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
Tell Me
Go West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miss what you?ve got till it's gone
But I found you and I wondered
How I got by on my own
Seemed like the star that I wished on
Was right there by my side
And I?ve been in pieces
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me where I went wrong
Show me, show me, show me, show me
How to be strong
?Cause all that I needed was someone like you
Now that you?re gone, what can I do?
Tell me, tell me
With the face of an angel
And a heart of gold
You were my shoulder to cry on
My flesh and blood, Venus to hold
But something was wrong with this picture
Wish that I?d seen it too
?Cause my dream was over
When I woke up without you, girl
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me where I went wrong
Show me, show me, show me, show me
How to be strong
?Cause all that I needed
Was someone like you
Someone I thought I really knew
Tell me, tell me
Was it my imagination?
Was my head up in the clouds?
I can?t believe you?d build me up
Just to tear me down
But you left no explanation
And I just can?t work it out
Why say time was on our side
When time was running out?
You?ve got to tell me, tell me
Baby, I?ve been in pieces
Since the day you said goodbye, girl
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, baby
Tell me where I went wrong
Show me, show me, show me, show me
How to be strong
?Cause all that I needed was someone like you
Now that you?re gone, what can I do?
Tell me, tell me, got to tell me, tell me
Tell me, baby, how to be strong
Show me, show me, show me, show me
You got to tell me, tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Now you tell me time was on our side
Show me, show me, show me, show me
Tell me, tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Baby I don't know, well
Show me, show me, show me, show me
Tell me, tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
The song "Tell Me" by Go West is an emotionally powerful ballad about the pain of lost love. The lyrics express the regret and longing of a narrator who has lost the person they thought they couldn't live without. The song opens with the singer acknowledging the old adage that you never miss what you have until it's gone. They mention that they found the love of their life and wonders how they got by without them. However, the relationship ended, and since then, the singer feels like they've been in pieces.
In the chorus, the singer begs for answers, asking where they went wrong and how they can be strong. They need the other person to tell them what they did wrong, yearning for closure that will allow them to move on. The verses of the song describe the person they lost, using poetic language to convey how much they meant to the singer. The second verse brings up the confusion and betrayal the singer feels. They can't understand why the other person would build them up only to tear them down without explanation.
Overall, "Tell Me" is a heartbreaking exploration of lost love and the need for closure. The singer is consumed by the pain of losing someone they believed was their soulmate and can't move forward without understanding what went wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
People say that you never Miss what you?ve got till it's gone
It is often said that we do not value what we have until we lose it.
But I found you and I wondered How I got by on my own
Having found you, I realized how difficult life can be without your love and support.
Seemed like the star that I wished on Was right there by my side
You were my shining star, and it felt like my wishes had been granted when I found you because you were always there for me.
And I've been in pieces Since the day you said goodbye, girl
Ever since you left me, I have been shattered and unable to put myself back together.
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me Tell me where I went wrong Show me, show me, show me, show me How to be strong
Please help me understand where things went sour and teach me how to move on and be strong without you.
With the face of an angel And a heart of gold You were my shoulder to cry on My flesh and blood, Venus to hold
You were perfect to me, with a beautiful heart and always there to comfort me - my very own Venus.
But something was wrong with this picture Wish that I'd seen it too 'Cause my dream was over When I woke up without you, girl
It turns out my dream wasn't what it seemed because when I lost you, it all came crashing down on me and I was left with nothing.
Was it my imagination? Was my head up in the clouds? I can't believe you'd build me up Just to tear me down
I wonder if I was delusional, imagining a love that wasn't real. It's hard to think that you would make me feel so high, only to bring me down so low.
But you left no explanation And I just can't work it out Why say time was on our side When time was running out?
You didn't give me any reason for leaving, and I can't understand why you would assure me that time was on our side when in reality, it was slipping away.
Baby, I've been in pieces Since the day you said goodbye, girl
I've been broken and unable to put myself back together since you left me.
Contributed by Jeremiah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
crosboid
This is a solid classic. I can't understand why this isn't bigger...its a fucking crime tbh!
Roger Plummer
Never knew there was a video for this song. Thanks for the posting! Peter Cox has one of the great "blue-eyed-soul" voices in pop music history!
terry noonan
Me neither!
Trent Davis
Brings me to tears when I hear it! Great when music has the power to do that
Gabbe Freel
Peter has an awesome voice!
Naomi Akulu-Haulangi
such an awesome song
Andrew Flood
I LOVE THIS SONG !!!
Gary Smith
I feel ya
Yuqi Koh
What an underrated song!! 🥺❤️
Michael Wiselka
What a beautiful love song! Thanks guys!