Heaven 17 is a British synthpop band originating in Sheffield, South Yorksh… Read Full Bio ↴Heaven 17 is a British synthpop band originating in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England that was formed in 1980, having much 80s success with their electronic sound. Taking their name from a fictional group mentioned in Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange (where 'The Heaven Seventeen' are at number 4 in the charts with 'Inside'), Heaven 17 formed when Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware split from their earlier group, The Human League, and devised the production company British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.).

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.

Trouble
Heaven 17 Lyrics

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I`m in a place where nothing ever happens
I`ll try one day to walk away
But for now I`ll hand around
I am a fool without exception

I break every rule
But I never break away
(Trouble) It`s walking my way

I feel it moving closer day after day
(Trouble) I`m talking to you

It`s getting hot in here but what can I do
Sometime, someplace I`ll make it happen
Yours is the face, to help me set this time ablaze
I`ve always thought there`s no protection

You`ll walk through the door
And I`ll never want for more
(Trouble) Again and again
It`s not so simple and I never know when
(Trouble) For me and for you
The trouble`s double now we`re fighting for two

We`ll take this place we`ll make it happen
We`ll leave them behind
We`ll leave them all to change their minds
The trouble is with the solution
One`s not so strong, but with two of us we can`t go wrong

(Trouble) I`m talking to you
It`s getting hot in here but what can I do
(Trouble) - Again and again
It`s not so simple and I never know when

(Trouble) - I`m talking to you
It`s getting hot in here but what can I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Heaven 17's song "Trouble" speak to feeling stuck in a stagnant environment and being a rule-breaker who can't seem to escape their situation. The singer of the song acknowledges their foolishness and desire to walk away from their current situation but can't quite muster the courage to do so. They express a sense of foreboding as trouble seems to be creeping up on them, but they are hopeful that they will eventually find someone who can help them set their life ablaze.

The phrase "trouble" is repeated throughout the song and is used as a sort of ominous warning that something bad is on the horizon. The singer recognizes that trouble is a constant presence in their life, and while they talk about how it's not simple and they never know when it's coming, they seem to accept it as a part of their existence.

The chorus of the song shifts to a more optimistic tone as the singer speaks directly to someone, presumably a romantic interest, saying that together they will make things happen and leave their troubles behind. The lyrics suggest that the solution to the singer's problems lies in finding someone to share the burden with and that they are better off fighting trouble as a team.

Overall, the lyrics to "Trouble" speak to the struggle of feeling trapped in a situation and the desire for companionship and support to escape it. The repeated use of the word "trouble" throughout the song adds a sense of unease and anticipation, which contrasts with the hopefulness of the chorus.

Line by Line Meaning

I`m in a place where nothing ever happens
I feel stuck in my life, like everything is stagnant and unchanging.

I`ll try one day to walk away
I know I need to make changes in my life, but right now I'm not quite ready to take that step.

But for now I`ll hand around
Even though I'm unhappy where I am, I haven't yet mustered the courage to move on.

I am a fool without exception
I know that I sometimes make bad decisions or do foolish things, and I can't seem to help it.

I break every rule
I don't always follow what society expects of me and I don't conform to norms.

But I never break away
Even though I don't always follow the rules, I still feel like I am unable to escape my current circumstances.

(Trouble) It`s walking my way
I can sense that something troublesome or difficult is coming my way soon.

I feel it moving closer day after day
The sense of impending trouble is becoming more intense and I feel like it's getting closer with each passing day.

(Trouble) I`m talking to you
I'm trying to convey to someone that I'm dealing with some issues and I need their help or support.

It`s getting hot in here but what can I do
I'm feeling intense emotions related to my troubles, but I don't know how to deal with them or express them in a healthy way.

Sometime, someplace I`ll make it happen
Although I'm not sure when or where, I believe that I can someday make meaningful changes in my life.

Yours is the face, to help me set this time ablaze
I'm looking to someone for support and motivation to help me make positive changes in my life.

I`ve always thought there`s no protection
I feel like I'm on my own and there's no one or nothing that can protect me from the troubles I face.

You`ll walk through the door, And I`ll never want for more
I believe that this person I'm looking to for support will have a significant positive impact on my life and I will be satisfied with their involvement.

(Trouble) Again and again
This pattern of difficulties or troubles repeating themselves is something I've experienced many times before.

It`s not so simple and I never know when
Although I'm familiar with this pattern of troubles arising, I can never predict when it will happen or how intense it will be.

(Trouble) For me and for you
This is an issue that affects both me and the person I'm seeking support from.

The trouble`s double now we`re fighting for two
The addition of another person's troubles to my own makes the situation feel more complex or challenging.

We`ll take this place we`ll make it happen
Together, we have the ability to change our circumstances and create a better life for ourselves.

We`ll leave them behind
We'll move forward and leave any negative influences or bad experiences in the past where they belong.

We`ll leave them all to change their minds
Our success and ability to overcome our troubles will inspire others to change their own perspectives or behaviors.

The trouble is with the solution
It's difficult to find a solution to the problems we face, and the process of finding a solution can be just as challenging as the problem itself.

One`s not so strong, but with two of us we can`t go wrong
Individually, we may not be strong enough to overcome our troubles, but together we have greater strength and can support one another.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEFFREY BHASKER, NATALIA NOEMI CAPPUCCINI, TEDDY NATALIA NOEMI SINCLAIR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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