Foster & Allen began back in the seventies when Mick and Tony were playing in Country Music bands around Ireland. In 1975 they formed a small group and went over to the UK to work the Irish music venues on a short tour.
Mick & Tony had at this stage the idea of working together as a duo, playing ‘easy listening’ music with a touch of traditional Irish instrumentals. When their UK tour finished they decided to let the band return to Ireland whilst they stayed behind to try and break into the public eye. They played several venues in the London area and the reaction was very favourable; so much so, they decided to remain as a duo and Foster and Allen was formed.
It was difficult at the beginning and after a time working around the circuit in the UK and Ireland, they released their first single record The Rambles of Spring. This made a good impact on the Irish market and Foster and Allen were soon in demand for cabaret venues all over Ireland and to a lesser extent the UK At the end of 1978 Foster and Allen released the single A Bunch Of Thyme in Ireland, which entered the Irish charts and became their first top-selling No. 1 single.
It was not until 1982 that this single was released in the UK. It was played by all the radio stations in Britain and was soon in the pop charts. It climbed rapidly to number 18 in the UK Singles Chart. At the time, Mick & Tony were in the U.S. on a tour. They were contacted and told to fly back to Britain immediately as they were required to appear on television’s Top of the Pops.
Demand for Foster and Allen's services at venues all over Ireland and the UK increased at this point. They released another single "Old Flames" which also made its way into the UK Charts. They did their first concert tour of the UK in 1983 and this tour was boosted even more by the release of another single Maggie. This reached number 27 in the UK singles chart and, along with A Bunch Of Thyme, these became the signature tunes for the duo. Since then they have toured the UK twice each year.
In addition to the UK tours, Foster and Allen have toured the U.S.A, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They had five No. 1 Hits in Australia/New Zealand. They have also appeared on numerous TV shows in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales as well as Australia, USA and Canada, and they have had their own TV series on RTE Television in Ireland.
In the early days Mick & Tony performed on stage as a duo, but in 1982 (when the concert tours started) they added a band to their show thus giving a much fuller sound to their program. On the recording front, Foster and Allen have to date released a total of 27 albums, all of which have gone into the British charts. This is a great achievement for a middle-of-the-road ‘easy listening’ act.
As well as the albums, they have released thirteen videos, again all of which have entered the British charts. The video "Souvenirs and Memories" reached No. 3 in the British charts around Christmas 1991, the "By Request" video went straight into the No. 1 spot in 1993 and their latest DVD/Video release "After All These Years" was a Top 10 Chart Release in the UK. To date Foster and Allen have achieved album and video sales in excess of 19 million worldwide.
Foster and Allen celebrated their 30th Anniversary together in the music industry with the release of their new album "Foster & Allen Sing The No. 1’s" which was a Top 30 Chart hit in the UK during Christmas 2005 bringing the sales of their last three albums in the UK and Ireland to over 500,000 units.
The duo recently completed their “World Concert Tour – 2005/2006” which took them on tour to the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, U.S.A., Australia and Ireland.
A Place In The Choir
Foster & Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Black and white you make the same
Puzzle pieces front and back
And I'm afraid of what I can't have
I tried and you're right, it's true
I need to mind just what I say
The house you built keeps falling away
And you are a place I never want to stay
Mirror mirror on the floor
Save my face by slamming doors
You can build your castle in the sky
Just don't forget to lose your mind
I tried and you're right, it's true
I need to mind just what I say
The house you built keeps falling away
And you are a place I never want to stay
I know that someone should put you in your place
Pulling teeth and crying eyes
Make two wrongs never a right
Now mother father let it sleep
For I know I am redeemed
I tried and you're right, it's true
I need to mind just what I say
The house you built
It will always fall away
And you are the place I never want to stay
But I'm not the one to put you in your place
Your place
The lyrics to Foster & Allen's song A Place in the Choir seem to address a difficult relationship that the singer has with another person. The opening line, "You're starting fires in the rain," may suggest that this person is doing something futile or even destructive. The next line, "Black and white you make the same," suggests that they are not able to see the nuances of a situation and may be stuck in black and white thinking. The line "Puzzle pieces front and back" may refer to how this person is not able to put things together in a cohesive way, leading to confusion and chaos.
The lyrics then take a turn, with the singer admitting, "I need to mind just what I say." This suggests that the singer has perhaps been contributing to the difficulties in the relationship, and that they need to take responsibility for their own actions. The line "The house you built keeps falling away" may refer to the other person's inability to create a stable or secure environment, potentially leading to feelings of instability or insecurity for the singer. The line "And you are a place I never want to stay" confirms that the relationship is not a positive one.
The chorus repeats the idea that "someone should put you in your place," suggesting that the other person needs to be reined in or held accountable for their behavior. However, the final verse offers a note of redemption, as the singer decides to "let it sleep" and acknowledges their own ability to "be redeemed." Overall, the lyrics seem to grapple with the complexities of difficult relationships, and the ways in which they can bring out both the best and worst in us.
Line by Line Meaning
You're starting fires in the rain
You persist in doing something useless or destructive, even if circumstances are not favorable.
Black and white you make the same
You perceive things in a simplistic, binary way, ignoring nuance or complexity.
Puzzle pieces front and back
You perceive the world as a jumble of pieces that must fit together to form a coherent picture.
And I'm afraid of what I can't have
You fear loss and rejection, and often focus on what you lack rather than what you have.
I tried and you're right, it's true
You acknowledge that you've made mistakes and that others might have useful insights that you should listen to.
I need to mind just what I say
You recognize that your words and actions can have consequences, and that you should be mindful of the impact you have on others.
The house you built keeps falling away
Your efforts to build something are often undermined by external or internal forces, such as bad luck or personal shortcomings.
And you are a place I never want to stay
You find some people or situations uncomfortable or unpleasant, and prefer to avoid them whenever possible.
I know that someone should put you in your place
You believe that some people are in need of someone else's guidance or discipline, and that they would benefit from being told what to do.
Mirror mirror on the floor
You are reflecting on yourself and your own identity, perhaps seeking validation or reassurance from outside sources.
Save my face by slamming doors
You try to avoid confrontations or difficult conversations by using avoidance or aggression as a defense mechanism.
You can build your castle in the sky
You have grandiose dreams and aspirations that may be difficult or impossible to achieve, but nevertheless inspire you to keep reaching for the stars.
Just don't forget to lose your mind
You recognize that sometimes it's important to take risks or be unconventional, even if doing so seems crazy or illogical.
Pulling teeth and crying eyes
You view certain tasks or situations as painful or difficult, requiring significant effort or emotional investment to overcome.
Make two wrongs never a right
You believe that responding to negative behavior with more negative behavior only perpetuates the cycle of conflict and harm.
Now mother father let it sleep
You are calling on parental figures or authority figures to intervene or help resolve a difficult situation.
For I know I am redeemed
You have faith or confidence in your ability to overcome challenges, learn from mistakes, and move forward.
The house you built
Your efforts to build something, which may refer to a relationship, career or any other aspect of life.
It will always fall away
You recognize that nothing lasts forever and that even your best efforts are subject to decay or entropy over time.
But I'm not the one to put you in your place
You acknowledge that you should focus on your own goals and dreams rather than trying to control or change other people.
Your place
The role or identity that an individual or group occupies in society or in relation to others.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Julia Allen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@macariuswrench
My Grandad passed away the other week and this was the song that was chosen for his funeral, I always knew my grandad loved Foster and Allen but I'd never heard this song or certainly don't remember it from being a child. It's quite sweet because his wife, my Grandmother passed away 21 years ago and we played Maggie by Foster and Allen at her funeral. I don't normally get emotional about these things but this song brings a wee tear to my eye. RIP Grandad Bert 1937-2022
@debbiemccarthy3864
Reminds me of my mum … we lost her a year ago … she loved this song :)
@olympus0707
If there is a definitive version of this song then I think Foster and Allen have it. It's a real delight.
@t0k3verse
Best song of my childhood
@peggyellis7607
This was written by a wonderful song writer named Bill Staines in 1978. I once heard him tell a story about how often people tell him that it is a traditional song from Ireland. Check out his other beautiful songs!
@vivianholland4354
the first time I heard this song was by Celtic Thunder. It's quite a catchy tune
@richardtattersall647
is them pictures for the deaf to follow the song?
@tommymakem737
tommy makem best but this is right in second
@davidhall4400
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