Said production was based on a previous U.K. miners' strike. "Only You", their debut single, was the British Christmas number one in 1983, spending a total of five weeks at the top, and it also did well around Europe. Ironically enough, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, fighting an acrimonious political battle with unions at the time, said that the single was one of her favorite songs. A second single, a cover of the soul classic "When You're Young and in Love" by Van McCoy, reached number seven, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' track "Who's That Girl?", barely charted at all.
Joining Hibbard in the Flying Pickets were Rick Lloyd, Gareth Williams, David Brett, Ken Gregson, and Red Stripe (real name David Gittins). They were internationally renowned for their appearances: Hibbard's huge sideburns, Stripes thick eyeliner, and four others showing off flamboyant suits and large hats. A group like the Pickets were very lucky to get into the charts at all, let alone a Christmas number one and a pleasing number seven afterwards.
Hibbard and Gittins tried desperately to stay in the music business, and they formed their own act called 'Brian and Stripe'. Unfortunately, their first and only single failed, and they returned to their separate acting careers. Other group members drifted into various careers.
Since the original Flying Pickets split, a new team of five ambitious men have tried to follow in the original's footsteps. Yet they have had no chart success. Still, they've toured around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, trying to at least touch the giddy heights of their predecessors.
Only You
Flying Pickets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Looking from a window above
It's like a story of love, can you hear me?
Came back only yesterday
Moving further away, want you near me
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew, only you
Sometimes when I think of your name
When it's only a game and I need you
Listening to the words that you say
It's getting harder to stay when I see you
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew, only you
Ba da
Ba da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew, only you
This is gonna take a long time
And I wonder what's mine
Can't take no more
Wonder if you'll understand
It's just the touch of your hand
Behind a closed door
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew, only you
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
Ba da da da
The Flying Pickets' "Only You" is a passionate love song about a person who has just separated from their loved one and is narrating how they feel as they try to handle the heartbreak. The first stanza talks about how the person feels as if their love story has ended, and all they needed was the love their partner gave them. The chorus emphasizes this by stating that they knew all along that their partner was the only one for them. The second verse talks about how it is getting harder to cope with the separation as the person thinks of their loved one's name, knowing that they are far away. The chorus is again repeated, but this time with more longing and passion. Finally, the song ends with the person admitting that they can't take the pain anymore and how even the touch of their partner's hand is enough to make them feel complete again.
The lyrics are quite straightforward and represent the common feeling of heartbreak that some people feel after a breakup. The melody is exceptionally moving, which matches the point made by the words. The "Ba da da da" gives the tune a pensive and introspective demeanor, like the individual is deep in thought.
Line by Line Meaning
Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da
The song starts with a series of hums which sets the tone of the song.
Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da
The hums are repeated to create a sense of continuation and repetition.
Looking from a window above
The singer is observing something from above, maybe a view from a tall building.
It's like a story of love, can you hear me?
The view reminds the singer of a love story and they're asking if you can relate.
Came back only yesterday
The singer has just returned recently.
Moving further away, want you near me
Despite returning, the singer still feels distant and wants to be close to the person they're singing about.
All I needed was the love you gave
The singer realizes they only needed the love given by this person to get through another day.
All I needed for another day
The only thing essential to the singer's daily routine is the love they get from this person.
And all I ever knew, only you
The only person they have known and loved is this particular person.
Sometimes when I think of your name
The singer is reminiscing about this person and their memory is sparked by hearing their name.
When it's only a game and I need you
When life is hard and it feels like an uphill battle, the only thing they need is this person's love to fuel them.
Listening to the words that you say
They're paying close attention to the words spoken by this person.
It's getting harder to stay when I see you
The more they see this person, the harder it is to keep feelings at bay.
This is gonna take a long time
The situation is expected to last a while longer.
And I wonder what's mine
The singer is thinking about what's theirs in this situation.
Can't take no more
They can't handle the longing anymore.
Wonder if you'll understand
The singer is unsure if this person will understand how they feel.
It's just the touch of your hand
A simple touch or gesture from this person would be enough to satisfy the singer's needs.
Behind a closed door
The setting is behind a closed door, implying privacy and intimacy.
All I needed was the love you gave
The same recurring line reaffirms that all the singer ever needed was this person's love.
All I needed for another day
This love is necessary for the singer to keep going with their daily routine.
And all I ever knew, only you
The only love this person ever received and knew was from this particular person.
Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da
The song ends with the same hums from the beginning, bringing the song full circle.
Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da Ba da da da
The hums are repeated to create a sense of finality and completion.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Vince Clarke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ravenmadd1343
@@Jez-Hero2454 now, still hooked on 80's music :) Also old movies where the story mattered more than the special effects.
I grew up when the home computer was basically a games machine for kids. Now work in IT and just seeing where that's going scares the hell out of me. Our grandchildren will be tracked and managed from cradle to grave, they will never know different because that will be their world, they will be conditioned by it. Artificial Intelligence will make that so much easier and so will be open to abuse by those who seek power.
We complain that kids don't understand what we had, the simplicity of life, having real friends and no phones etc. but unfortunately we made the world we live in.
We developed all the tech so some people could get rich while others buy things they don't really need and often can't really afford. We built a quick buzz economy where people buy things to get a quick fix of short lived happiness before chasing the next thing.
We drove economies to the point where our kids can't buy a home and couples both have to work so, as a result, no one looks after their own children anymore.
That's what I find saddest.
We had a great childhood because we poor by comparison to today. Yet a house was within reach on a single income. We also knew our parents instead of a caretaker.
We work to give our kids everything and as a result they have so little of any real value and they have little value on what they do have that is valuable such as family, friends, respect,youth, good music, risk, fun.
Yep, not looking forward to that future but there are more years behind me than in front :D
@Pieter7ful
Looking from a window above, it's like a story of love
Can you hear me
Came back only yesterday
I'm moving further away
Want you near me
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
Sometimes when I think of her name
When it's only a game
And I need you
Listen to the words that you say
It's getting harder to stay
When I see you
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
This is going to take a long time
And I wonder what's mine
Can't take no more
Wonder if you'll understand
It's just the touch of your hand
Behind a closed door
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
@johnashtone7167
I was once in the "Three Horse shoes" pub in Headingley Leeds.
Suddenly some young guys from over the road at 'Carnegie College' broke out into an acapella version of Sloop John B.
Amazing.
But then I only have to hear Handel's Messiah, sung and I'm in heaven.
No accompaniment needed lol?
@donallen1384
Here I am January 2024, listening to the old songs, no mobile phone, 80 years old, but still enjoying the old songs.
@Jez-Hero24
Isn't it funny as a fellow young man that kids look at us with the you know nothing look,and I look back with a tear in my eye thinking that they've been robbed of a time when musician's made us feel part of our world and could enjoy life with little restriction on living life. I for one don't envy their future in the new world.
@rayparsons1062
Totally agree with you great music.
@ravenmadd1343
@@Jez-Hero2454 now, still hooked on 80's music :) Also old movies where the story mattered more than the special effects.
I grew up when the home computer was basically a games machine for kids. Now work in IT and just seeing where that's going scares the hell out of me. Our grandchildren will be tracked and managed from cradle to grave, they will never know different because that will be their world, they will be conditioned by it. Artificial Intelligence will make that so much easier and so will be open to abuse by those who seek power.
We complain that kids don't understand what we had, the simplicity of life, having real friends and no phones etc. but unfortunately we made the world we live in.
We developed all the tech so some people could get rich while others buy things they don't really need and often can't really afford. We built a quick buzz economy where people buy things to get a quick fix of short lived happiness before chasing the next thing.
We drove economies to the point where our kids can't buy a home and couples both have to work so, as a result, no one looks after their own children anymore.
That's what I find saddest.
We had a great childhood because we poor by comparison to today. Yet a house was within reach on a single income. We also knew our parents instead of a caretaker.
We work to give our kids everything and as a result they have so little of any real value and they have little value on what they do have that is valuable such as family, friends, respect,youth, good music, risk, fun.
Yep, not looking forward to that future but there are more years behind me than in front :D
@donna4976
HERE ALSO.. LISTENING TOO AND SENDING LOVE..!
@philfernley
We’re 8 Dads whose children play in the local Under 8s football team. It’s become a tradition that, at Christmas, we’ll all meet up in the local boozer and have an evening of pints and banter. It’s a small village in the North-West, so it only has the one pub with about 5 ales on draught. We love it because it’s not moved on from the 80s – the carpet alone could induce a seizure and gaudy, foil Christmas decorations are strewn about the place, as though a bricklayer has thrown them up in 5 minutes to add a bit of décor to the place. I turned 42 two days ago, yet the place makes me feel 8 again, as I remember my own Dad, Grandad and other family members regularly descend upon the place. I’d be given a couple of quid to go and play on the slot machine or tap a packet of cheese and onion to enjoy with my coke. Happy times.x
Last night, we’re all sat there, pints of John Smiths aplenty, and this very song comes on. You’ve never seen 8 fully grown men get glassy-eyed so fast as we’re all transported back to our working-class, council estate Christmases. The Pogues does the same, but you hear it so much these days it’s ten-a-penny. This song – this version of this song – really takes you there.
7 pints later and it’s a chippy tea on the walk home. We’ll do the same again next Christmas. Hope The Pickets make an appearance.
@CeCeCanapee
♥
@miragre9205
I really enjoyed reading your story, beautiful!
God bless
@philfernley
@@miragre9205 Thank you ;)
@andyb8909
Lovely stuff Phil, made me want to be there too!