Go West quickly had a publishing deal and possessed a portastudio, but lacked a band or recording company. Peter and Richard decided, with support from John Glover, their manager, to find a musical producer, and record just two of their songs. The tracks We Close Our Eyes and Call Me found Go West developing a record deal with Chrysalis Records. The songwriting duo specialised in radio friendly, white soul sounds.
The band's debut single, We Close Our Eyes, was released in 1985 and managed to achieve the number 5 position on the UK Singles charts, #5 on the US Dance Club Play chart and also managed to reach #41 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The video for the song became an early favorite on MTV. This helped them to be voted the "Best Newcomers" at the 1986, BRIT Awards.
The duo's self-titled album also featured 2 more Hot 100 entries; "Call Me" (1984 - #54) and "Eye To Eye" (1985 - #73). The album also featured "Don't Look Down", which would serve as the prequel to what would be the band's first Top 40 hit in the US. The album hit #8 in the UK Album charts and #60 on Billboard 200 Album chart.
In 1987, they released their follow-up, "Dancing On The Couch", which peaked at #19 on UK Album chart but only got as high as #172 in the US. Ironically, that album yielded Go West with their first US Top 40 hit, "Don't Look Down - The Sequel", squeaking into the Top 40 peaking at #39. That song was a continuation to "Don't Look Down" from their debut album. However, "Don't Look Down - The Sequel" was excluded from the UK versions of the CD, which instead included the track, "Let's Build A Boat", which coincidentally became the B-Side of the US release of "Don't Look Down - The Sequel".
Later in 1990, Go West scored a top 10 US hit with the song King of Wishful Thinking from the movie Pretty Woman. An instrumental version of the song's chorus is also alleged to be heard in the production logo for Gracie Films (seen at the end of The Simpsons).
Go West website: www.gowest.org.uk
Dangerous
Go West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the thin men on the wall
First mistake
To move a little closer
Sweat on skin
Every word you hear
Pulls you further in
A little knowledge can be…
Dangerous
You've got to fight the fascination
Dangerous
Who wants to be the inside man?
Go underground
But like a paperback
You just can't put down
You're slave to this addiction
No-one can help you now
The rules are broken
There's nobody keeping score
You have the law
But you're the underdog
In this one-man-war
A little knowledge can be
Go West's song "Dangerous" is a captivating and mysterious song that tells a story about the dangers of obsession and addiction. The lyrics open with a description of a wall covered in the images of thin men, which entices the listener to take a closer look. The first mistake is made when the listener moves closer, and then, as they become more engrossed, they start to feel the sweat on their skin. The lyrics describe how every word they hear pulls them further in, and they start to gain a little knowledge about this addiction.
The chorus of the song repeats the word "dangerous" and warns that the listener has to fight the temptation to become the "inside man" in this dangerous situation. The lyrics suggest that this addiction is like a paperback book that you just can't put down, and the listener is now a slave to it. Despite this, the lyrics speak of a feeling that no one can help you now, that the rules are broken, and there's nobody keeping score.
The bridge of the song offers some hope, a hint that the listener has the law on their side, but they are still the underdog in this fight. The song offers a warning that a little knowledge can be dangerous, and the listener must be careful not to become consumed by this addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Double take
To look twice
At the thin men on the wall
Observing the skinny individuals on the wall
First mistake
Initial error
To move a little closer
Advancing nearer
Sweat on skin
Perspiration on the skin
Every word you hear
Each word you listen to
Pulls you further in
Brings you deeper into the situation
A little knowledge can be…
Having limited information may lead to…
Dangerous
Hazardous
You've got to fight the fascination
You must resist the allure
Who wants to be the inside man?
Who wants to be the one who is trapped inside?
Go underground
Become incognito
But like a paperback
Similar to a book
You just can't put down
Something you can't stop doing
You're slave to this addiction
You are a captive to this dependence
No-one can help you now
Currently, no one can aid you
The rules are broken
The regulations are defied
There's nobody keeping score
No one is keeping a record
You have the law
You are in control
But you're the underdog
However, you are still at a disadvantage
In this one-man-war
You are fighting solo
A little knowledge can be dangerous
Not having enough knowledge can lead to making harmful decisions
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gerard McCartney
on The King Is Dead
When you finally realise that all your life, you've been driven by ego, and the humiliating freedom that realisation affords