Anderson and Berenyi had been friends since the early 1980s, and published the Alphabet Soup fanzine together. In 1986 Anderson joined The Rover Girls as bassist and Berenyi joined The Bugs as guitarist but neither band lasted long.
Lush formed in 1987, initially named The Baby Machines, with a line-up of Meriel Barham (vocals), Emma Anderson (guitar), Miki Berenyi (guitar), Steve Rippon (bass), and Chris Acland (drums). After Rippon joined, the band members decided on a change of name to Lush, making their live debut at the Camden Falcon on 6 March 1988. Barham was fired, with the rest of the band deciding she lacked commitment (she later joined Pale Saints). Anderson and Berenyi then took on lead vocal duties.
Lush gained recognition when Robin Guthrie helped the band sign to 4AD. The band's first release was Scar, an EP, in 1989. Critical praise for Scar and a wildly popular live show established Lush as one of the best-selling alternative bands of the period. That year the EPs Mad Love, produced by Robin Guthrie, and Sweetness and Light, produced by Tim Friese-Greene of Talk Talk fame, followed.
In 1990 the compilation Gala, which combined the material from the first three EPs, was released by Reprise in the United States, this being the first exposure of Lush in North America.
Lush's first full-length album of completely new material was Spooky in 1992. Produced by Robin Guthrie, Spooky featured a sound very similar to Guthrie's band Cocteau Twins, with walls of sound and a great deal of flange. Reviews were mixed and critics of the album hold that Guthrie's production brought the sound away from the band's original creative vision. Bassist Steve Rippon left the band at this stage in order to concentrate on writing, though his book Cold Turkey Sandwich - a fictionalized chronicle of his time in touring - was rejected by publishers. He was replaced by Phil King. Also in 1992, Lush toured America as part of the Lollapalooza festival.
The band's second studio album Split was released in 1994 and featured a harsher sound alternated with long and softer tracks as "Desire Lines" and "Never-Never". Despite critical praise, the album sold poorly.
After adapting to the newly popular sounds of the Britpop era, Lush's 1996 Lovelife became the biggest seller of their career, including the hit singles "Ladykillers", "500" and "Single Girl", which was released in several different versions with different tracks along with the title track. Also on this album, Jarvis Cocker from Pulp contributed guest vocals to "Ciao!" and the record included the now classic/melancholic favorite "Last Night".
In 1996, drummer Chris Acland committed suicide by hanging, at his parents' house, allegedly due to depression. The situation proved too hard for the band, and in 23 February 1998 the three remaining members of Lush decided to disband.
Emma Anderson has since formed a new band, Sing-Sing, who have released two full-length albums to date.
On September 28th 2015 Lush announced their reunion. The reunited band consists of Anderson, Berenyi & King with the addition of Justin Welch on drums, an old friend of Acland.
Lush discography:
Scar EP (1989)
Mad Love EP (1990)
Sweetness and Light EP (1990)
Gala compliation of the above EPs (1990)
Spooky (1992)
Split (1994)
Lovelife (1996)
Lovelife
Lush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your concrete arms I adore you
Dirty and dear
Block out the sun
In your twists and turns I invade
You show me no fear
We blow around like tiny leaves in a big storm
You ebb and flow and your rhythm beats my head
Leave me alone while you swallow up your dead
You are the one
You cradle me and kill
Caressing my face
Leave me undone
You suffocate and have me
This is the place
Every door conceals a dream and a nightmare
Nothing is ever really pure in the stale air
And when it's dark everything becomes more clear
Lie in the park when I want to have you near
You are the one
In your concrete arms I adore you
Dusty and dear
Block out the sun
In your twists and turns I invade
You show me no fear
Left it unsung
I shall leave but I'll return
Poison my lungs, my blood is full of lead
Things unsaid
My love for you still burns
The lyrics to Lush's song "Lovelife" are a complex and multi-layered exploration of the intense emotions associated with a passionate love affair. The first verse sets the scene, with the singer confessing their adoration for their lover, who is described as "dirty and dear". The use of the phrase "concrete arms" suggests a sense of strength and solidity, while "twists and turns" implies a sense of unpredictability and danger. The singer is clearly deeply in love with this person, but there is also a sense of unease and uncertainty.
The second verse takes a more abstract turn, with the singer comparing their relationship to the movement of tiny leaves in a big storm. There is a sense of chaos and confusion here, as well as a suggestion that the relationship is ultimately unsustainable. The line "you suffocate and have me" suggests a sense of being trapped and consumed by the relationship, while "this is the place" could be interpreted as resignation. The next two lines are particularly evocative, with the idea that "every door conceals a dream and a nightmare" and that "nothing is ever really pure in the stale air" suggesting a sense of disillusionment and uncertainty.
The final verse brings the song back to a more personal level, with the singer declaring their continued love despite everything that has happened. The use of the phrase "poison my lungs, my blood is full of lead" creates a sense of toxicity and danger, while "things unsaid" suggests a sense of regret and unfinished business. The final line, "my love for you still burns", is both passionate and mournful, suggesting a sense of loss and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
You are the one
You are my everything
In your concrete arms I adore you
I am captivated by your unrelenting strength and power
Dirty and dear
You may be imperfect, but you are precious to me nonetheless
Block out the sun
Your dominance is so complete that it eclipses everything else
In your twists and turns I invade
Your complexity fascinates me and I seek to understand every aspect of you
You show me no fear
You are so confident and unafraid that it inspires me to be the same
We blow around like tiny leaves in a big storm
We are at the mercy of forces beyond our control
Finding there's nothing left to breathe or to keep warm
Sometimes life can be harsh and unforgiving, leaving us with nothing
You ebb and flow and your rhythm beats my head
Your erratic nature can be overwhelming and hard to handle
Leave me alone while you swallow up your dead
You are so all-consuming that you seem to swallow up everything around you, even the dead
You cradle me and kill
Your love can be both nurturing and destructive
Caressing my face
Even in your most destructive moments, you have a tender side
Leave me undone
You have the power to unravel me completely
You suffocate and have me
You can make me feel both trapped and powerless
This is the place
Despite any hardships, we have a deep connection that cannot be broken
Every door conceals a dream and a nightmare
Life is full of endless possibilities, both good and bad
Nothing is ever really pure in the stale air
Even the most pristine things can be sullied by the world around them
And when it's dark everything becomes more clear
In the midst of chaos and confusion, clarity can sometimes be found
Lie in the park when I want to have you near
Sometimes all we need is to be close to the things we love in nature
Left it unsung
There are things about my love for you that I have not expressed
I shall leave but I'll return
No matter where life takes me, I will always come back to you
Poison my lungs, my blood is full of lead
Even though loving you can be toxic, I cannot resist it
Things unsaid
Our love has depths that cannot be fully explored or articulated
My love for you still burns
Despite all the challenges we face, my love for you still remains strong
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: EMMA VICTORIA JANE ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeshkam
My favorite Lush song.
herchel leon wood
i will never tire of Lush, its been 32 years and counting...since i 1st heard this magical sound !! so many great songs.
Rakon
One of their best! Please play this on the next tour ❤
Rob Vespa
Another favorite of mine. I love this and the Suga Bullit remix. 💙
Rakon
Does anyone know the meaning of this song?
Ja Pa
bah bah bum bum dadh duh budum.
Christianity & Perennialism
Dope
Farid Benmessahel
Magic 🌳
Michael Skurski
Their how the smiths would sound if the smiths had female singers
David McGough
Excellent Awesome