In 1989 Ian Broudie began recording alone under the name "Lightning Seeds" and achieved success with the psychedelic synthpop hit Pure, from the album Cloudcuckooland, which reached the U.K. Top 20. The same year Joy and All I Want were also released but failed to make an impression. "Pure" had some success in the US Billboard Top 40 reaching number thirty-two. Both "Pure" and "All I Want" also reached the Modern Rock Tracks top ten. In 1991 Broudie returned to song-writing and moved labels from Rough Trade to Virgin.
The album Sense featured the song "The Life of Riley", written by Broudie for his son, which reached twenty-eight in the U.K. singles chart and just registered at ninety-eight in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. An instrumental version of the song later became better known as the BBC TV theme for the "Goal of the Month" competition. "Sense" marked Broudie's first Lightning Seeds song-writing collaborations with former Specials singer Terry Hall. The album's title track "Sense", co-written with Hall, climbed to thirty-one in the U.K. Singles Chart; however, the album stagnated at fifty-three.
Broudie's contract expired with Virgin and Epic agreed to sign him. Broudie put other projects on hold and embarked on a touring schedule.
By the end of 1993 Broudie had finished the Jollification (1994) album, which included contributions from Terry Hall and Simon Rogers as well as Ian McNabb. A promotional tour began in August 1994 with their lineup consisting of, guitarist Paul Hemmings, drummer Chris Sharrock, bassist Martyn Campbell, and keyboardist Ali Kane. The tour benefitted from the success of the second single from the album Change, which reached thirteen in the U.K. singles charts, becoming Lightning Seeds' second U.K. top-twenty hit. The album Jollification became a critical success, and the singles taken from this album, "Lucky You", "Marvellous" and "Perfect" made noticeable impact. Mark Farrow's album cover featured the use of computer graphics to create an enormous strawberry and depicting seeds with superimposed human faces.
The band bought Eel Pie Studios, created using a barge moored on the River Thames, from Pete Townshend of The Who. During this period a number of songs were recorded for the fourth studio album Dizzy Heights. The single "Ready or Not" was released before the album, and reached twenty in the U.K. singles chart.
In 1996 the Football Association commissioned Broudie and Lightning Seeds to write theme music for the Euro '96 football tournament. Broudie agreed on the condition that comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel wrote the lyrics. The resulting song, "Three Lions", became the band's first number one on the U.K. singles chart, and was adopted as a football chant, not only in the U.K. but also in countries such as Germany, where the single and accompanying video reached sixteen.
During this period the band achieved three more U.K. Top 20 hits, including a cover version of The Turtles' "You Showed Me", which beacame one of their biggest hits. Between 1996 and 1997 the band's line-up changed. Chris Sharrock left to work with World Party and was replaced by Mat Priest from Dodgy. Angie Pollock, who had previously worked with Shakespears Sister and Terry Hall, replaced Ali Kane on keyboards.
1997 saw the release of Like You Do, and a U.K. promotional tour followed. "What You Say", one of two new songs included with the compilation, was released but failed to register in the top 40. Part way through the tour Zak Starkey, son of The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, replaced Priest on drums.
In 1998 "Three Lions '98" was recorded for the World Cup in France, featuring a re-written lyric. The song reached number one in the U.K. singles chart, and became the first song to top the charts on two separate occasions with different sets of lyrics. In 1998 Lightning Seeds also performed on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival and the V Festival in the U.K.
Their 1999 album Tilt was dance-orientated, and featured collaborations with Stephen Jones. The single "Life's Too Short" rose to twenty-seven in the U.K. Singles Chart. "Sweetest Soul Sensations" reached sixty-seven, and did not attract serious attention.
In 2000 Lightning Seeds performed along with Space and Stereophonics at Cream 2000. Later that year Broudie confirmed, in the Liverpool Echo, that Lightning Seeds were to take a long break after a final show at Liverpool's L2 venue.
The band's second greatest hits album The Very Best of the Lightning Seeds was released on the 12th June 2006, followed by the re-release of "Three Lions", which rose to nine in the U.K. Singles Chart.
In the summer of 2006 Ian Broudie formed a new Lightning Seeds line-up for indoor shows and festival appearances. The band released their sixth studio album, Four Winds, in May 2009, and appeared at festivals during July, August, and September the same year
* Official website
Tables Have Turned
Lightning Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As she walks out in the rain
Time it was not her concern
She’ll never feel this old again
Out of lies wicked lies
Stole a piece of my heart
City lights shines bright
Look how the tables have turned
She stoked the fire but she got burned
No one cares ‘cause the tables have turned
Nights spent with princes and kings
But the beauty queen she plays
Now sits alone in the wings
Dreaming through her prescription daze
Fickle style
An actress smile
Stole the key to my heart
Curtains close
So the story goes
Another piece of my heart
Look how the tables have turned
She stoked the fire but she got burned
No one cares that the tables have turned
Look how the tables have turned
She stoked the fire but she got burned
No one cares ‘cause the tables have turned
The Lightning Seeds' "Tables Have Turned" portrays a story of a woman who had everything in her youth: beauty, charm, money, fame, and company of prominent individuals such as princes and kings. However, as she ages, she becomes less desirable, and her once glamorous life fades away. The singer reflects on how fate had changed for her and how time has become her enemy, leaving her to face the realities of life. She takes a walk in the rain, and as the raindrops fall on her skin, she realizes that she will never feel this young again.
The song's lyrics speak of someone who stole a piece of the singer's heart with wicked lies and an actress smile. Later on, when the rug was pulled from beneath her feet and she is left alone, the singer reflects on how she didn't care for the people she hurt. Yet, no one seems to care that she is now facing the consequences of her actions. She stoked the fire but got burned, showing that karma has caught up with her, and the tables have turned.
The Lightning Seeds' "Tables Have Turned" is a song that captures the essence of human weakness and retribution. It is about how one's actions can be their undoing and how life's circumstances are beyond our control. Ultimately, it is about accepting one's fate and living with the choices one has made.
Line by Line Meaning
Look how the tables have turned
The singer is pointing out the reversal of the situation.
As she walks out in the rain
The woman is walking in the rain, possibly showing her sadness.
Time it was not her concern
The woman may have not cared about how much time passed or possibly wasted time in her past.
She’ll never feel this old again
The woman may have a chance to start fresh and not feel the burden of her past mistakes.
Out of lies wicked lies
The artist may have experienced deceitful behavior from the woman.
Stole a piece of my heart
The woman may have hurt the singer emotionally.
City lights shines bright
The city is portrayed as bright, possibly indicating urban glamour.
Another piece of my heart
The woman continues to hurt the artist emotionally.
She stoked the fire but she got burned
The artist is suggesting that the woman was the cause of her own downfall.
No one cares ‘cause the tables have turned
The artist is stating how the woman's situation has reversed, possibly indicating that no one will help her now.
Nights spent with princes and kings
The woman may have had a lavish lifestyle in her past.
But the beauty queen she plays
The woman may have used her looks to her advantage and may still be doing so.
Now sits alone in the wings
The woman may now be alone and forgotten.
Dreaming through her prescription daze
The woman may be medicated or possibly using drugs to escape reality.
Fickle style
The woman may have an unreliable or inconsistent demeanor.
An actress smile
The woman may pretend to feel happy or use a façade of happiness.
Stole the key to my heart
The woman may have deceived the artist emotionally.
Curtains close
The situation may be coming to an end.
So the story goes
The singer is acknowledging that this is how the woman's story has unfolded.
Contributed by Bentley Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sarah Crozier
I've always adored this song
Caner Tankman
Such a beautiful song. It's shame only have 543 views.
Phil Arrow
some of your b-sides are great should have been released like Fools love that song.
Alexander Tondar
Mal wieder ein Beweis mehr,die Engländer machen die beste Musik
Chillerman335
Im first