Shortly after, they recruited their good friend and photographer Glenn Gregory on vocals to complete their lineup for Heaven 17. Contrary to popular belief, they were not 'New Romantics' per se and had different visual characteristics than groups such as Spandau Ballet and the Culture Club. Like The Human League, Heaven 17 heavily used synthesizers and drum machines while taking influence from the minimalist electronica music of the 70s.
They had a few minor hits in their early days, including the song "Play To Win" that featured on the album 'Penthouse and Pavement'. Their debut single '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang' from the same album attracted some attention, became a left-wing anthem for a while, and was banned by the BBC because of its overtly political lyrics, but it still reached number 45 in the UK singles chart.
Major chart success eluded them until the single 'Temptation' (in which they were augmented by the vocalist Carol Kenyon) reached number 2 in the UK charts in summer 1983. Other songs from the same album, The Luxury Gap, also charted though not as high - 'Come Live With Me' reached number 5 in the UK, 'Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry' reached number 17, and 'Let Me Go', reaching 41 in November 1982. The album itself charted at their best ever position, number four.
At the end of 1983, the band helped re-launch Tina Turner's solo career, producing and providing backing vocals on her debut hit 'Let's Stay Together'. 1984 featured the release of the moderately successful How Men Are, which reached number 12.
The band also worked on the Band Aid single at the end of 1984, with Gregory supplying vocals alongside Midge Ure and Sting. However, they did not perform at Live Aid the following year.
Pleasure One (featuring the single 'Trouble') appeared in 1986 and it was followed up in 1988 with Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho (featuring the single 'Train Of Love In Motion'). The early 90's were a quiet period for the band and they wouldn't work together as Heaven 17 until 1996's Bigger Than America. In the preceding years, Marsh and Ware produced a second B.E.F. album to 1981's original Music of Quality and Distinction and Gregory formed the band Ugly. Ware became an in-demand producer, working for the likes of Terence Trent D'Arby, Alison Moyet and Erasure. 2005 saw the release of the long-awaited Before After; the album having a much more contemporary dance sound compared to previous albums.
And That's No Lie
Heaven 17 Lyrics
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The dark starts moving in
And that's the truth
Right now you're on the stand
And I feel like the judge
Who needs the proof?
The slaves of truth
It was on every face in town
Waiting for the news
Will it ever come my way?
I won't be beat, not in a thousand years
I'll never lose, if I can prove you're not the one
Just leave me now, you're making my blood run cold
The word is out, so go, your feet won't touch the ground
Now that she has gone
I've got to shake the pain, act like a man
The sweetness that's inside
Will slowly die away
Who do you think you are? You're making a fool of me
Make no mistake, this is no fake, this is the end
Just shut your mouth, make room for someone new
So guess who's back, it's happy Jack, and that's no lie
How was I to know?
So discreet, no-one speaks
Take the word from here
If you play you've got to pray
Who do you think you are? You're making a fool of me
Make no mistake, this is no fake, this is the end
I won't be beat, not in a thousand years
Just leave me now, you make my blood run cold
The word is, the word is out
The lyrics of Heaven 17's song "And That's No Lie" reflect the feelings of betrayal and disillusionment that arise when relationships end. The opening verse paints a picture of a once passionate flame that has been extinguished. The darkness that follows symbolizes the pain and confusion that often come with the end of a relationship. The singer, who now feels like a judge, seeks proof of the other person's wrongdoing, but deep down, they know that it is the end. The line "the slaves of truth" speaks to the difficulty of accepting the truth when it is not what we want to hear. The chorus reinforces the singer's determination not to be beaten by the heartbreak they are experiencing. They believe that they will win if they can prove that the other person was not the one for them.
The second verse finds the singer trying to move on from the heartbreak. They try to convince themselves that they can "act like a man" and that the pain will fade over time. However, the bitterness and hurt they feel come through in lines like "you're making a fool of me" and "just shut your mouth." The bridge of the song continues the theme of the singer trying to find their footing after the end of the relationship. They feel that they were deceived and ask "how was I to know?" The mention of playing and praying suggests that the singer is questioning their actions and wondering if they could have done something differently.
Line by Line Meaning
But when the fire goes out
When the passion or excitement fades
The dark starts moving in
Sadness or depression sets in
And that's the truth
This is a harsh reality
Right now you're on the stand
You're being judged or evaluated
And I feel like the judge
I'm the one who is judging you
Who needs the proof?
I already know the truth
The slaves of truth
People who are bound by honesty and integrity
It was on every face in town
Everyone knew the truth
But I would not understand
I refused to acknowledge or accept it
Waiting for the news
Hoping for an update or development
Will it ever come my way?
Wondering if there will be progress or closure
I won't be beat, not in a thousand years
I'm determined and won't let anyone defeat me
I'll never lose, if I can prove you're not the one
I won't accept defeat if I can prove you're not the right person
Just leave me now, you're making my blood run cold
You're terrifying me, I want you to go away
The word is out, so go, your feet won't touch the ground
People know the truth, you should leave now
Now that she has gone
Since she left
I've got to shake the pain, act like a man
I need to deal with the grief and be strong
The sweetness that's inside
The happiness that used to be felt
Will slowly die away
Is fading and disappearing
Who do you think you are? You're making a fool of me
You're humiliating me and acting arrogant
Make no mistake, this is no fake, this is the end
This isn't a joke or a bluff, it's truly over
Just shut your mouth, make room for someone new
Be quiet and step aside for someone else to take your place
So guess who's back, it's happy Jack, and that's no lie
I'm back and happy again, and I'm not lying
How was I to know?
I didn't have enough information
So discreet, no-one speaks
Everyone is silent or secretive
Take the word from here
Let me explain or share my perspective
If you play you've got to pray
If you take risks, you need to accept the consequences
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLEN GREGORY, IAN MARSH, MARTYN WARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind