Despite producing an excellent, melodic, catchy and very Magnum-like self-titled album the band was relatively short-lived with Clarkin announcing it's demise around 1999. The album "Hard Rain" (1997), follows the previous Magnum formula with Catley's superb vocals, Clarkin's guitars and use of backing keyboards in the older "prog rock" tradition; as well as a slightly funkier beat and harmonic backing vocals (Sue McCloskey). A second, more experimental album, "When the Good Times Come" followed in 1999.
In 1981, two tracks were written and produced by Clarkin and were sung by Sue McCloskey, a friend of Magnum. They were entitled "Really Need Your Love" and "Lost Inside Myself". After Catley left Hard Rain, Clarkin continued to write material with McCloskey. Some of these songs were broadcast on radio during an interview with Clarkin. Two of these songs surfaced as Magnum songs, "Still" and "Dream About You" on Magnum's 2002 studio album, Breath of Life.
Often overlooked but if you are a long-standing fan of Magnum then you're very likely to want the album "Hard Rain" in your collection as it rivals the best that the former band had to offer.
You'd Start a Fight
Hard Rain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, lord, tell me heavens above
Under a bad sign, yeah, well, it ain't nobody's business
Tell me who do you love?
You don't give me no attention
This time, well, I've had enough
Even a blind man sure going to see evil woman
I said who do you love?
You'd start a fight in an empty house
And treat me just like a stray dog
You wind me up then you turn me out
And put me off like a bad job
Hard rain, love to see it falling
Wash you, get you out of my blood
Won't be the last time I'm going to end up in trouble
Tell me who do you love?
I said who do you love?
You'd start a fight in an empty house
And treat me just like a stray dog
You wind me up then you turn me out
And put me off like a bad job
Don't talk with a cold rejection
Ain't never going to take all night, no
I just want to lose the connection
And I'm going to make you feel all right
Not a thing, not a prize possession
Going down on a one way flight
Tell me who do you love?
You'd start a fight in an empty house
And treat me just like a stray dog
You wind me up then you turn me out
And put me off like a bad job
You'd start a fight in an empty house
And treat me just like a stray dog
Now tell me
You wind me up then you turn me out
And put me off like a bad job
The lyrics of "You'd Start a Fight" by Hard Rain are about a toxic and dysfunctional relationship. The singer is frustrated with their partner's behavior, as they constantly start fights and treat them poorly. The opening lines, "Black cat, well, I ain't superstitious / Oh, lord, tell me heavens above / Under a bad sign, yeah, well, it ain't nobody's business / Tell me who do you love?" suggest the singer feels unlucky in love and questions their partner's loyalty.
The chorus, "You'd start a fight in an empty house / And treat me just like a stray dog / You wind me up then you turn me out / And put me off like a bad job" highlights the partner's abusive behavior towards the singer. They are being mistreated and pushed away by someone they care about deeply. The singer seems resigned to the fact that they are always going to have trouble in their relationship, as they won't be "the last time I'm going to end up in trouble." The final line, "Tell me who do you love?" can be interpreted as the singer questioning whether their partner loves them or not.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a tumultuous and painful relationship that is not built on love and care, but rather manipulation and mistreatment.
Line by Line Meaning
Black cat, well, I ain't superstitious
I don't believe in bad luck, especially not because of a black cat.
Oh, lord, tell me heavens above
I'm desperate for help and guidance from a higher power.
Under a bad sign, yeah, well, it ain't nobody's business
I'm having a string of bad luck but it's not something I want to talk about.
Tell me who do you love?
Who are you really committed to and care about?
You don't give me no attention
You're not paying any mind to me.
This time, well, I've had enough
I'm fed up and won't tolerate this mistreatment anymore.
Even a blind man sure going to see evil woman
It's clear to anyone, even someone who can't see, that you're behaving badly.
I said who do you love?
I'm asking you again, who do you really love?
You'd start a fight in an empty house
You're so combative and angry that you would fight even without a reason.
And treat me just like a stray dog
You treat me with disrespect and cruelty.
You wind me up then you turn me out
You provoke me and then abandon me when I react.
And put me off like a bad job
You dismiss me and my feelings like a worthless task.
Hard rain, love to see it falling
I enjoy seeing a harsh natural force reflecting my emotional turmoil.
Wash you, get you out of my blood
I want to cleanse myself of you and your toxic influence.
Won't be the last time I'm going to end up in trouble
This isn't the first time you've caused me problems and I doubt it'll be the last.
Don't talk with a cold rejection
Don't dismiss me with your cold behavior and attitude.
Ain't never going to take all night, no
I won't need a lot of time to find what I'm looking for.
I just want to lose the connection
I want to disconnect from you and our bad relationship.
And I'm going to make you feel all right
I'll be okay and you won't have power over me anymore.
Not a thing, not a prize possession
You mean nothing to me and I won't cling to you as if you were a valuable item.
Going down on a one way flight
I'm moving on and there's no turning back.
Now tell me
Answer me truthfully.
Contributed by James A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.