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.
SomeBody
Heaven 17 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That in the world today
They try and take away the blue skies
And all the children that play
But it's a curious fact
In every hour in every place
That when the right time arrives
Somebody
Can't you see
I'm a boy out of fashion
Somebody
I'm not part of any nation
Now I'm back in circulation
When the right time arrives will you be there
Tomorrow or a hundred years from now
I've wasted years just keepin' movin' on
It never entered my head it was here all along
Don't ask me why just lead me on
Somebody
Talk to me
I can hear what you're saying
Somebody
Tired of the city air
If I gave you the future would you meet me there
I used to stumble and fall
I'd run to everyone that called
Since you appeared it's been a lot of fun
Between you and me, between the truth and a lie
You have a husband and I have a wife
And when you ask me why with your kissing eyes
How could we be so wrong, oh my oh my oh my
You'll always be there the same as any other
You like a sister and me like a brother
Like all the times I used to dream
Somebody
Smile at me
Let me know that you're near me
Somebody
I can see that you're near me
It's the only sound on the city street
If I sing you my song will you move your feet
Somebody
Every moment you're nearer
I'm broken down and in a mess
Your love is all that I confess
Somebody
Now I know that you're near me
I don't mean to shock, I don't mean to scare
But the world won't change and I don't care
I used to dream
One day somebody near me
I can't believe you're making me
A rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief
There's a strange new rhythm in my life
It burns like the sun and cuts like a knife
Everybody chic or shoddy
Turn it loose and use your body
The song "Somebody" by Heaven 17 talks about the struggles and challenges of living in the world today, where people try to take away simple pleasures such as blue skies and children's play. However, there's a curious fact that in every hour and in every place, when the right time arrives, it feels so good to be alive. The song talks about being out of fashion and not being a part of any nation but being back in circulation. It asks whether someone will be there when the right time arrives and whether they will be there tomorrow or a hundred years from now.
The song talks about wasted years of just keeping moving on when it was always here all along. It asks someone to talk to it and says it's tired of the city air. It asks whether someone would meet it in the future if it gave them the future. The song talks about stumbling and falling, running to everyone that called, but everything changed when the person appeared, and now it's been a lot of fun. The song talks about the truth and the lie, about having a husband and a wife and how wrong it is to be together, but to the other, they'll always be there like siblings.
The song concludes by saying it used to dream of someone near it, and now that person is there, making it a rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, and how there's a strange new rhythm in its life. It encourages people to turn loose and use their body.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got to face the fact
You need to acknowledge the harsh reality
That in the world today
In the current state of the world
They try and take away the blue skies
People attempt to destroy the beauty in this world
And all the children that play
Those who bring joy and happiness are also being affected
But it's a curious fact
Contrary to what is happening, something peculiar happens
In every hour in every place
Every moment and setting
That when the right time arrives
When the perfect opportunity arises
It feels so good to be alive
It is rejuvenating to be alive amidst all of the destruction
Somebody
An individual who is desired or sought after
Can't you see
Can't you comprehend
I'm a boy out of fashion
I'm a person who feels out of place
I'm not part of any nation
I don't belong to any specific group of people
Now I'm back in circulation
I'm back in the world, doing well
When the right time arrives will you be there
Will you be present when the perfect opportunity arises
Tomorrow or a hundred years from now
At any point in the future
I've wasted years just keepin' movin' on
I've spent years constantly moving forward without any direction
It never entered my head it was here all along
I never realized that what I've been looking for has been here all along
Don't ask me why just lead me on
Don't question it, just keep guiding me
Talk to me
Engage in conversation with me
I can hear what you're saying
I am actively listening to what you're saying
Tired of the city air
Exhausted with the pollution of city life
If I gave you the future would you meet me there
If I offered you a better future, would you be there with me
I used to stumble and fall
I used to make mistakes and face hardships
I'd run to everyone that called
I would seek help from anyone who offered it
Since you appeared it's been a lot of fun
Since you came into my life, things have been enjoyable
Between you and me, between the truth and a lie
In the space between us and what is real and what is not
You have a husband and I have a wife
You are married, and I am married as well
And when you ask me why with your kissing eyes
And when you question me with your loving gaze
How could we be so wrong, oh my oh my oh my
How did we let ourselves make such a terrible decision
You'll always be there the same as any other
You'll always be present, similar to everyone else in my life
You like a sister and me like a brother
Our relationship is purely platonic
Like all the times I used to dream
Similar to all the times I wished for an ideal situation
Smile at me
Express happiness towards me through a smile
Let me know that you're near me
Inform me that you are close by
I can see that you're near me
I am aware that you are nearby
It's the only sound on the city street
Your presence is the only thing that stands out in a busy city
If I sing you my song will you move your feet
If I share my passion with you, will you join and support me
Every moment you're nearer
Every second that passes, you come closer
I'm broken down and in a mess
I am defeated and living in chaos
Your love is all that I confess
The only thing I admit to is loving you
Now I know that you're near me
I am reassured of your close proximity
I don't mean to shock, I don't mean to scare
I'm not trying to surprise or frighten anyone
But the world won't change and I don't care
The world will continue to be problematic and I've come to terms with it
One day somebody near me
Someday, there will be someone close to me
I can't believe you're making me
I can't believe that you are allowing me to be with you
A rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief
No matter who we are - wealthy, impoverished, in need of help, or a criminal - we can all experience love
There's a strange new rhythm in my life
A new and peculiar beat has entered my daily routine
It burns like the sun and cuts like a knife
This new experience is both painful and illuminating
Everybody chic or shoddy
No matter what we look like or how we present ourselves
Turn it loose and use your body
Unleash and enjoy the moment with reckless abandon
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GLENN GREGORY, IAN MARSH, MARTYN WARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind