Over the duration of Squeeze's first hiatus, from approximately 1983 to 1985, Tilbrook wrote, recorded, and toured with Difford as an act called Difford & Tilbrook.
Since Squeeze's second breakup in 1999 (they reformed in 2007 for a series of shows, possibly not permanently), Glenn has pursued a solo career, often touring around the UK and U.S. in an unreliable RV, playing small venues to audiences of faithful and highly supportive fans. He currently has two solo albums, The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook and Transatlantic Ping-Pong. Tilbrook co-wrote some of the songs for his solo recordings with artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Chris Braide and Aimee Mann. In 2006, the documentary "Glenn Tilbrook: One for the Road" was released. The film follows Glenn on his November 2001 tour across America.
Untouchable
Glenn Tilbrook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can take it on the chin
There's nothing I can do if you won't let it out
And you won't let me in
You showed interest in me
When I was outside looking in
How is it you got to be
So untouchable
You're your own worst enemy when you're like this
You know that is the truth
There's nothing I can do if you won't spare a thought
For anyone but you
Are you scared you won't return
If you cross the final line?
With no bridges left to burn
You're untouchable
You're untouchable
You can rant and rave all day
And increasingly you do
You never used to be this way
So what is it that's got to you?
I'm never going to know what this is all about
Till you start trusting me
Take this as a friendly shot across your bows
As you can talk to me
You are obviously fraught
I've said all that I can say
Now that ball is in your court
Whack it back or walk away
We can slowly drift apart
Intrigue only lasts so long
It's up to you to make a start
You're untouchable
You're untouchable
You're untouchable
You're untouchable
Heaven knows you've got to open up somehow
I can take it on the chin
Glenn Tilbrook's song Untouchable talks about the struggle of getting through to someone who has built up walls around themselves, leaving them untouchable. The lyrics depict a situation where the singer is trying to connect with someone who is evidently going through a rough patch or is having trust issues. The singer expresses their willingness to listen and help in any way they can, but the other person is unwilling to let their guard down. The song's chorus, "So untouchable," highlights the frustration the singer feels, as the other person seems to have become their own worst enemy, unwilling to be vulnerable, shutting out anyone willing to help.
The singer tries to reason with the other person, urging them to open up and trust them, but there seems to be no change. The lyrics "You're your own worst enemy when you're like this" and "Are you scared you won't return if you cross the final line?" highlight the internal conflict the other person is going through. The singer acknowledges that they might never know what's going on unless the other person starts trusting them.
The song's overall theme is about understanding, opening up, and taking chances in relationships. The song talks about how shutting people out can lead to emotional isolation and make one 'untouchable.' The singer urges the other person to take a chance on them, to trust them, and start breaking down the barriers that have been built up. The lyrics depict the struggle the singer is going through, trying to reach out to someone who has shut himself/herself out and is unwilling to be vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven knows you've got to open up somehow
You need to share your thoughts and feelings with me.
I can take it on the chin
I can handle whatever you have to say.
There's nothing I can do if you won't let it out
I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong.
And you won't let me in
You're keeping your guard up and not letting me get close.
You showed interest in me
You were intrigued by me at first.
When I was outside looking in
When I was an outsider, not part of your life.
How is it you got to be
Why did you become
So untouchable?
So closed off and hard to reach?
You're your own worst enemy when you're like this
Your guardedness is causing you more harm than good.
You know that is the truth
You're aware of this fact.
There's nothing I can do if you won't spare a thought
I can't help you if you don't consider someone else's perspective.
For anyone but you
You're only thinking about yourself.
Are you scared you won't return
Are you afraid you won't be able to come back
If you cross the final line?
If you take that final step of opening up to someone?
With no bridges left to burn
With no more ways to regress and close off from others.
You're untouchable
You're unreachable and unapproachable.
You can rant and rave all day
You can complain and fuss for hours.
And increasingly you do
And lately, you've been doing it more and more.
You never used to be this way
You weren't always so closed off.
So what is it that's got to you?
What's causing you to be this way?
I'm never going to know what this is all about
I can't understand what's going on with you.
Till you start trusting me
Until you feel comfortable confiding in me.
Take this as a friendly shot across your bows
Consider this a gentle warning.
As you can talk to me
As you know you can always come to me.
You are obviously fraught
You're clearly feeling stressed and frazzled.
I've said all that I can say
I've expressed my concern as much as I can.
Now that ball is in your court
It's up to you to make the next move.
Whack it back or walk away
Either respond to me or leave the situation.
We can slowly drift apart
We can gradually become more distant from each other.
Intrigue only lasts so long
Curiosity and fascination only endure for a limited amount of time.
It's up to you to make a start
You need to take the initiative.
You're untouchable
You're still unapproachable.
You're untouchable
Unreachable and distant.
You're untouchable
Inaccessible and closed off.
You're untouchable
Hard to connect with.
Heaven knows you've got to open up somehow
Once again, you need to share your thoughts and feelings with me.
I can take it on the chin
I can handle it.
Contributed by Alex Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@slapiro
Has a real Beatles sound. Tilbrook is a national treasure.
@TarSpartan
Thanks for the video -- "Untouchable" is my favorite "solo" Glenn song, and probably in my top five overall!
@lixie1
Such a beautiful song!
@snipturn
Great Video - not seen it before - thanks for posting - the band all look, err, so young ;-)
@packetofthreedotcom
It was only available either on promo VHS to those in the industry or on the Japanese double-pack CD/DVD of Transatlantic Ping Pong (a nice collectors item!) Glad you like it. I love the song but it does remind me of Tony and Dawn's "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" somehow!
@icanwaitanotherday
He's still very cute! Great song
@packetofthreedotcom
@snipturn They do look young, don't they! Five years is a long time in pop!
@packetofthreedotcom
@tygre97 It's another great example of how well Chris Braide and Glenn write together. If they write something and it's going to be on the album, you know it's likely to be the next single.
@packetofthreedotcom
@daphnemaidstone I love the topping and tailing of the film with the taxi to give it a bit of Transatlantic Ping Pong, but some of the live scenes look really exciting too. The scene of them on top of the RV is hilarious! Which is your favourite scene?
@packetofthreedotcom
@bexappeal It's a pleasure - and the video is great fun - looks like a pre-cursor to much of their flufferstv work - glad you like it!