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
From Baltimore To Paris
Go West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were just the beginning
Of a long way home
You were not meant to be
Just good friends
Rumor red
You were ahead of your time
From Baltimore to Paris
You held your head up high
Held back the tears
Across the years
A prisoner of circumstances
Outside looking in
If you had your time over
Would you do it all again?
He was your lonely little boy
Lost in deep water and about to go down
You soon became his favorite toy
A brighter jewel than any in the crown
He abandoned what he promised you
When he could not turn the tide
With a lifetime to prove yourselves
It was enough for you to be at his side
You gave up your pride
Rumor red
One step ahead of your time
The lyrics of the song From Baltimore to Paris by Go West depict the story of two friends who were more than just friends. The song starts by talking about the Belvedere weekends, which were an indication of things to come, "just the beginning of a long way home." The two friends had more than just friendly feelings for each other, but they were not meant to be together. The song describes their situation as a "prisoner of circumstances" and "outside looking in." It talks about the loneliness and longing that they both feel for each other, wondering if they would do it all over again if given the chance.
The song also describes the relationship between the two as somewhat one-sided, with one person being more committed than the other. The line "He abandoned what he promised you, when he could not turn the tide" talks about how the other person let down their promises, leaving the first person feeling hurt and betrayed. Despite all this, the two continue to stay together, sacrificing their pride for the sake of love.
Overall, the song From Baltimore to Paris is a beautiful and emotional depiction of a relationship that was never meant to be, but held on despite the odds. The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever loved someone but could not be with them due to circumstances beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
You knew those Belvedere weekends
You were aware those weekends on Belvedere were the start of an arduous journey ahead
Were just the beginning
They were only the starting point of an unexplored path
Of a long way home
It was a journey that led back to where you belonged
You were not meant to be
It wasn't your fate to end up
Just good friends
Just being friends wasn't your destiny
Rumor red
There were rumors about you
You were ahead of your time
You were ahead of the time in which you existed
From Baltimore to Paris
You traveled from Baltimore to Paris
You held your head up high
You faced things with bravery
Held back the tears
You restrained your emotions and didn't cry
Across the years
Through many years
A prisoner of circumstances
You were trapped by your situation
Outside looking in
You felt excluded from the inside
If you had your time over
If you had a chance to start over
Would you do it all again?
Would you repeat everything?
He was your lonely little boy
He was the isolated kid you knew
Lost in deep water and about to go down
In difficult situations, and likely to fail
You soon became his favorite toy
In time, he became emotionally dependent on you
A brighter jewel than any in the crown
You were the best thing he had going
He abandoned what he promised you
He didn't deliver what he had pledged
When he could not turn the tide
When he faced an insurmountable obstacle
With a lifetime to prove yourselves
You had the rest of your lives to demonstrate your worth
It was enough for you to be at his side
Being by his side was sufficient for you
You gave up your pride
You were willing to relinquish your dignity
One step ahead of your time
You were ahead of your era by a small margin
Contributed by Allison G. 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