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
The King Is Dead
Go West Lyrics
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We came a long way just to say goodbye
And in the end it was some old swan song
The king is dead, you'd never know it
But we got pictures of a different man
He's flesh and blood, no-one knows all the answers
Some days we just do the best we can
You changed my mind in a minute
It breaks my heart to admit it
Don't make me say
The king is dead, the show is over
We came a long way, just to turn around
Lesson learned, no-one knows all the answers
Some days we just do the best we can
You changed my mind in a minute
It breaks my heart to admit it
No-one's to blame
You let me in behind the lies
But you're no use to me life size, oh
No-one's to blame, yeah
Some days we just do the best we can
You changed my mind in a minute
It breaks my heart to admit it
Don't make me say
The king is dead
The king is dead
King is dead
King is dead
King is dead
...
The song "The King Is Dead" by Go West is a poignant reflection on the unpredictable nature of life, how quickly things can change, and the way in which we cope with loss and disappointment. The titular king is a metaphor for anything that we hold dear and that suddenly, without warning, slips through our fingers or is taken away from us. The lyrics suggest that, despite our efforts to control our lives and chart our own course, we are ultimately subject to forces beyond our control.
The opening lines, "The king is dead, no doubt about it / We came a long way just to say goodbye," establish a somber, mournful tone that sets the stage for the rest of the song. The line "And in the end it was some old swan song" suggests a sense of finality and inevitability, as if the end had been written long ago but we were only just now realizing it. The second verse introduces the idea that the king was not the person we thought he was, that there was a "different man" behind the facade. This could refer to any number of situations or people, from a political leader to a friend or family member.
The chorus, with its repetition of the phrase "you changed my mind in a minute," suggests that the loss of the king has had a profound impact on the singer, perhaps causing them to reevaluate their beliefs or values. The final lines, "Don't make me say / The king is dead," are a desperate plea to avoid facing this harsh reality.
Line by Line Meaning
The king is dead, no doubt about it
It is certain that the king is dead
We came a long way just to say goodbye
We traveled far to be here for the end of the king's reign
And in the end it was some old swan song
The end of the king's reign was a nostalgic but ultimately futile event
The king is dead, you'd never know it
The death of the king has not caused any visible changes
But we got pictures of a different man
We have proof that someone else is posing as the king
He's flesh and blood, no-one knows all the answers
The new king is a human with flaws and limitations, just like everyone
Some days we just do the best we can
Sometimes we have to accept imperfection and make do with what we have
You changed my mind in a minute
You convinced me with a quick argument or action
It breaks my heart to admit it
It pains me to acknowledge the truth of what you said or did
The king is dead, the show is over
The reign is definitively ended and there's no more spectacle to be had
Just to turn around
Despite coming all this way, we're not going to get what we wanted
Lesson learned, no-one knows all the answers
We gained some wisdom but realize that we still don't have all the solutions
No-one's to blame
There's no point in assigning blame
You let me in behind the lies
You revealed the truth to me that was hidden before
But you're no use to me life size
Your greatness or importance don't matter in the face of harsh realities
The king is dead
We reiterate that the king is dead
King is dead
A final repetition of the same point
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COX, DRUMMIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gerard McCartney
When you finally realise that all your life, you've been driven by ego, and the humiliating freedom that realisation affords