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.
Song for a Family
Inspiral Carpets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The froth from the beer is on his lip
And it's rose-coloured where the skin is glowing
And the domino is at his fingertip
And he prays each night that his family's alright
And he's got work
See the lollipop lady by the roadside
But they bring her lots of presents on her birthday
And their little faces make her feel so old
And she prays each night that her family's alright
And she's got work
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, WE ALL PRAY FOR SIMPLE THINGS
STRANGERS SHARE YOUR DREAMS, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEIR PRAYERS WILL BRING?
LOVE AND HEALTH IS ALL, TIL YOU FALTER IN YOUR STEPS AND FALL
WE ALL LIVE ON DREAMS
See the lad on the Saturday terraces
With his collar pulled up around his chin
His side is two goals down and playing lousy
But he still believes his team is gonna win
And he prays each night that his family's alright
And he's got work
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, WE ALL PRAY FOR SIMPLE THINGS
STRANGERS SHARE YOUR DREAMS, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEIR PRAYERS WILL BRING?
LOVE AND HEALTH IS ALL, TIL YOU FALTER IN YOUR STEPS AND FALL
WE ALL LIVE ON DREAMS
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, WE ALL PRAY FOR SIMPLE THINGS
STRANGERS SHARE YOUR DREAMS, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEIR PRAYERS WILL BRING?
LOVE AND HEALTH IS ALL, TIL YOU FALTER IN YOUR STEPS AND FALL
WE ALL LIVE ON DREAMS
The song "Song for a Family" by Inspiral Carpets is a reflective piece that depicts the struggles and aspirations of everyday people. The verses speak of individuals in different walks of life who are all united by their prayers for their families' well-being and the pursuit of fulfilling work. The first verse describes a man in a pub, nursing a beer and playing dominos, who worries about his family's welfare and is grateful for his job. The second verse portrays a lollipop lady, who deals with unruly children but is warmed by their affection and wishes for her family's safety. Finally, the third verse features a young man at a football game, who despite his team's poor performance, remains optimistic and prays for the health of his loved ones and the security of his job.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the commonality of human experience and the shared desire for love, health, and a fulfilling existence. The lyrics suggest that despite our apparent differences, we are all connected through our hopes and dreams, and we all rely on each other to some extent. The song's message is one of empathy and a call for unity in the face of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
See the man in the corner of the tap room
Observing the man sitting alone in the pub
The froth from the beer is on his lip
Noticing the white bubbles of the beer resting on his lips
And it's rose-coloured where the skin is glowing
Realizing the flush in his face caused by the alcohol consumption
And the domino is at his fingertip
Noticing the game he is playing
And he prays each night that his family's alright
He hopes that his loved ones are doing well
And he's got work
He is fortunate to have employment
See the lollipop lady by the roadside
Spotting the woman who helps school children cross the road
Some days, the kids are so hard to control
Recognizing the challenging behavior of some of the kids she helps
But they bring her lots of presents on her birthday
Grateful for the kind gestures made by the children and their families
And their little faces make her feel so old
Realizing her own aging as she sees the growth of the children
And she prays each night that her family's alright
She has concern for the wellbeing of her loved ones
And she's got work
She is fortunate to have a job
See the lad on the Saturday terraces
Noticing the young man in the football crowd
With his collar pulled up around his chin
Observing the way he is dressed
His side is two goals down and playing lousy
Acknowledging the poor performance of the team he supports
But he still believes his team is gonna win
He has hope for his team's victory despite the odds
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, WE ALL PRAY FOR SIMPLE THINGS
Reflecting on the universal nature of simple prayers
STRANGERS SHARE YOUR DREAMS, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEIR PRAYERS WILL BRING?
Considering the positivity that strangers may bring through shared prayers
LOVE AND HEALTH IS ALL, TIL YOU FALTER IN YOUR STEPS AND FALL
The importance of love and health, and how one's life can change with setbacks
WE ALL LIVE ON DREAMS
Life is fueled by the hopes and aspirations that one holds
Contributed by Daniel F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.