Haircut One Hundred (also known as Haircut 100) was a pop music band formed… Read Full Bio ↴Haircut One Hundred (also known as Haircut 100) was a pop music band formed in 1980 by Nick Heyward, Les Nemes, Graham Jones, Phil Smith, Mark Fox, and Blair Cunningham, known as one of the forerunners of the popular new romantic movement.

They were successful from the beginning, with their 1981 single "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" setting the stage for the breakthrough success of the album 'Pelican West' (1982). The single "Love Plus One" was even bigger than anything previous, and Haircut 100 seemed poised for stardom just as Heyward decided to seek a solo career. The remainder of the band tried to continue with the album 'Paint and Paint' (1984), with percussionist Mark Fox taking over Heyward's vocal duties, but they broke up soon after.

Although somewhat dismissed as a 'one hit wonder' due to the spread of blockbuster hit "Love Plus One", the band proved influential by the late 00s when new wave revivalist bands such as Vampire Weekend and No Kids emerged employing a similar style of preppy, afrobeat-like guitar pop.

Marine Boy
Haircut 100 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What they want for their lives
What they want for their lives
I crossed the sea in something
It's very light
What they want for their lives
Did you glide in with great stride?
Taking strength from a smile
Present state of marine life

I crossed the sea in something
Was it nice?
What they want for their lives
What they want for their lives
Did they fall into grand saloon?
What was that smile just about?

I crossed the sea in something
Was it nice?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Marine Boy by Haircut 100 reveal the themes of journey, exploration, and introspection. The singer talks about crossing the sea in something, which is very light, hinting at a voyage of self-discovery. The repeated lines "What they want for their lives, Did you glide in with great stride?" suggest that the singer is observing other people's lives and questioning their motives and aspirations. The line "Taking strength from a smile" shows that the singer is trying to gain inspiration and positivity from the people he meets on his journey.

The following lines reveal a concern for the state of marine life and the impact of human activities on the environment: "Present state of marine life, What they want for their lives, Did they fall into grand saloon?" The reference to the grand saloon, which could symbolize greed and excess, underscores the need for reflection on our actions and their consequences. The final line "What was that smile just about?" leaves the meaning open to interpretation, but it could suggest that the singer is questioning the authenticity of people's happiness or questioning his own motives.

Line by Line Meaning

What they want for their lives
The desires and aspirations of individuals for their future.

What they want for their lives
Repeating the previous line to emphasize its importance.

I crossed the sea in something
Traveling across the ocean using a lightweight vessel.

It's very light
The vessel used for traveling across the sea was lightweight.

What they want for their lives
The desires and aspirations of individuals for their future.

Did you glide in with great stride?
Did you make a smooth and effortless entry into a situation?

Taking strength from a smile
Finding inspiration and motivation from a smile.

Present state of marine life
The current condition of various sea creatures and their ecosystems.

I crossed the sea in something
Traveling across the ocean using a vessel.

Was it nice?
Asking if the travel experience was pleasant.

What they want for their lives
The desires and aspirations of individuals for their future.