The band originated with vocalist Stephen Holt (vocals) and guitarist Graham Lambert. Another uncredited founding member, was basist Glenn Chesworth. His partnership with the band lasted only a couple of years. The band emerged alongside The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays from the indie scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bassist, Martyn Walsh, and drummer, Craig Gill, joined in 1984. Playing garage rock, they were joined by keyboardist, Clint Boon, who changed their sound based around harmonic (and often psychedelic) keyboards and jangly guitars.
After a couple of singles on a local indie label, Holt left the group and was replaced by Tom Hingley. The band were propelled to fame after being 'discovered' by the Radio 1 DJ John Peel and had their greatest chart success in the UK with a single entitled This is How it Feels, which is a song about loneliness and unemployment.
At the time of their initial success, the band earned some notoriety for their squiggly-eyed cow 'Cool as Fuck' T-shirts; a student at Oxford Polytechnic was prosecuted on obscenity charges for wearing one. One of their roadies, Noel Gallagher, went on to great success with the band Oasis. The band is named after an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which included the venue Swindon Oasis.
They reworked their single Find Out Why as the theme tune to early 90's kids TV show 'The 8:15 From Manchester'. Another release I Want You was used by Sony to advertise their in-car entertainment systems on this advert ; an early example of advertising agencies co-opting and promoting non-mainstream music to add kudos to mainstream brands (a trend that has increased significantly).
After the release of their 4th studio album, Devil Hopping, they started to record new, more darker-sounding demos in 1995 which their label, Mute Records rejected. An amicable split followed but they re-formed in 2003 for a tour and new compilation. For the next several years, they played gigs on and off, until Hingley could no longer give his 100% commitment so original vocalist, Stephen Holt, rejoined in March 2011.
Greek Wedding Song
Inspiral Carpets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Frustration, damned in your heart affairs
Desire, I wish you wouldn't start these things
You steal the seeds, the seeds that I have sown
You know how I feel when you ask to go and steal
The lyrics of "Greek Wedding Song" by Inspiral Carpets are a reflection of the inner turmoil of the singer who is hopelessly in love with someone who does not reciprocate their feelings. The initial line "I can't tell you how I feel, it's not so unreal" speaks to the sense of helplessness that the singer feels because they cannot put their feelings into words. The following line "Frustration, damned in your heart affairs" suggests that the object of the singer's affection is already in a relationship, causing frustration and feelings of hopelessness for the singer. The singer goes on to express a desire for the object of their affection to stop initiating things that will only lead to disappointment for the singer. The line "You steal the seeds, the seeds that I have sown" can be interpreted as the singer's belief that the object of their affection takes credit for the singer's achievements, as if stealing the fruits of their labor. Finally, the singer expresses their feelings of hurt and betrayal when the object of their affection asks to leave, knowing how strongly the singer feels towards them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Greek Wedding Song" are a powerful portrayal of the struggles of unrequited love, and how such feelings can be all-consuming. The frustration, longing, and pain that the singer feels are palpable, making this a poignant and relatable piece.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't tell you how I feel, it's not so unreal
Expressing my emotions seem difficult as it may not seem true or believable.
Frustration, damned in your heart affairs
Aggravation and distress are trapped within your personal situations.
Desire, I wish you wouldn't start these things
The urge to do something, I wish you wouldn't initiate or begin such actions.
You steal the seeds, the seeds that I have sown
You take away the very things I have worked hard to establish and create.
You know how I feel when you ask to go and steal
You are aware of the way it makes me feel when you request to go and commit this act of theft.
Writer(s): BOON CLINTON DAVID, GILL CRAIG DOUGLAS, LAMBERT GRAHAM PAUL, WALSH MARTYN JOHN, HINGLEY THOMAS WILLIAM
Contributed by Lauren D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@simonornsby2841
Beauty tune
@tcvicesquad
Cool as fuck!
@chelseaacidcasual2825
Great tune. Moo
@papayasaladlover
fuck n cool!
@benwebster8166
TUNEEEEEE!
@simonornsby2841
Beauty tune