In late 1968, Chappell and Lovich went to London, England to attend art school. It was there that Lovich first tied her hair into the plaits that later became a visual trademark, though at first she did it to keep her hair out of the clay when studying sculpture. Expressing a variety of artistic interests, she sought to find the best outlets for her work.
Over the following decade, Lovich attended several art schools, busked around the London Underground and appeared in cabaret clubs as an "Oriental" dancer. She also travelled to Spain, where she visited Salvador Dalí in his home. She played acoustic rock music around London, sang in the mass choir of a show called Quintessence at the Royal Albert Hall, played a soldier in Arthur Brown's show, worked as a "go-go" dancer with the Radio One Roadshow, toured Italy with a West Indian soul band, and played saxophone for Bob Flag's Balloon and Banana Band and for an all-girl cabaret trio, The Sensations. She recorded screams for horror films, adapted lyrics for French disco star Cerrone (including the sci-fi dance smash "Supernature," later recorded by Lovich in her own version) and worked with various fringe theatre groups. She was also one of thousands of people in the audience at the 1972 Lanchester Arts Festival when Chuck Berry recorded the risqué "My Ding-a-Ling" for Chess Records. As the audience was encouraged to sing-a-long technically this could be described as her first appearance on record. The record was a No. 1 hit in the U.K. and the U.S.A.
In 1975, Lene joined The Diversions, a funk group that put out five singles and an album on Polydor Records without success. In 1978, disc jockey and author Charlie Gillett presented her to Stiff Records boss, Dave Robinson, who quickly signed her to a contract. Her first single for Stiff was "I Think We're Alone Now", a cover of a song originally performed by Tommy James & The Shondells.
Invited to join the Be Stiff Route 78 Tour on 1978, Lovich quickly recorded her first album for Stiff, Stateless, which spawned the remixed hit singles "Lucky Number" and "Say When." Lovich's musical style combined ethnic influences with then current punk rock and new wave.
Maintaining her long term writing partnership with Les Chappell, Lovich recorded the albums Flex and No-Man's-Land for Stiff over the next few years, as well as an EP titled New Toy, the title cut penned by touring band member Thomas Dolby. She also recorded vocals for the track 'Picnic Boy' by The Residents. Following her departure from Stiff, Lovich released "Don't Kill The Animals," a single with Nina Hagen, with whom she had previously appeared in Cha Cha, a film that also starred Herman Brood; together, the three created the film's soundtrack.
In 1989, after an absence of several years, she recorded the album, March which was only moderately successful and was not released until nearly a year after the album's single "Wonderland" had been issued and become an American dance hit. Lovich continues to perform in much the same style she did back in the 1970s and 1980s, with Les Chappell still at her side. In 2005 she appeared on Hawkwind's Take Me to Your Leader CD, as well as appearing occasionally on stage with them.
Lovich's first album since March, entitled Shadows and Dust received a limited release on Mike Thorne's Stereo Society label on September 13, 2005.
Sharman
Lene Lovich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mentally sound the alarm
No one below, no one above
Totally lost and alone
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Sharman I call your name
No delay—I need you right away
Down! Head on the ground—I see red
Terribly caught in the hold
No where to go, no where to run
Totally lost and alone
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Sharman I call your name
No delay—I need you right away
Sharman am I dreaming
Or is this reality
Truth or illusion
Sharman here with me
Gone! Over the top—all upset
Heavily rocked by the storm
Out of out of luck
Totally lost and alone
Hey! I call your name
No delay—I need you right away
Sharman am I dreaming
Or is this reality
Truth or illusion
Sharman here with me
The lyrics to Lene Lovich's "Sharman" describe the singer's desperate plea for help in the midst of a personal crisis. The first two lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the shock to the heart representing the intense emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing. The use of military vocabulary in "mentally sound the alarm" paints a picture of panic and urgency. The following lines describe a feeling of isolation, as the singer declares that there is no one around to help them.
The chorus of the song is a repeated plea to a person named Sharman. The repetition of the name adds a sense of urgency and implies that Sharman is the only hope the singer has left. The verses continue with descriptions of the singer's state of mind, using vivid imagery to convey the intensity of their distress. The lines "Hey! Hey! Hey!" punctuate the end of each verse and add a sense of desperation to the already tense lyrics.
The bridge of the song asks a series of questions, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. The singer is unsure if they are dreaming or if Sharman is actually there to help them. The final verse again describes the singer's sense of being lost and alone, with no hope in sight. The repeated chorus serves as a reminder that the only solution the singer can see is to call out to Sharman for help.
Line by Line Meaning
Hard! Shock to the heart—I seek help
I am in a difficult situation that has deeply affected me emotionally, and I am reaching out for assistance.
Mentally sound the alarm
I am alerting others that there is a crisis and action needs to be taken.
No one below, no one above
I am completely isolated and have no one to turn to for help or support.
Totally lost and alone
I feel completely adrift and have no sense of direction or belonging.
Hey! Hey! Hey!
A cry for attention and urgency in the situation.
Sharman I call your name
Addressing the person or force that can help them in this situation.
No delay—I need you right away
Urgent request for immediate assistance in this dire situation.
Down! Head on the ground—I see red
I am in a state of despair and anger, feeling powerless and overwhelmed.
Terribly caught in the hold
Completely trapped by the situation and unable to break free on my own.
No where to go, no where to run
I am stuck and have no escape from the turmoil I'm experiencing.
Sharman am I dreaming or is this reality
Uncertainty about the nature of this situation, whether it is real or imagined.
Truth or illusion
Questioning the validity of their perceptions and trying to determine what is real and what is not.
Sharman here with me
Seeking the presence and guidance of the person or force that can help them make sense of this situation.
Gone! Over the top—all upset
Feeling like they have passed a breaking point, overwhelmed and in a state of extreme agitation.
Heavily rocked by the storm
Feeling battered and buffeted by the turmoil and chaos of the situation.
Out of out of luck
Feeling as though they have run out of options and have no more chances left for resolution.
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bluedragon807
Her music has a bit of an acquired taste, and I feel really lucky that I took the time in my youth to become addicted to her music. This album was absolutely great.
baronvonfrisk
Great album ...from an artist that has been missed.... Time to catch up.