General Public signed to I.R.S. Records and released All the Rage (1984). However, by the time the album was released, Jones was no longer a member of General Public, although he did play guitar on the majority of the album's tracks. Kevin White (who also played on the album) was now the group's official guitarist and sixth member.
In Britain, General Public had a minor hit with the eponymous track called "General Public", which reached # 60. The band fared better in North America, where their second single "Tenderness" was a top 40 hit in the US and Canada, reaching #27 on the U.S. charts, thanks in part to heavy play from MTV and Los Angeles-based modern rock station KROQ. (Ironically, The Beat never had any top 40 hits in the UK.) [Chart info cited from: The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Books (2004).]
For the follow-up album, White and Stoker were replaced by brothers Gianni Minardi and Mario Minardi on guitar and drums, respectively. Unfortunately, despite featuring a track from the soundtrack to Weird Science, Hand to Mouth (1986) was significantly less successful than the debut album, and the band soon split up. They both front two versions of the band, with Roger & Everett Moreton ( as The Beat ) in the UK & Dave in America ( as The English Beat ).
Roger and Wakeling worked on various solo projects for the next few years, before reuniting in 1994 to perform a cover of The Staple Singers hit "I'll Take You There" for the Threesome soundtrack. The song, credited to General Public, was a surprise top 40 hit in the US and Canada, and a minor hit (#73) in the UK.
The duo (now the only members of General Public) stayed together to release the album Rub It Better in 1995, recorded with the aid of producer Jerry Harrison. But sales were dismal, and Roger was tired of the grind of touring, so they soon broke up again.
Beginning in 2000, Dave Wakeling began calling his backing band alternately either General Public or The English Beat. He then toured (mostly in North America) as either "The English Beat featuring Dave Wakeling" or "Dave Wakeling & General Public". Aside from Wakeling, this new backing band featured no original members of The (English) Beat or General Public, although reportedly Ranking Roger and other Beat members turned up as guest performers at a handful of shows.
Are You Leading Me On?
General Public Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll change my clothes and wash my hair
Say that you might
I'd sit outside your door all night
Quiet as a mouse
Say yes and I'll go to our mom's house
If you say you care
I'll go to the foot of our stairs
But are you leading on me on
Or is there something behind it?
Well I don't know but I mean to find out
Is there something you're hiding?
Oh, are you leading me on?
Look are you having me at it?
Well, I don't know but I mean to find out
Come on, are you, are you, are you leading me on?
Misgive or mistake?
Misbehaving like it's going out of date
Say "thanks a lot" (thank you very much, you beat me to the early touch)
But are you leading on me on
Or is there something behind it?
I don't know but I mean to find out
Is there something you're hiding
Oh, oh, are you leading me on
Look are you having me at it?
Well I don't know but I mean to find out
Come on, are you, are you, are you leading me on?
One look, had to take a stop
Especially designed to make your shoe heel pop
Your will is strong enought to make me change my mind
'Cause when I'm next to you it kinda grab me from behind
Some of dem will tell you dat dem have another guy
And some of dem will tell you pure lies
If your momma gone away and your mind gone astray
Remember what the wise guys say
(Look are you leading on me on?
I don't know but I mean to find out
Come on, come on, come on)
Oh-oh-oh, say you'll be there
I'll change my clothes and wash my hair
Say that you might
I'd sit outside your door all night
Quiet like a mouse
Say yes and I'll go to our mom's house
If you say you care, oh
I'll go to the foot of our stairs
But are you leading on me on
Or is there something behind it?
I don't know but I mean to find out
Is there something you're hiding?
Oh-oh-oh, are you leading me on
Look are you having me at it?
Well I don't know but I mean to find out
Come on, are you leading me on, John?
The song "Are You Leading Me On" by General Public is a catchy, upbeat tune about questioning someone's intentions in a relationship. The song's narrator is willing to do whatever it takes to make things work, even change their appearance or go to their family's home to prove their love. However, they are uncertain if the other person is truly sincere or just leading them on. The chorus repeats the question, "are you leading me on?", urging the other person to be honest and clear about their intentions.
Throughout the song, there are several hints that suggest the other person may not be completely truthful. The singer mentions the possibility of "misgive or mistake" and that they are "misbehaving like it's going out of date." The other person is also thanked, but it's unclear what for. All of these clues lead to the repeated question of whether they are being led on.
Overall, the song captures the uncertainty and doubt in a relationship where one person wants more commitment than the other. The upbeat tempo and catchy melody, however, make it a song that you can dance to and enjoy in spite of its serious subject matter.
Line by Line Meaning
Say you'll be there
If you promise to be there, I will make an effort to look good and be ready for you
I'll change my clothes and wash my hair
I will do my best to look my best for you
Say that you might
If there is a possibility that you will come, I will wait outside for you all night
I'd sit outside your door all night
I am so desperate for your attention that I am willing to wait outside your door all night if there is a chance you might show up
Quiet as a mouse
I will be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb you
Say yes and I'll go to our mom's house
If you say yes, I will be willing to take you to our mom's house
If you say you care
If you show me that you care, I will be willing to do anything for you
I'll go to the foot of our stairs
I will go to the foot of the stairs in our house to wait for you if you show me any level of care or attention
But are you leading me on me on
I am wondering if you are making false promises or leading me on without any intention of following through
Or is there something behind it?
I am suspicious that there might be a hidden meaning behind your actions or words
Well I don't know but I mean to find out
I am not sure what your true intentions are, but I am determined to find out
Is there something you're hiding?
I suspect that there might be something you are hiding from me
Oh, are you leading me on?
I am questioning whether you are leading me on or not
Look are you having me at it?
I am not sure if you are playing a trick on me or being truthful
Misgive or mistake?
I am wondering if your actions are due to genuine miscommunication or if they are intentional mistakes
Misbehaving like it's going out of date
Your behavior seems unpredictable and inconsistent
Say "thanks a lot" (thank you very much, you beat me to the early touch)
I am sarcastically thanking you for rejecting me or not showing up to meet me
One look, had to take a stop
I was immediately drawn to you and had to stop and stare
Especially designed to make your shoe heel pop
You have a very attractive or eye-catching appearance
Your will is strong enought to make me change my mind
Your strong will can make me change my opinions or views
'Cause when I'm next to you it kinda grab me from behind
When I am near you, I feel a strong attraction that is hard to resist
Some of dem will tell you dat dem have another guy
Some people will tell you that they are already in a relationship with someone else
And some of dem will tell you pure lies
Some people will deliberately deceive you with lies
If your momma gone away and your mind gone astray
If you feel lost or alone due to a situation, such as your mother being absent
Remember what the wise guys say
It is important to remember the advice of wise people
Come on, come on, come on
I am urging you to be truthful with me
Oh-oh-oh, say you'll be there
I am still hoping that you will show up and be there for me
Oh-oh-oh, are you leading me on
I am still questioning whether or not you are leading me on
Come on, are you leading me on, John?
I am directly asking you, John, if you are leading me on or not
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: MICK BILLINGHAM, ROGER CHARLERY, DAVID WAKELING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind