In 1984, they released their self-titled debut album, which led to four top-ten hits in Canada: "New Girl Now", "Burning In Love", "Wave Babies", and "Stay In the Light". The song "New Girl Now" was the only single to reach the top-50 in the United States.
Their follow up album, The Big Prize, produced by Bruce Fairbairn, was equally successful in Canada, with four more hits: "Feel It Again", "What Does It Take", "Bad Attitude", and "All Along You Knew". Their song "Feel It Again" managed to reach the Top 40 in the US, "What Does It Take" reached no. 52, buoyed by its inclusion on the soundtrack for the John Cusack film One Crazy Summer. Much later in 1989, "Bad Attitude" was featured in the series finale of Miami Vice, played during a driving segment that mirrored one from the series' pilot episode.
In 1986, founding keyboardist Ray Coburn temporarily left the band, replaced by Rob Preuss of Burlington, Ontario-based Spoons. Also during 1986 the band produced a track for the Charlie Sheen film The Wraith - "Those Were the Days".
In 1988, their third album was released: Racing After Midnight, produced by Ted Templeman of Van Halen fame. That album made the top 10 in Canada. Singles included "Love Changes Everything", "Looking Out for Number One", "Cold Look" and "It's Over Now".
In 1989, Coburn rejoined the band just in time to release a greatest hits compilation, The Singles, which included the new single "Still Loving You". "The Singles" tour would turn out to be the last tour featuring the band's original line-up.
The band continued to tour in the '90s, although many line-up changes continued to occur, with only Dee and Grehan remaining as the founding members.
In 2002 they released their first new studio album in 11 years, Lemon Tongue. The album was released under an independent label. Later in 2002 they released Dreamland which was only available in Europe. It features many of the same songs from Lemon Tongue but included some new songs such as "Dreamland", "Radiant", "Even Now" and "Just Love Somebody".
In 2006 the band continues to tour in Canada, including a co-headlining tour with Glass Tiger. Their latest release is a collection entitled Feel It Again: An Anthology, a 2-CD set featuring the best of their work plus rare and unreleased material.
In June 2007, the band officially announced the return of a reunited classic line-up of Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan, Ray Coburn, Gary Lalonde, and Dave Betts. The band toured extensively throughout Canada in 2007 and 2008 and then entered the studio to record a new album. The high point of the reunion was the new CD Clifton Hill, produced by Tom Treumuth (who produced the self-titled Honeymoon Suite debut album in 1984), and named after the famous landmark in the centre of the tourist activity in Niagara Falls. The album was released in Canada in late September 2008 on Koch Records and subsequently by Italian melodic rock label Frontiers Records on October 10, 2008. The new album is described by guitarist Derry Grehan as "somewhat of a return musically to the sound that we had in the '80s."
In 2009, the band continued to tour Canada and select Northeastern United States cities. However, on September 1, 2009, it was announced that the band had again parted ways with original keyboardist Ray Coburn. Peter Nunn returned to the band's line-up to replace him for the second time. The band made an appearance at Firefest 6 Nottingham, England in October, 2009.
On 18 November 2016, Honeymoon Suite released a 9 track EP, the first new music in 8 years, titled Hands Up on PledgeMusic website.
In February 2017, it was announced that Honeymoon Suite would appear at Rockingham Festival 2017, this to be held at Nottingham Trent University, UK, between 20 and 22 October 2017, the band scheduled to appear on Friday 20th.In the months approaching Rockingham 2017, the band cancelled their show to pursue a different opportunity. Their slot wa s replaced by John Parr.
On 26 September 2019, the band released their new single "Tell Me What You Want" on YouTube. On 19 June 2020, they issued another single entitled "Find What You're Looking For.
HONEYMOON SUITE — consisting of Johnnie Dee (lead vocals),Derry Grehan (guitars, keyboards, background vocals),Dave Betts (drums),Gary Lalonde (bass) and Peter Nunn (keyboards) — will release its new studio album, "Alive", on February 16, 2024.
How Long
Honeymoon Suite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the skies light up at night
The river runs muddy water
And then in England lost the fight
In a tree there's a bird
Just singing to the night
And I fly alone
I never understand
The games that we play
I have to stop and wonder
What I really mean to say
How long, 'til you find what you're looking for
How long, 'til it's gone, gone, gone
And everybody wants steady came from pay (How long)
Until our kingdom slips away
There's a man on the hill
Just the eye a fill
No stranger to the danger
He rides where he will
While the time is finally here
Where we let it all disappear
In this town by the border
Where our legions are so clear
I never understand
The games that they play
I have to stop and wonder
What I really mean to say
How long, 'til you find what you're looking for
How long, 'til it's gone, gone, gone
And everybody wants steady came from pay (How long)
Nobody cares anymore, cares anymore
Nobody cares anymore
And nobody cares anymore,
Cares anymore
How long, 'til you find what you're looking for
How long, 'til it's gone, gone, gone
And everybody wants steady came from pay (How long)
And mother kingdom slips away
How long, 'til you find what you're looking for
How long, 'til it's gone, gone, gone
And everybody wants steady came from pay (How long)
Mother kingdom slips away
How long,
Tell me,
How long
And buddy's soul is slippin' away,
It's slippin' away
It's slippin' away
Slippin' away
Slippin' away
The lyrics to Honeymoon Suite's song How Long tell a story about a town by the border where the river runs muddy water and the skies light up at night. The song's opening lines allude to the town's history, hinting at a conflict from England that ended in defeat. In the second verse, the singer observes a bird singing alone in a tree, which could symbolize isolation or solitude. The lyrics then switch to the singer's confusion about the games people play and their true intentions. The chorus asks a question about time, specifically, how long it will take to achieve what one is looking for before it slips away. The last verse references a man on a hill who rides wherever he will, but the singer notes that everyone seems to be letting everything disappear. The final chorus repeats the same question from the beginning, emphasizing the fleeting nature of time and the need to find what one is looking for before it disappears forever.
Line by Line Meaning
In a town by the border
The song takes place in a small town situated near a border.
Where the skies light up at night
The night sky in this town is filled with bright lights.
The river runs muddy water
The river flowing through this town has a lot of sediment, giving it a murky appearance.
And then in England lost the fight
The town may have been involved in a battle with England and suffered defeat.
In a tree there's a bird
A bird in a tree is singing into the night sky.
Just singing to the night
The bird's song echoes through the night.
And I fly alone
The singer of the song is feeling isolated and alone.
Taking away my own
The singer's feelings of loneliness may be taking over his thoughts and emotions.
I never understand
The singer has trouble understanding the games and actions of others.
The games that we play
The actions and behaviors of people in this town are confusing to the singer.
I have to stop and wonder
The singer must pause and reflect on what he really wants to say or do.
What I really mean to say
The singer is struggling to express himself effectively.
How long, 'til you find what you're looking for
The singer wonders how long it will take to find what he desires in life.
How long, 'til it's gone, gone, gone
The singer reflects on how quickly something can disappear or be lost.
And everybody wants steady came from pay (How long)
The singer ponders how long people will prioritize financial stability and security over personal happiness and fulfillment.
Until our kingdom slips away
The town or life in general may be slipping away, causing people to reevaluate their priorities.
There's a man on the hill
Another character is introduced, a man standing on a hill.
Just the eye a fill
The man seems to be observing his surroundings and taking everything in.
No stranger to the danger
The man seems to be knowledgeable about the risks and challenges of life.
He rides where he will
The man has the freedom to go wherever he wants.
While the time is finally here
A moment of change or realization is happening or approaching.
Where we let it all disappear
The people or the singer may be letting go of something in order to move forward.
Where our legions are so clear
The intentions and motives of the town or people are becoming more evident or defined.
Nobody cares anymore, cares anymore
The people seem to be losing interest or motivation in something.
And mother kingdom slips away
Something precious or important may be slipping away, causing people to lose interest.
Tell me
The singer is asking a question or wants to know something.
And buddy's soul is slippin' away
Another character, Buddy, may be losing something valuable or important to him.
It's slippin' away
Whatever is being lost or slipping away is happening quickly and unavoidably.
Slippin' away
This phrase is repeated, driving home the idea that something is being lost quickly and cannot be stopped.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind