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.
Never Not Alone
General Public Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In amongst a thousand people
All full of opinions
You`re never not alone
When you`re coming in
When it`s time to make your exit
When you`re out on the dance floor
Never not alone
You`re never not alone
You`re never not alone
You`re never not alone
Brum ban ban didly ban bing
Brum ban swidly didly widly ban bing
Brum ban ban didly ban bing
Brum ban swidly didly widly ban bing
Play one tune them have to sit down pon it
Because they want it hard and romantic
We just play the riddim unde automatic because
Dis yah one just fantastic
Play the music night and day, ay
Dance the riddim and feel no way, boom
Play the music night and day, ay
Let de dance hall music play
When you;re out of luck
And the voice of doubt is calling
When you're making love
You`re never not alone
Don`t know yourself
And not sure about the others
Have you forgotten God?
You`re never not alone
When you`re coming in
When it`s time to make your exit
When you`re out on the dance floor
You`re never not alone
Never not alone
You`re never not alone
You`re never not alone
You`re never not alone
General Public's song "Never Not Alone" is a song about finding company in yourself while being in a crowd. The lyrics describe various situations where an individual might feel they are surrounded by people, but are still lonely. The song addresses the feelings of loneliness and how they can affect an individual, but it also tries to convey that being alone is not necessarily a bad thing. The lyrics suggest that instead of depending on others for companionship and validation, one can find comfort and companionship within oneself.
The opening lines of the song describe being on the street in the midst of a crowd, but still feeling like you're alone because everyone has their own opinions. The line "You're never not alone" implies that the person is okay being on their own and doesn't necessarily need the validation of others. The second verse mentions making an entrance or an exit, suggesting that even in these moments of change, one can still feel alone. The song acknowledges that even in happy situations, like dancing, someone can still feel lonely because they're surrounded by people. The percussion-heavy chorus repeats the line "You're never not alone" to drive the message home that it is possible to be alone, but not necessarily lonely.
The third verse offers a different perspective on being alone. It describes someone who is "out of luck" and "not sure about the others," and suggests that maybe they've forgotten God. This line can be interpreted in a few different ways, but it seems to suggest that finding comfort in faith can help someone who is feeling lonely. The bridge of the song features a rhythmic, dance-hall beat and the repetition of the phrase "play the music night and day," emphasizing the idea that music can bring people together and ease feelings of loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
When you`re out on the street
Even when surrounded by a crowd on the street
In amongst a thousand people
Even when among a large number of individuals
All full of opinions
Even when surrounded by people with conflicting thoughts and beliefs
You`re never not alone
You still have your own thoughts and feelings, making you unique and independent
When you`re coming in
Whether you are entering a place
When it`s time to make your exit
When it is time to leave a place
When you`re out on the dance floor
Even when dancing with others
You`re never not alone
You are still your own person, with your own thoughts and feelings
Never not alone
Always by yourself
You`re never not alone
You will always be unique, no matter how many people are around you
You`re never not alone
Your individuality cannot be taken away by anyone else
You`re never not alone
You will always be true to yourself
Brum ban ban didly ban bing
An instrumental break in the song
Brum ban swidly didly widly ban bing
An instrumental break in the song
Brum ban ban didly ban bing
An instrumental break in the song
Brum ban swidly didly widly ban bing
An instrumental break in the song
Play one tune them have to sit down pon it
The music played by the artist can captivate and engage the listener
Because they want it hard and romantic
People crave music that is emotional and impactful
We just play the riddim unde automatic because
The artist plays the music with ease and familiarity
Dis yah one just fantastic
This particular piece of music is exceptional
Play the music night and day, ay
The artist plays music at all times, allowing listeners to feel connected and engaged
Dance the riddim and feel no way, boom
The music has a joyful, upbeat quality that encourages people to dance and feel good
Play the music night and day, ay
The artist always has music available for listeners
Let de dance hall music play
The artist encourages listeners to celebrate and enjoy the music
When you;re out of luck
When things do not go according to plan
And the voice of doubt is calling
When self-doubt takes hold
When you're making love
Even during an intimate moment with another person
You`re never not alone
You still have your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences that are entirely your own
Don`t know yourself
When you are struggling to understand your own identity
And not sure about the others
When you are uncertain about the people around you
Have you forgotten God?
When you feel disconnected from a higher power
You`re never not alone
You still have your own spiritual beliefs, even if you do not feel connected to a higher power
When you`re coming in
Whether you are arriving at a place
When it`s time to make your exit
When it is time to leave a place
When you`re out on the dance floor
Even when dancing with others
You`re never not alone
You will always be your own person, no matter where you are or who you are with
Never not alone
You will always have your own individuality
You`re never not alone
Your own unique perspectives and experiences are always with you
You`re never not alone
You have the freedom to be true to yourself and stand out from others
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROGER CHARLERY, MICHAEL RAILTON, DAVID WAKELING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K Wood
This is such an awesome song - another very under-rated musician and band (General Public). Still listening to it in 2020, I think it was released back in 95..??
Jay Madigan
One of their best!
D Edmunds
haunting, love it
Kilt This!
Agreed. Great tune!
chester callaway
at stage. mesmerizing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thomas Bippus
The record was origianally produced in Laguna Hills Laguna Beach California by Jerry Harrison in 1994-1995
Ilya Pukhaev
Thanks for posting!
Jackhammer007
Who remembers when Dave Wakeling was in the free radicals?
Gregory Lopez
I do.... Best times ever with all the horns❤️✌🏾️
racketman2u
I thought the Free Radicals was an American band?