 reunion of the original band for one short show which featured on the Garden Party DVD which was released along with the Fischer-Z Highlights 1979-2004 25th anniversary compilation album.
After this John continued performing and recording solo with the most recent album being 2005's 'Real Life Is Good Enough', "It Has To Be" (2006) and "Morethanmusic & Films" (2009).
In august 2010 John Watts had a couple of shows in the Netherlands with his current band (Sam Walker on drums and Matthew Gest on keyboard) playing good old Fischer-Z repertoire. He presented this band as "the new Fischer-Z". Though John Watts focuses on his solo efforts more than on Fischer-Z (no new releases under that name) lately he revives the band when concert tent to be focused on that period of his live.
No Strings
Fischer-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You trust me and you show it.
Oh, no matter where you are.
Oh you left me, I was crying.
I never gave up trying.
Oh, no matter where you are.
You're the girl, you're the girl with no strings.
Oh, you love me and you show it.
You trust me and I know it.
Oh, No matter where you are.
You're the girl, you're the girl with no strings.
Oh shit. You gotta pay for it.
You gotta take your chances.
You're the girl, you're the girl with no strings.
There's nothing will tie you down.
Girl with no strings.
The song "No Strings" by Fischer-Z is an emotive and reflective composition. The first verse expresses the feelings of love and trust between two people that seem to have a strong bond. The singer acknowledges that the person they are addressing loves them, and they reciprocate that emotion. The second verse, however, takes on a darker tone as it indicates that the other person left the singer at some point, leading to tears and heartbreak. Despite the separation, the singer never gave up trying to keep the relationship intact. The chorus tells us that the person who left is the "girl with no strings," which could mean that they were someone who refused to be tied down in a relationship, or who was commitment-phobic.
The lyrics also seem to suggest that the singer is paying a price for being in a relationship. The line "Oh shit. You gotta pay for it" implies that love comes at a cost. It could be financial, emotional or psychological, but what is clear is that the singer is aware that they must take their chances with the person they love. The last line of the song "There's nothing will tie you down" concludes this sentiment. The singer seems to be aware that the person they love cannot be controlled or tied down by rules or conventions, and they must accept that fact.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, you love me and I know it.
The person singing knows that their lover loves them.
You trust me and you show it.
Their lover trusts them and proves it with actions.
Oh, no matter where you are.
Their lover's physical location does not affect their relationship.
Oh you left me, I was crying.
The singer was upset when their lover left them.
I never gave up trying.
Despite being upset, the singer continued to try to keep the relationship going.
You're the girl, you're the girl with no strings.
The singer's lover is independent and doesn't feel tied down by the relationship.
Oh, no matter where you are.
Their lover's physical location still doesn't affect their relationship.
Oh you love me and you show it.
Their lover continues to show love and affection for the singer.
You trust me and I know it.
The singer knows their lover trusts them.
You're the girl, you're the girl with no strings.
Reiteration that their lover values their independence and doesn't want to be tied down.
Oh shit. You gotta pay for it.
This line could have multiple meanings - potentially commenting on the societal expectation that relationships require some type of sacrifice or payment.
You gotta take your chances.
In order to get what you want in a relationship, you have to be willing to take risks.
You're the girl, you're the girl with no strings.
Reiteration that their lover values their independence and doesn't want to be tied down.
There's nothing will tie you down.
Their lover will not allow themselves to be restricted or controlled by the relationship.
Girl with no strings.
The titular phrase is repeated one last time, emphasizing the value of their lover's independence.
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.