John Baker and Roland Orzabal were at school together and performed as the "Baker Brothers" in local pubs and clubs from 1977 aged 16. The name Graduate came from the fact that they used to open shows with a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson", which was featured in the movie The Graduate. In 1979, Graduate signed a publishing deal with Tony Hatch who subsequently offered the group to Pye Records.
In 1979, Graduate visited Cambridge for May week, staying at St. John's College with band member Steve Buck, and playing an open air gig at at a birthday party for the self-styled Peter Counsell-Farquhar and William d'Arcy Symonds. "Graduate - they were fantastic" - William Symonds 2014.
In 1980, Graduate released an album, Acting My Age, and a single "Elvis Should Play Ska" (referring to Elvis Costello, not Presley) on Pye's Precision label. The single reached No. 106 in the UK Singles Chart, but performed better in Spain and in Switzerland; the group also achieved a measure of success in some other European countries such as Germany and Greece.
In 1981, Orzabal and Smith went on to form the acclaimed new wave band Tears for Fears. John Baker later joined The Korgis, a band featuring members of Stackridge.
All at Once
Graduate Lyrics
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I don't wanna live inside your lost and found
You spin a story
With every other word you say
Another lie convincing me to stay
You only listen to my stare
And until I'm crushed beyond repair
So do you care enough
To hold on, it's been so long
You keep pulling on the strings
Till I'm undone, all at once
Don't cut me off
Until you help me find a way
To live with the loss
You've got me wound up too tight
Don't catch on till it's too late
Keep me moving like a moth to flame
Zoom by you at first sight
Every time I try to get away
Something new's convincing me to stay
So do you care enough
To hold on, it's been so long
You keep pulling on the strings
Till I'm undone, all at once
Don't cut me off
Until you help me find a way
To live with the loss
Could I have changed it
What more could I have sacrificed
There's always something to say
Stop me before I go to waste
Play with my love
Rip it up till I say enough
So do you care enough
To hold on, it's been so long
You keep pulling on the strings
Till I'm undone all at once
Don't cut me off
Until you help me find a way
To live with the loss
The Graduate's "All at Once" is a song that deals with themes of disconnection and loss of identity in a relationship. The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship where one partner is controlling the other's actions, keeping them in a state of uncertainty and self-doubt. The song starts with the plea, "Don't shut me out," emphasizing the fear of being left alone or forgotten. The partner is manipulating them with lies, making them doubt themselves and holding on to the relationship, even if it's not what they want.
The lyrics in the second verse reveal the singer's sense of frustration as they realize they are caught in a cycle of behavior with their partner. Their partner only listens to their stare and keeps them wound up too tightly. They feel like they can't escape the relationship or move on because they are caught up in the same destructive patterns. The song's chorus repeats the plea for the partner to care and hold on, asking them not to cut them off until they can find a way to live with the loss of the relationship.
The singer of the song is aware that they have lost their sense of self in the relationship. They question themselves, wondering if they could have done more to change the outcome, and long for relief from the pain. The song's bridge highlights a desperate need to be rescued and a fear of wasting their life away, emphasizing the importance of breaking the cycle and finding a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't shut me out
Please don't emotionally cut me off or ignore me
I don't wanna live inside your lost and found
I don't want to be treated like something that is lost or unwanted
You spin a story
You often tell me stories that are not true or only partially true
With every other word you say
Even though some of the things you say might be true, I feel like I can't trust any of it
Another lie convincing me to stay
I am so desperate for something to believe in that I'm willing to believe the lies you tell me
You only listen to my stare
Even though I am looking right at you, I feel like you aren't really listening to me
And until I'm crushed beyond repair
You don't seem to care enough about me to stop lying or hurting me until I am completely broken
So do you care enough
I'm questioning whether or not you really care about me
To hold on, it's been so long
I'm asking you to hold on to our relationship because it's been hurting for a long time
You keep pulling on the strings
You are manipulating me to get what you want
Till I'm undone, all at once
Eventually I will reach my breaking point and everything will come undone at once
Don't cut me off
Please don't abandon me or push me away
Until you help me find a way
I need your help to find a way to deal with the pain and loss I'm feeling
To live with the loss
I need to find a way to cope with the things I've lost because of our relationship
Could I have changed it
I'm wondering if there was something I could have done to make things better
What more could I have sacrificed
I feel like I've already given up so much for this relationship, but it still seems to be falling apart
There's always something to say
I feel like there's always more drama or conflict happening between us
Stop me before I go to waste
Please help me before our relationship completely falls apart and becomes worthless
Play with my love
You are toying with my emotions and my love for you
Rip it up till I say enough
You keep hurting me until I reach my limit and can't take it anymore
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GORDON SCOTT KENNEDY, BEN COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind