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
Innocence
Go West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is calling out to us tonight
I won't work for my old man
Anymore that you fit into your mamma's plans
There's a place for people like you and me
True love's still got room to breath
And we can drive all night
Let's go west
It's our ticket out of here
Yeah we can disappear
Let's go west
And that painted sky was made for us
It's everything we ever dreamed of
Let's go west
It's hard to leave this place behind
Got memories turning in my head
Little white house with a picket fence
That protected small town innocence
But it seems like an even trade to me
That security for our destiny
And we can drive all night
Till the morning light
Let's go west
A place that we can go
Where the tall dreams grow
Let's go west
And we'll find a place to call our own
There's somewhere out there we belong
Let's go west
And that painted sky was made for us
It's everything we ever dreamed of
And we can drive all night
Till the morning light
Let's go west
A place that we can go
Where the tall dreams grow
Let's go west
And we'll find a place to call our own
There's somewhere out there we belong
Let's go west
Yeah let's go west
Oh let's go west
Oh let's go west
Yeah let's go west
The lyrics to Go West's song "Innocence" describe a desire to escape and start a new life in the West, away from the restrictions and expectations of their current environment. The burning sunset in the sky is a symbol of this calling, with the singer noting that they no longer want to work for their "old man" (most likely their father) or fit into their "mamma's plans." They long for a place where "true love's still got room to breathe" and they can pursue their dreams without being held back.
Despite the memories and nostalgia for their current life, the singer sees leaving as an even trade - giving up security for the chance to fulfill their destiny. The idea of driving through the night into the morning light to reach the West is a romanticized and symbolic journey towards a new beginning. The painted sky serves as a reminder that this is the life they've always dreamt of, and they long to find a place to call their own where they belong.
Overall, the lyrics to "Innocence" touch on themes of escape, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. The song encourages listeners to follow their hearts and take a chance on a new life, even if it means leaving behind what they've known.
Line by Line Meaning
That burning sunset in the sky
The vibrant and colorful sunset in the sky is a symbol of our adventurous and free-spirited nature, calling out to us to come and explore.
Is calling out to us tonight
The sunset is beckoning us to venture out and seek new horizons, promising to guide us to our desired destination.
I won't work for my old man
I refuse to continue working for my father and being bound by the traditional norms and expectations of my family.
Anymore that you fit into your mama's plans
Just as you no longer wish to follow your mother's plans for your life, I am also determined to forge my own path and follow my own dreams.
There's a place for people like you and me
There is a perfect place for us, where we can be ourselves and pursue our aspirations without any constraints or limitations.
True love's still got room to breathe
Even though we are leaving behind our familiar and comfortable surroundings, our love for each other will flourish and thrive in the freedom and expansiveness of the unknown future.
And we can drive all night
We can journey through the night, overcome the challenges of the road, and embrace the possibilities of a new day.
Into the morning light
We will brave the darkness of the night and find hope in the brightness of the dawn, which heralds a new beginning and a fresh start.
Let's go west
Our hearts are set on heading westward, where we can discover new opportunities and fulfill our aspirations.
It's our ticket out of here
Traveling westwards is the key to unlocking our potential and escaping from the limitations and hindrances of our current situation.
Yeah we can disappear
In the vastness of the west, we can blend in and go unnoticed, free from the pressures and expectations of our past.
And that painted sky was made for us
The beautiful sky with its rich colors and textures is a natural wonder that we can appreciate and enjoy as we journey westward.
It's everything we ever dreamed of
The magnificent sky encapsulates the wonder and beauty of the world, which is everything we ever dreamed of and aspire to experience.
A place that we can go
Heading west is not just about seeking a physical location, but also about finding a sense of belonging and purpose in life.
Where the tall dreams grow
The west is where our dreams and aspirations can take root and grow tall, unhindered by the doubts and fears of our past existence.
And we'll find a place to call our own
As we travel westward and explore new lands, we will ultimately discover a place that resonates with our innermost desires and becomes our true home.
There's somewhere out there we belong
We are convinced that there is a place out there in the vastness of the west where we can finally belong and find fulfillment.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DANIEL BRIOTTET, GARY ASQUITH, MARK ALAN COX, MICHAEL DEREK ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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