The band is best known for their singles "Ball of Confusion" (1985, a Temptations cover), "No New Tale to Tell" (1987), "So Alive" (1989) and "No Big Deal" (1990).
L&R's first album was 1985's trippy Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven; Seventh Dream was followed in quick succession by 1986's Express;which featured a cover of Ball of Confusion, which became a club hit. 1987's Earth * Sun * Moon and 1989's eponymously titled release Love and Rockets (all on Beggar's Banquet). Love & Rockets was met with cries of sellout due to the overly slick So Alive (the band toured stadiums following the hit single) and the group disbanded. Tracks recorded for an abandoned EP Swing were added to a reissue of Love & Rockets in 2002.
After working on solo albums they reformed, recorded material for Hot Trip to Heaven which infused dance/electronica elements into their sound. Fearing the world wasn't prepared for it yet in 1992, they waited until 1994 to release it. A fire destroyed the studio they were working in, and all material was scrapped. The next album, Sweet F.A. features one of Daniel Ash's charred guitars on the front cover. The final album Lift was an epic dance/electronic swan song, owing much to producer Doug DeAngelis, who was given honorary L&R member status. After the Lift tour, they disbanded again in 1999 to work on solo projects, and to reform Bauhaus for a series of tours. L&R reunited in 2007 at Coachella. Plans for a 2009/2010 release fell through as the band went their separate ways again.
On 23 January 2023, Love and Rockets announced a reunion for an appearance at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California on 20 May 2023, the band's first concert in 15 years. They later announced a 2023 U.S. tour in support of their appearance at Cruel World. A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab. Daniel Ash said that the 2023 tour would be the band's final.
Sweet Lover Hangover
Love And Rockets Lyrics
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Sweet lover of mine
You know a million tears are gonna fall
Sister blue stay away from me
Tears so many now I can't see
Just waitin' for the jerk to phone
See you waitin' by the telephone
Ah that, sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
You know a million tears are gonna fall
Get a feeling like a desert inside
I'm so thirsty for some peace of mind
You never know me 'cause I'm always alone
So hungry for that little girl
Ah that, sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
You know a million tears are gonna fall
Sister blue stay away from me
Tears so many now I can't see
Just waitin' for the jerk to phone
See you waitin' by the telephone
Ah that, sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
You know a million tears are gonna fall
Sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
You know a million tears are gonna fall
Sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
Sweet lover of mine
...
In "Sweet Lover Hangover," Love and Rockets sing about the pain of unrequited love. The lyrics describe the singer's intense feelings for someone who doesn't reciprocate them, causing him to feel a "desert inside" and wait "by the telephone" for a call that might never come. He compares his longing for this person to a hunger for a "little girl," possibly referencing a desire for innocence, purity, or simplicity. The repeated refrain of "sweet lover of mine" emphasizes the depth of his emotions, while the line "you know a million tears are gonna fall" suggests that he recognizes the futility of his love and that the rejection will cause him to cry.
The reference to "sister blue" in the second verse is a bit ambiguous—it could refer to a woman close to the singer (perhaps a sister or close friend) who he wants to stay away because her presence exacerbates his emotional pain, or it could be a metaphorical or supernatural figure (such as depression or the blues) that he is asking to leave him alone. Either way, the pain is overwhelming and all-consuming. The song's title, with its play on the words "sweet love" and "hangover," suggests that the experience of unrequited love can be intoxicating and addictive, but ultimately leaves one feeling hungover and depleted.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sweet Lover Hangover" paint a vivid picture of the emotional havoc that unrequited love can wreak. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but the song seems to convey a sense of longing, pain, and resignation.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet lover of mine
The singer is directing these words towards their significant other, expressing their affection towards them.
You know a million tears are gonna fall
Despite their love, the singer believes that there will be many tears and heartbreaks in their relationship.
Sister blue stay away from me
The singer is using the term 'sister blue' to refer to depression, and they want it to stay away from them.
Tears so many now I can't see
The artist has cried so much that their vision is now impaired.
Just waitin' for the jerk to phone
The artist is waiting for their lover to call, but they may also refer to their lover as a 'jerk,' indicating disappointment and frustration in the relationship.
See you waitin' by the telephone
The singer envisions their lover also waiting by the phone, suggesting the presence of mutual feelings and love in the relationship.
Get a feeling like a desert inside
The singer is expressing their emotional emptiness and lack of fulfillment, which they compare to a desert.
I'm so thirsty for some peace of mind
The artist desires emotional stability and relief from their emotional pain.
You never know me 'cause I'm always alone
The artist feels misunderstood by their lover and that their relationship leaves them feeling lonely.
So hungry for that little girl
The artist longs for their lover and wants to be close to them, like a child being comforted by a parent.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, KEVIN HASKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind