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.
The Dog-End of a Day Gone By
Love And Rockets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming on like Moses
Flogging new religion
Like a bunch of plastic roses
He's found his path
To the bleeding heart of Jesus
You tell him
You've found yours
Heir to a future you never made
There is nothing less amusing
Than the amusement arcade
In a city without a soul
Newspaper boys selling you the hard truth
Lucifer employs idle hands by night and day
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Don't let the smoke get in your eyes
Well the drunk outside the Wendy
Is becoming less than friendly
A dog is barking at the moon
The drunk outside the Wendy
Is becoming less than friendly
A dog is barking at the moon
You want to get away
From the city of light
Then when you've gone
You want to get back
It is some strange addiction
When you need to put yourself
Back on the rack
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Don't let the smoke get in your eye
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Don't let the smoke get in your
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
The lyrics of Love and Rockets’ “The Dog-End of a Day Gone By” talk about feeling trapped in an urban environment that lacks meaning or substance. The opening lines describe a man who is passionate about his new religion, but his passion seems empty and artificial. He is compared to Moses, who led his people to the Promised Land, but in this case, the man’s religion is compared to plastic roses – something that is fake and manufactured.
The singer then talks about how he feels trapped in a city without a soul, where even the newspaper boys are selling the “hard truth,” which implies that they are not really journalists but are trying to sell an illusion. The references to idle hands and Lucifer suggest that the city is corrupt and sinful.
The lyrics then describe a drunk outside a Wendy’s restaurant who is becoming aggressive, and a barking dog. The idea of wanting to escape the city, but eventually wanting to return, is conveyed. The repeated phrase “Stuck at the dog-end of a day gone by, boy” suggests feeling trapped in a cycle of monotony, and being unable to break free.
Overall, the song appears to be about feeling trapped in an urban environment that has lost its meaning, and the longing for something more genuine and fulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a man on the corner
There is a man standing on the street corner
Coming on like Moses
He is acting like Moses, the leader from the Bible
Flogging new religion
He is promoting a new religion
Like a bunch of plastic roses
This religion is fake and superficial
He's found his path
He has discovered his purpose
To the bleeding heart of Jesus
His purpose is centered around Jesus and his love
You tell him
You respond to him
You've found yours
You have also discovered your purpose
Heir to a future, you never made
You are inheriting a future that you did not create
There is nothing less amusing
There is nothing less funny or enjoyable
Then the amusement arcade
Than an arcade that is supposed to be entertaining
In a city without a soul
In a city that lacks character and individuality
Newspaper boys selling you the hard truth
The newspaper boys are promoting the harsh reality of life
Lucifer employs idle hands by night and day
Lucifer, or the devil, takes advantage of those who are not busy
Stuck at the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Feeling trapped in the end of a long and tiring day
Stuck at the dog-end of a day gone by
Same as above
Stuck at the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Same as above
Don't let the smoke get in your eyes
Do not let confusion or deception distract you
Well, the drunk outside the Wendy's
There is a drunk person outside of Wendy's (restaurant)
Is becoming less than friendly
They are becoming angry or aggressive
A dog is barking at the moon
A dog is howling at the moon, which is a common but pointless activity
You want to get away
You want to escape or leave
From the city of light
From the illuminated and glamorous city
Then when you've gone
After you have left
You want to get back
You want to return
It is some strange addiction
It is a peculiar and unhealthy attachment
When you need to put yourself
When you feel the need to place yourself
Back in your eye
Back in your view or perspective
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Extinguish or end the unpleasant final moments of your day
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Same as above
Stub out the dog-end of a day gone by, boy
Same as above
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Daniel Gaston Ash, David Jay, Kevin Haskins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@californioxochipilli
Born in 1970, I was introduced to Bauhaus and Tones On Tail when I was 14. I saw this L&R 7th Dream album, recognized the names, and brought it home quick. Sweet fresh music and meaningful lyrics: this album was my anthem throughout the 80's. Just happen to listen this song on this rainy day, man, what a classic. It still has strong longevity most "popular" song of then (esp. today) can't hold a candle too...
This album will rise to the top over centuries just out of pure brilliance.
@wandermethis7097
Well said....
@eightiefiv3
+californioxochipilli well said
@jerryburton6509
+californioxochipilli that cold sunday in my youth when all I had was a beat up 76 dart and a shitty job that pulled me away from my drawing and reading....so freakin good
@jedjones5548
Wow you just wrote my life story.
@berfinguner4935
thx for intridoucing me with Tones on Tail
@mistamowgli513
That tribal drumwork by Haskins. This is by far one of my faves
@thestillsitterschannel7362
Let life hum as much as those drums would
@tarheel8494
one of the most profoundly and purely psychedelic albums ever. really established the mid 80s psychedelia in an intense way. I was there. :-)
@tashavladimiroff1874
tarheel8494 me 2