Hot Chocolate was a British pop and soul band originally from Brixton, Lond… Read Full Bio ↴Hot Chocolate was a British pop and soul band originally from Brixton, London, England that was most popular during the 70s and 80s, Formed by Errol Brown (born 12 November 1943; died 6 May 2015), the act had at least one hit every year between 1970 and 1984 inclusive, and their iconic song "You Sexy Thing" made the Top 10 in each of three different decades. They were even affiliated with the Beatles' label Apple Records for a time.

Formed circa 1968/69, the original core members included percussionist Patrick Olive, guitarist Franklyn De Allie and drummer Ian King, along with bass player Tony Wilson, pianist Larry Ferguson and with Jamaican-born songwriter/vocalist Errol Brown. For Apple, they released a reggae version of "Give Peace A Chance", and backed Mary Hopkins on "Think About Your Children" before the Apple label dissolved. In 1970, they signed to Rak Records, a label owned by UK producer Mickie Most who had the group compose the final chart hit for Herman's Hermits. On their own they were to become one of the U.K's best loved charts groups, with 25 UK top 40 hit singles in their career. Hot Chocolate enjoyed their first UK hit in 1970 with "Love Is Life" followed by many more U.K. Top 10 hits including "I Believe (In Love)," "Brother Louie" (a stateside #-1 for U.S Stories), "A Child's Prayer," "Put Your Love In Me," "No Doubt About It," "Girl Crazy," "It Started With A Kiss" and "What Kinda Boy You Looking For (Girl)."
While popular in the U.K, it wasn't until 1974 that they secured a U.S record deal with Big Tree records, releasing the single "Emma", and becoming associated with burgeoning disco scene with "Disco Queen." Their second US album featured "You Sexy Thing" which hit #3 on the US top 40 charts. By 1978 they were affiliated with Infinity Records in the U.S and hit #6 on the charts with "Every 1's A Winner." 1979 sees the band release the LP "Going Through The Motions" obviously burning out on disco, but still commercially aiming for the dancefloor market with the irionic track "Mindless Boogie". They continued for some years afterwards but never regained the chart action or a U.S label, with lead singer Errol Brown finally leaving in 1987, basically putting an end to the group.

In 1992, with a new line-up, manager and agent, Ric Martin, took control over the band's bookings and live appearances. Hot Chocolate continue to make live appearances in the UK and Europe. A minor resurgence in interest in Hot Chocolate's music occurred after the 1998 film "The Full Monty" used "You Sexy Thing" prominently in the soundtrack. Errol brown was also known under the nickname, "the singing malteser" due to his bald head.

Love Is Life
Hot Chocolate Lyrics

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I have seen the way the earth takes a seed
And with care, gives us a flower, a tree
Or something on which you can feed
That is love, love is life, love, I love you

I will see the day when men will come together
Every blind man will use his eyes to see
There will come a day, I know, 'cause I'm a believer

And love will find a way

Every man will sing, love, I love you
Hear sweat voices ring, love, I love you
Together we will sing, love, I love you

I have seen the way God's earth lives for the sun
Welcome, sun, shine on him, on me, on life, on everyone
That is love, love is life, love, I love you

I will see the day when men will come together
Every blind man will use his eyes to see
There will come a day, I know, 'cause I'm a believer
And love will find a way

Every man will sing, love, I love you
Hear sweat voices ring, love, I love you

Together we will sing, love, I love you
Yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

In the song "Love Is Life" by Hot Chocolate, the lyrics describe the transformative power of love. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of nature's ability to foster growth and sustenance, highlighting the parallels between the earth's nurturing and the capacity of love to nourish the soul. The use of "care" and "feed" highlights the idea that love is not just a feeling, but also an action that requires nurturing.

As the song progresses, it takes on a more optimistic tone, with the lyrics suggesting that love has the power to bring people together and overcome even the most profound challenges. The line "Every blind man will use his eyes to see" is particularly poignant, suggesting that love can overcome even physical limitations and help us to see more clearly. The repeated refrain of "love, I love you" reinforces the idea that love is all-encompassing and universal.

Overall, the lyrics to "Love Is Life" celebrate the power of love to bring about positive change and transformation, both on a personal and societal level.

Line by Line Meaning

I have seen the way the earth takes a seed
I have witnessed how nature nourishes a seed and grows it into something beautiful, useful, and life-sustaining.

And with care, gives us a flower, a tree
In a delicate and deliberate manner, nature provides us with gifts of breathtaking beauty, majestic height, and practical usefulness.

Or something on which you can feed
Or something that can satisfy our basic needs for nourishment and survival, revealing nature's bounty and generosity.

That is love, love is life, love, I love you
This process of growth, care, and sustenance represents the essence of love, which is the force that animates and enriches our lives, and which I express to you.

I will see the day when men will come together
I envision a future where people of all races, creeds, and cultures will unite and collaborate for a common vision of harmony, progress, and peace.

Every blind man will use his eyes to see
Even those who are blind and unable to perceive the physical world will be able to experience the spiritual and emotional dimensions of life that unite us all.

There will come a day, I know, 'cause I'm a believer
I remain optimistic and hopeful that such a day will come, and I base my trust and faith on my deep-seated belief in the goodness, wisdom, and love of humanity and the divine.

And love will find a way
And I firmly believe that it is love that will overcome all the barriers, obstacles, and hatred that separate us and pave the way for a brighter future for all of us.

Every man will sing, love, I love you
In that future, every human being will recognize the power of love and express it fully and freely, singing its praises and embodying its ideals.

Hear sweat voices ring, love, I love you
You will hear the collective voices of people working hard and sweating for a common goal, unified by the love they have for each other and the world they live in.

Together we will sing, love, I love you
And we will do so together, realizing that we are all in this journey of life, growth, and love, and that our destinies are intertwined and inseparable.

I have seen the way God's earth lives for the sun
I have perceived how the entire ecosystem of our planet revolves around the sun, which provides light, heat, and energy for everything to thrive and survive.

Welcome, sun, shine on him, on me, on life, on everyone
So I welcome the sun as a symbol of hope, vitality, and renewal, inviting its rays to bless all of us with its warmth, glow, and radiance, regardless of our differences and struggles.

Yeah, yeah
And as I sing this song of love and hope, I express my joy and gratitude for being alive, for being able to witness the wonders of life, and for being able to share it with you.

Contributed by Hannah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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