Marc Almond has had a long and varied career spanning circa 40 years. During this time, after a career with Soft Cell and Marc and the Mambas, he has collaborated with an extremely wide range of artists including Antony and The Johnsons, Jools Holland, Siouxsie Sioux, Nick Cave, P.J. Proby, Nico, Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps, Neal X (on the albums Fantastic Star and Open All Night), Marie France, Agnes Bernelle, Lydia Lunch, Gene Pitney on the #1 UK single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart", Foetus (a.k.a. J. G. Thirlwell), Jimmy Somerville of The Communards and Bronski Beat, Psychic TV, Coil, Sally Timms of Mekons, King Roc, John Cale and David Johansen of The New York Dolls and German band Rosenstolz.
Almond initially shot to fame in the early 1980s as one half of synth duo Soft Cell, whose combination of drama and peep show sleaze set to an electronic beat gave them hits such as "Tainted Love" (UK #1), "Bedsitter" (UK #3), "Torch" (UK #2), "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" (UK #3), "Soul Inside" (UK # 16), "What?" (UK #3) and the club hit "Memorabilia". They were first spotted by David Oddie, boss of Wakefield based Ambergris Records in a Bradford club, who passed his enthusiasm onto Dead Good Records in Lincoln, famous for their Hicks From The Sticks compilation, who in turn approached Polygram, the newly formed amalgam of Polydor and Phonogram. Although Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 just before the release of fourth album, This Last Night In Sodom, the duo reunited in 2001 for live shows and in 2002 released a new album entitled Cruelty Without Beauty, from which the single "The Night" (UK #39) was taken.
His biggest UK hits as a solo artist have been cover versions; the aforementioned 1989 number one duet with Gene Pitney and another near chart-topper in 1991 with David McWilliams' "The Days of Pearly Spencer", which peaked at #4. In 1985, he duetted with Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat on a cover of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love (Medley)" and it hit #3. The highest UK positions his self-penned singles have reached so far have been "Stories of Johnny" (#23 in 1985), "Tears Run Rings" (#28 in 1988) and "Adored and Explored" (#25 in 1995).
Almond's work runs the gamut from electronica and dance music to French chanson, traditional piano ballads, and Russian romance songs, as exhibited on his 2003 album Heart on Snow. Influences include David Bowie, a childhood hero of his, as well as early 1960s Northern Soul and disco. Other major influences have been Scott Walker from Walker Brothers and Jacques Brel, 12 of whose songs Almond reworked in English for his 1989 album Jacques. Almond's own lyrics are a creative expression of what he sees and are not to be confused with his own life. He also operates a record label, Blue Star Music, on which he has released many of his solo and collaborative records in the UK.
Almond currently lives in the Bermondsey area of south east London. In his autobiography he describes previously living in Earl's Court, in a converted church in Fulham and most memorably in Soho's Berwick Street, where he lived in a flat overlooking the Raymond Revuebar.
My Hand Over My Heart
Marc Almond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each night when I should be asleep
I put on my coat
And I walk the streets
I spend these hours
Escaping from my dreams
Afraid of what I might see
Fear has no beginning no end
With you on my mind
I see visions of you
All my dreams coming true
And I fall to my knees at your beauty
My hand over my heart
A heart that's filled with love
A love that can lift the soul
Divine worship forever Amen
There are times spent in despair
That you won't believe me
So many times I've tried to tell you
But my courage deceives me
You have my whole world under your heel
No words on this earth
Can convey the way I feel
Heaven is here
Where I once feared to be
And I fall to my knees
At your beauty
My hand over my heart
A heart that's filled with love
A love that can lift the soul
Divine worship
Forever Amen
I fall to my knees
I fall to my knees
You lift up my heart
You lift up my heart
Nothing so fine
Nothing so sure
As I'm gazing in awe
At your beauty
My hand over my heart
A heart that's filled with love
A love that can lift the soul
Divine worship forever Amen
And late each night
As I walk the streets
I pray for the day
I lay my heart at your feet
You lift up my heart
You lift up my heart
You lift up my heart
With your love
In the song "My Hand Over My Heart," Marc Almond conveys the idea of finding heaven on earth in the form of a person, a person he loves and admires deeply. He is so enamored with this person that he can't sleep without thinking about them. He spends hours on the streets, escaping his dreams and fears, and instead, indulges in visions of the person he loves, whom he worships and reveres. The lyrics speak about the fear of losing that person and the despair that would come with it. He believes that this person has his world under their heel, and he can't help but fall to his knees at their beauty.
The constant reference to falling to his knees symbolizes his submission and devotion to this person. His hand over his heart signifies the strength and depth of his love, which can lift the soul in a divine way. He knows that there are no words that can truly express the way he feels, and he spends his nights walking the streets and praying that one day, he can lay his heart at their feet.
Overall, the song is about surrendering oneself to love and finding heaven in the presence of someone so special.
Line by Line Meaning
Heaven is here
The present moment is heaven because I am consumed by thoughts of you.
Each night when I should be asleep
At night, when I should be sleeping, I am out walking to escape from dreams that scare me.
I put on my coat
To brave the night air, I put my coat on and go outside.
And I walk the streets
I spend my time walking the streets, trying to escape from my fears.
I spend these hours
I use these hours to escape from my dreams and fears, by wandering the streets.
Escaping from my dreams
I try to escape from my dreams, which scare me.
Afraid of what I might see
I fear the things I might see in my dreams.
Fear has no beginning no end
Fear has no specific starting or ending point, but is something that lingers constantly.
So I spend all my time
I use up all my time trying to escape from my fears, by walking the streets.
With you on my mind
All the while, I am thinking of you.
I see visions of you
In my mind's eye, I see images of you, and all my dreams coming true.
All my dreams coming true
I envision my dreams of being with you coming true, and what that would look like.
And I fall to my knees at your beauty
The beauty I see in you is so intense that it brings me to my knees in awe.
My hand over my heart
I put my hand over my heart in reverence to the love I feel for you.
A heart that's filled with love
My heart is overflowing with love for you.
A love that can lift the soul
My love for you can elevate me to new heights.
Divine worship forever Amen
I worship and revere you, now and forever.
There are times spent in despair
I have moments of despair and hopelessness.
That you won't believe me
There are times when you won't believe the intensity of my feelings and emotions.
So many times I've tried to tell you
There have been countless occasions when I have attempted to express my feelings for you.
But my courage deceives me
Despite my intentions, I often lack the bravery to tell you how I really feel.
You have my whole world under your heel
You have complete control over my world, my emotions, and my feelings.
No words on this earth
There are no words on this planet that can describe the magnitude of my love for you.
Can convey the way I feel
Nothing I say can fully express the way I feel about you.
Where I once feared to be
The place that once invoked fear in me is now where I find heaven and solace in thoughts of you.
And late each night
Every night, as the hours tick away, I am without you.
I pray for the day
I hope and pray for the day I can finally share my heart with you.
I lay my heart at your feet
When that day comes, I will lay my entire heart at your feet.
You lift up my heart
Your presence brings out the best in me, and lifts my spirits higher.
With your love
And with your love, I am complete.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARC ALMOND, DAVID A BALL, RICHARD NORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
thebob34
This is without doubt the greatest song marc has ever made and god only knows how this didn't get to number 1. I actually loved the tenement symphony album even though I know marc didn't feel the same way about how he was pushed into doing it. Amazing singer
saltwatercb
Marc, this song has always been so utterly transporting to me--I wish I could live in that world. I just watched the video now again and it gave me goosebumps, as always. The crescendo at 3:15--WOW! This song has everything--the beautiful, warm synths...the gorgeous strings...the enormous kettle drum...the angelic cooing in the coda...and your marvelous voice presiding over it all. Simply, one of the greatest love songs of all time.
Many blessings to you, Marc. Thank you for adding such beauty to the world through your remarkable music (and inspired videos). Please don't ever stop.
Cheers! Christopher
Lloydie Buoy
Whenever your down, fed up and miserable, remember we army of fans play your tunes and you actually make our days brighter! Something about you thats so unique and I for one can`t thank you enough for just being a member of the human race!
beavisbonce
Lloyd Ramsey Marc was my way in the 80's and I still listen. Btw anthology out next month ten CDs of bliss
Lloydie Buoy
Yes can`t wait though did you know that 10 tracks have been left out of the box set? One being the Soft Cell`s Hendrix Melody!!
beavisbonce
Lloyd Ramsey love marc
James ntoumenopoulos
oh dear Lord he is wonderful Tainted Love started it for me 1983 1985 living in London ...so sorry he has been damaged from the motor bike accident and his Face has had to be changed to correct the damage of the prang he had and relearning to walk talk etc for 2 yrs I believe that he is back to releasing music is wonderful
Michelle Purvis
When I am having a "down" day, I listen to this song and it really does "lift up my heart". The melody and the words just transport me to a better time. Thanks Marc, your talent is transformative.
Patrick Jordan
When I hear this song it makes me feel everything is alright in the world, it brings me to a place of peace. Marc is so underrated in today's music business.
CHAZ RONNIE
This is a truly wonderful song....and it fills my heart to bursting.