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.
Dive
Heaven 17 Lyrics
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Believe what you see
Whisper it a hundred times
A lesson soon to be forgotten
If you feel that life has passed you by
(Dive) Come with me we`ll flow into tomorrow
(Dive) We can close our eyes and disappear
Is something you can`t touch, taste, see or...
Here it is - The great escape
Slip with me into the shadows
What would life be without me ?
Master of your fate between two worlds
Don`t you see that time is slipping by ?
(Dive) Come with me we`ll flow into tomorrow
(Dive) We can close our eyes and disappear
(Dive) Just below the threshold of detection
Is something you can`t touch, taste, see or hear
Come to me be my inspiration
We`ve got to rise above
You`ve got to dive for love
You`ve got to dive for love
Come to me and we can touch the sky
(Dive) Come with me we`ll flow into tomorrow
(Dive) We can close our eyes and disappear
(Dive) Just below the threshold of detection
Is something you can`t touch, taste, see or hear
(Dive) You know that love all pull you under
(Dive) They say the time for miracles is past
(Dive) Hold my hand and dive into the future
The time for us to rise is here at last
Rise
Dive
The song "Dive" by Heaven 17 is an upbeat pop song that encourages the listener to take a leap of faith and dive into the unknown. The lyrics implore the listener to not be afraid and to believe in what they see. The repetition of "Dive" throughout the song suggests that taking this leap is the key to flowing into the future and escaping the constraints of the present.
The first verse begins with a reassurance that the listener need not be afraid. They are encouraged to whisper whatever they see in front of them a hundred times, driving the point home that this leap of faith is essential. The lesson that is soon to be forgotten implies that this opportunity will not last forever and that the listener must take action. The lyrics question whether life has passed the listener by, perhaps because they have been hesitant to take a chance and dive into the unknown.
The chorus emphasizes the need to dive with the repetition of the phrase "Come with me we'll flow into tomorrow" three times. The lyrics suggest that the listener will disappear as they close their eyes and cross the threshold into something intangible but intriguingly tempting. The second verse calls the listener to action, telling them to slip into the shadows with the singer and to ask themselves what life would be without this opportunity. They are called the masters of their fate, reminding them that they are in control of their own destiny. The lyrics end with a call to rise above and dive for love so that they can touch the sky.
Overall, "Dive" is a song that encourages the listener to take a chance and dive into the unknown. It suggests that the time is now, and failure is not an option. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the message and builds excitement, while the verses provide a bit of rationale for why the listener should take the leap.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don`t be afraid
Don't let fear hold you back
Believe what you see
Trust your instincts and what you observe
Whisper it a hundred times
Repetition can help embed a truth in your mind
A lesson soon to be forgotten
Even the most important teachings can fade over time
If you feel that life has passed you by
If you think you've missed out on what life has to offer
(Dive) Come with me we`ll flow into tomorrow
Let's move forward together
(Dive) We can close our eyes and disappear
We can escape from reality and our problems
(Dive) Just below the threshold of detection
We can find something hidden, almost imperceptible
Is something you can`t touch, taste, see or...
It's intangible and defies the senses
Here it is - The great escape
This is our chance to break free from our mundane lives
Slip with me into the shadows
Let's go into the unknown together
What would life be without me ?
Life would be incomplete without my presence
Master of your fate between two worlds
You have control over what happens next
Don`t you see that time is slipping by ?
Time waits for no one
(Dive) Come with me we`ll flow into tomorrow
Let's move forward together
(Dive) We can close our eyes and disappear
We can escape from reality and our problems
(Dive) Just below the threshold of detection
We can find something hidden, almost imperceptible
Is something you can`t touch, taste, see or hear
It's intangible and defies the senses
Come to me be my inspiration
Be the motivation behind my actions
We`ve got to rise above
We need to overcome adversity
You`ve got to dive for love
You need to take risks for love
You`ve got to dive for love
You need to take risks for love
Come to me and we can touch the sky
We can achieve greatness together
(Dive) Come with me we`ll flow into tomorrow
Let's move forward together
(Dive) We can close our eyes and disappear
We can escape from reality and our problems
(Dive) Just below the threshold of detection
We can find something hidden, almost imperceptible
Is something you can`t touch, taste, see or hear
It's intangible and defies the senses
(Dive) You know that love all pull you under
Love can be powerful and all-consuming
(Dive) They say the time for miracles is past
Some people don't believe in the extraordinary
(Dive) Hold my hand and dive into the future
Let's take a leap of faith into the unknown
The time for us to rise is here at last
We have an opportunity for success
Rise
Achieve your potential
Dive
Take risks and go after what you want
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GLENN PETER GREGORY, IAN CRAIG MARSH, MARTYN WARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind