Coyne was born in Derby on 27 January 1944 and educated at Joseph Wright School of Art (1957-1961) then Derby College of Art (1961-1965) where he studied graphics and painting, obtaining the N.D.D. in 1965. Early musical influences were Little Richard, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and later (at art school), Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed.
Coyne's first job was a social therapist at Whittingham Hospital, Lancashire (1965-1968). In late 1968 he moved to London, starting work for the Soho project as a counsellor for drug addicts in 1969. This work was a source for many of his early songs and remains a major influence today.
In 1973 a youthful and idealistic Coyne signed as a solo artist for "Virgin Records" (after a five album spell with Siren on Dandelion Records) proceeding to make eleven LPs over the next eight years. During this period he recorded with the likes of Andy Summers, Zoot Money, Carla Bley (for her album "Silence") and Dagmar Krause. It was a productive time in his career, with tours of Australia, Europe, Canada, the U.S.A. and work in the theatre (the self-composed musicals "Babble" and "England, England"). Life was hectic. Something had to give.
A complete nervous breakdown came in 1981, the main causes being alcoholism and overwork. After leaving "Virgin Records," he created a succession of dark, brooding albums for the label "Cherry Red."
The year 1985 was one of big changes. Coyne left London and resettled in Nuremberg, Germany. The move was a good one, resulting in formation of a German group (The Paradise Band), a fresh recording career and a drastic change in life-style. He quit drinking for good in 1987. Ten albums had been recorded in Germany. The musical future continued to look bright and positive.
Kevin Coyne's writing, painting career had truly blossomed in Germany. Four books had been published with one still in print. (Two, "Show Business" and "The Party Dress", were published by "Serpent's Tail" in London) and numerous exhibition of his visual work have been mounted throughout Europe. The response to his work has often been reassuringly strong. Exhibitions in Berlin, Amsterdam, and Zurich were particularly well reviewed and attended.
Since the mid-eighties the irrepressible Coyne had instigated and been involved in numerous special projects. "Burning Head" (1992) for instance, was a limited edition of one thousand CDs, sold with an exclusive Coyne original picture for each record. "The Adventures of Crazy Frank" (1995) which evolved from a record into an improvised stage musical about the life of English comic Frank Randle featuring Coyne as Randle and Nuremberg dancer, singer Julia Kempken as his wife was performed in Germany and Austria.
"Tough and Sweet" (1993) is a free wheeling collection of over twenty rock and blues influenced songs that just happens to be the first ever Coyne album to use the talents of his musical sons, Robert and Eugene.
"Knocking on Your Brain" is a double album, recorded in Duisburg late 1996 and utilizes the writing and musical talents of top German musicians Ali Neander (Rodgau Montones, Xavier Naidoo), Tom Liwa (Flowerpornos), Ralf Gustke (Gianna Nannini) and Willy Wagner (ex Rio Reiser). Special guest on the CD is guitarist Gary Lucas, formerly with the Magic Band, Jeff Buckley, Joan Osborne (he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his writing on her record), Nick Cave, Lou Reed, and Leonard Bernstein. His slide guitar playing and arrangement of the opening track "Wonderland" is a delight, as are Kevin's vocals, lyrics and improvising. The 20 songs that make up the CD were recorded in just three days.
The years 1998 and '99 had seen Coyne recording and touring constantly. His CD, "Sugar Candy Taxi," included the playing and songwriting talents of his sons Robert and Eugene. A new touring group developed (no longer called the Paradise Band) that featured Robert Coyne on guitar and keyboards with Steve Smith on drums. The 1999 touring schedule included the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, and Holland as well as other locations. Reception was excellent throughout. The change to a new record label in 1999 - from Rockport to Ruf Records - appeared to be a very positive move. With "Sugar Candy Taxi," his first release for Ruf Records, Coyne immediately reached a larger international audience.
Beginning in 2000, the following recordings were released - some posthumously:
• Room Full of Fools (2000)
• Life is Almost Wonderful (with Brendan Croker) (2002)
• Carnival (2002)
• Donut City (2004)
• One Day In Chicago (with Jon Langford) (2005)
• Underground (2006)
Diagnosed with lung fibrosis in 2002, Coyne died peacefully at his home.
He is survived by his wife Helmi and his sons Eugene, Robert and Nico.
Children
Kevin Coyne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wake up my children
Wake up my children
Your daddy is coming home
Your daddy is coming home
Your daddy is coming home
Your daddy is on his way
Wake up my children
Look out your windows
Wake up my children
Your daddy is home from the war
Your daddy is home from the war
He's at the door now
Coming nearer and nearer
Wake up my children
I said, wake up my children, yeah
Wake up my children
He's only a few hours away
He's only a few days away
He's only a few years away
Only a century away, yeah
Wake up my children
Wake up my children
Wake up my children
Your daddy's never coming
Your daddy's never coming
Your daddy's never coming
You know he's gone for good now
Wake up my children
Wake up my children, yeah
Wake up my children
Be real nice for your daddy
Put away those baddies
Be real nice for your daddy
Do away with baddies
Wake up my children, yeah
You must see my children
There's no more fighting, yes
Your daddy is coming home
Your daddy is coming home
Your daddy is coming home
Your daddy is coming home
The lyrics of Kevin Coyne's song Children is a mix of hope and despair. The song opens with the father urging his children to wake up and get ready as he is returning home from the war. The repetition of the line 'wake up my children' is the father's desperate attempt to tell his children that he is on his way. The father then asks his children to look out of their windows as he gets closer to their home.
The dreamy and nostalgic tone of the verses, with the father's hopeful and loving words, suddenly shifts in the last verse. The mood turns somber as the father confronts the reality that he is never coming back. His children must put away their 'baddies' and be good for their father. The song ends with the father's voice fading as he repeats the phrase 'Your daddy is coming home' with less and less conviction.
The song is a commentary on the trauma and hopelessness of war and the impact it has on families. The father's repeated 'wake up my children' is reminiscent of a lullaby, an attempt to soothe and calm his children. The lyrics contrast the father's hopeful promises of returning home with the reality of the possibility that he may never return.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up my children
The singer is calling on the children to rouse from sleep.
Wake up my children
The singer is urging the children again to wake up.
Wake up my children
The singer repeats the call to the children to awaken.
Your daddy is coming home
The artist is informing the children that their father is returning.
Your daddy is coming home
The artist repeats that the father is coming home to prepare the children.
Your daddy is coming home
The singer repeats the announcement for the third time.
Your daddy is on his way
The singer is reassuring the children that their father is still making his journey.
Wake up my children
The artist reiterates the need for the children to wake up.
Look out your windows
The artist is encouraging the children to look out their windows and be attentive.
Your daddy is home from the war
The artist is announcing that the father has returned from war.
Your daddy is home from the war
The singer repeats that the father has returned from war to reinforce the message.
He's at the door now
The artist is informing the children that their father has arrived at the door.
Coming nearer and nearer
The singer is describing how close the father is to the house, creating a sense of urgency.
Wake up my children
The singer again urges the children to wake up and pay attention.
I said, wake up my children, yeah
The singer restates the need for the children to wake up, with emphasis.
Wake up my children
The artist repeats the call to wake up one last time to ensure the children receive the message.
He's only a few hours away
The artist is saying that the children's father is nearby and will be arriving soon.
He's only a few days away
The singer is implying that the father is not actually close, but the waiting process will be brief.
He's only a few years away
The singer is creating an absurd scenario to mock the idea of a prolonged wait for the father's return.
Only a century away, yeah
The artist is using hyperbole to point out how long it would take for the father to return under unreasonable circumstances.
Wake up my children
The artist is repeating the call to action and restating its importance.
Wake up my children
The artist repeats the call to wake up, again highlighting its significance.
Wake up my children
The singer reiterates the call to action one final time.
Your daddy's never coming
The artist is telling the children that their father will not be returning.
Your daddy's never coming
The singer repeats to the children that their father is gone for good.
Your daddy's never coming
The singer repeats again that the father is never coming back.
You know he's gone for good now
The singer is admitting to the fact that the father will never be returning and to take it to heart.
Wake up my children
The artist is now pleading with the children as there is something very important they must understand.
Wake up my children, yeah
The artist emotionally emphasizes the importance of the urgent message.
Wake up my children
The singer restates the call to action one final time, hoping the children hear.
Be real nice for your daddy
The singer advises the children to show their father affection and kindness.
Put away those baddies
The artist is encouraging the children to put aside their negative emotions to be there for their father.
Be real nice for your daddy
The artist repeats the advice to the children to show their father love and kindness upon his return.
Do away with baddies
The artist tells the children to get rid of any negative emotions, referring to them as "baddies".
Wake up my children, yeah
The singer is once again urging the children to wake up and pay attention to the message.
You must see my children
The artist is again encouraging the children to look out into the world.
There's no more fighting, yes
The singer is telling the children that there is finally peace, further highlighting the importance of their father's return.
Your daddy is coming home
The singer repeats the announcement one final time.
Your daddy is coming home
The singer emphasizes once more that the children's father is returning.
Your daddy is coming home
The artist repeats the announcement one last time to close the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID JOHN CLAGUE, KEVIN COYNE, NICK CUDWORTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@horslipsrules
The voice of humanity itself, that's what Coyne was. The messages were too real for mass consumption.
@Mehefinheulog1
no probs yes quite agree wow, crazy name, dude