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.

October Is Orange
Haircut 100 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Autumn is your season
Summer ain’t your friend, it’s boring
Unclouded in the winter key
I’m tendering your touch, it’s good

I’m running, I’m running
I’m falling in love with the countryside
Cover to cover

I’m painting my mouth wide I like

(...? Spanish)

Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange
Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange

Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange
Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange

Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange

Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange
Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange

Overall Meaning

In "October Is Orange," Haircut 100 uses powerful visual imagery to convey the beauty of autumn. The lyrics suggest that autumn is the perfect season for the singer's subject, as they find summer to be uninteresting and find winter to be too dreary. The singer is tender towards their subject's touch and enjoys running through the countryside, taking in the vibrant colors of the season. The line "I'm painting my mouth wide I like" suggests that the singer is smiling and basking in the beauty of their surroundings.

Line by Line Meaning

Autumn is your season
You feel most yourself and comfortable during the season of Autumn

Summer ain’t your friend, it’s boring
You don't connect well with the season of Summer and find it uninteresting

Unclouded in the winter key
In the winter season, the sky is clear and bright as compared to other seasons

I’m tendering your touch, it’s good
I'm cherishing and appreciating the way you touch me, it's pleasant

I’m running, I’m running
I'm moving and trying to keep up with the pace of life

I’m falling in love with the countryside
I'm finding peace and love in the tranquility of the countryside

Cover to cover
From beginning to end

I’m painting my mouth wide I like
I'm expressing my joy and happiness with a big smile

(...? Spanish)
(Unclear and indistinguishable lyrics in Spanish)

Bright as orange, bright as orange, bright as orange
Something is as vibrant and lively as the color orange