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.
Low Society
Heaven 17 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In this low society
Trade ambition for position
In this low society
Have you heard it's in the stars
Next July we collide with mars
In this low society
No more pay and lots of leisure
In this low society
Low society
I'm just doing what I can
In this low society
But I'm an incidental man
In this low society
I give away what others sell
The secret's yours so never tell
'cause if you do you'll go to hell
Low society
Side by side and always tired
All for one and no-one hired
All that's left is love inspired
Low society
And when the party is complete
And you're still standing on your feet
The taste of victory is sweet
Low society
And darling don't forget
In this low society
To turn off your t.v. set
In this low society
The most important thing at all
In this low society
Is not to stand too tall
In this low society
In this world that never learns
I can see rome as it burns
All the passion and the power
Turns to ash within an hour
No more play and no more pleasure
In this low society
The song "Low Society" by Heaven 17 sheds light on the pitfalls of our modern, capitalist society. It criticizes the way trade, ambition, and position-seeking have distorted people's priorities, and how this has led to a "low society" where people are tired, overworked, and left with no time for pleasure. The song also highlights the dangers of blindly following authority figures, such as judges, dentists, and physicians, in the pursuit of success. The lyrics "I'm just doing what I can / But I'm an incidental man / In this low society" express a sense of resignation and helplessness that many people feel in modern society.
The song also touches on themes of hope and escape. The lyrics "Have you heard it's in the stars / Next July we collide with Mars" suggest that there may be a way out of our current situation, that we can change the course of our fate. The line "And darling don't forget / In this low society / To turn off your t.v. set" is a call to disconnect from the distractions and noise of society and focus on what's important. Ultimately, the song makes a plea for a better world, one where love and passion reign supreme and where people are free to pursue their dreams without sacrificing their happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
A judge a dentist or physician
People of respectable professions are also part of this society
In this low society
Referring to a society that has lost all values and morals
Trade ambition for position
People compromise their aspirations for power and status
Have you heard it's in the stars
Rumours about events that might happen are popular topics of conversation
Next July we collide with mars
People believe in baseless rumours and predictions
Have you heard it in the bars
Pubs and bars are places where such rumours and gossip spread
No more pay and lots of leisure
People prefer leisure time over earning more money
I'm just doing what I can
People try to maintain a living in this deteriorating society
But I'm an incidental man
People's actions don't matter much in the grand scheme of things
I give away what others sell
People are altruistic despite others being driven by greed
The secret's yours so never tell
People cannot trust anyone as trustworthiness is scarce
'cause if you do you'll go to hell
People face consequences for their actions, whether good or bad
Side by side and always tired
People work hard to make ends meet, but it never really improves their situation
All for one and no-one hired
People work together despite not having the security of a job
All that's left is love inspired
Love is the only saving grace in this society
And when the party is complete
A feeling of temporary happiness in the moment
And you're still standing on your feet
People continue to carry on with their lives despite everything
The taste of victory is sweet
Small victories provide temporary relief in the gloomy society
And darling don't forget
A reminder that even the little joys in life should be cherished
To turn off your t.v. set
The media often spreads negativity and toxicity which influences people's perceptions
The most important thing at all
Maintaining one's humility and not becoming conceited
Is not to stand too tall
A reminder to keep priorities straight in a society where morals are compromised
In this world that never learns
Society keeps making the same mistakes over and over again
I can see rome as it burns
The society is weakening and falling apart
All the passion and the power
Even the things that were once deemed important have lost significance
Turns to ash within an hour
Things that people were once passionate about don't last long
No more play and no more pleasure
People are eventually devoid of any joys and pleasures in life
In this low society
Reiterated to reflect that the song is about a society that has declined morally
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: GLENN GREGORY, MARTYN WARE, IAN MARSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind