They had three major hits in the UK singles chart, all of them bubblegum pop classics: "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (Number 1), "Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum" (Number 2) and "Soley Soley" (Number 5), all in 1971. But in other European countries, their success continued well into 1972 and 1973, with songs like "Sacramento", "Samson and Delilah", "Bottom's Up" and "The Talk of All the USA".
Their enigmatic percussionist / lead vocalist was Sally Carr (born Sarah Cecilia Young on 28 March 1945, in Muirhead, Lanarkshire) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas), the rest of the band were, drummer Ken Andrews (born Kenneth Andrew Ballentyne, 28 August 1946, in Bearsden, Glasgow, Strathclyde) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas); guitarist / flutist Ian Campbell-Lewis (born Ian McCreadie, 15 July 1947, in Partick, Glasgow, Strathclyde) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas); bassist / vocalist Eric Campbell-Lewis (born Eric McCreadle, 17 June 1949, in Partick, Glasgow, Strathclyde) (ex Part Four, Los Caracas).
Last Christmas
Middle Of The Road Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gave you my heart
But the very next day you gave it away.
This year
To save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special.
Once bitten and twice shy
But you still catch my eye.
Tell me, baby,
Do you recognize me?
Well,
It's been a year,
It doesn't surprise me
(Merry Christmas)
I wrapped it up and sent it
With a note saying, "I love you,"
I meant it
Now I know what a fool I've been.
But if you kissed me now
I know you'd fool me again.
Oh, oh, baby.
A crowded room,
Friends with tired eyes.
I'm hiding from you
And your soul of ice.
My god I thought you were someone to rely on.
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on.
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart.
A man under cover but you tore me apart, ooh-hoo.
Now I've found a real love, you'll never fool me again.
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart (I gave you my heart)
A man under cover but you tore him apart
Maybe next year I'll give it to someone
I'll give it to someone special.
Special...
Someone...
The lyrics of Middle of the Road's "Last Christmas" narrates the story of a heartbroken person who, on Christmas day, decides to give their heart to someone they love. It starts by stating that last year, they gave their heart to someone they love, and the day after, it was given away. This year they want to give it to someone special so that it would save them from tears.
The person who sings the song was once hurt in the past and is now cautious of giving their heart to anyone. Even though they try to distance themselves from their past lover, they still catch their eye. They wonder if their past lover recognizes them, and they realize that it's been a year since they gave their heart away.
The person acknowledges that they were silly to think that their past lover would be trustworthy because they ended up tearing them apart. They're now hiding from them in a crowded room with friends with tired eyes. The singer sees the former lover as someone who was cold-hearted, and they were somebody they could only rely on to cry on their shoulders. They realized that the person was not real and had a hidden agenda and tore apart their love.
Overall, the song narrates the story of a love that was not real, and the person who sings the song has learned this lesson from past heartbreak. They now strive to give their heart to someone who will value them and be special to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Last Christmas
Referring to the time a year ago during the Christmas season
I gave you my heart
I gave you my love, affection, and devotion
But the very next day you gave it away.
You quickly disregarded my love and gave it to someone else
This year
Currently in the present Christmas season
To save me from tears
In order to not make me sad or upset
I'll give it to someone special.
I will give my love to someone deserving and appreciative of it
Once bitten and twice shy
After being hurt in a previous relationship, I am now cautious about getting involved again
I keep my distance
I try to stay away and not get too close
But you still catch my eye.
You still attract my attention and interest
Tell me, baby,
Ask you a question
Do you recognize me?
Have you noticed or remembered me?
Well,
An interjection to continue the conversation
It's been a year,
Since we last saw each other or had any contact
It doesn't surprise me
It was expected that we would not cross paths again
(Merry Christmas)
An expression of greeting and good wishes for the holiday season
I wrapped it up and sent it
I packaged and delivered my love to you
With a note saying, "I love you,"
I expressed my feelings of love for you in writing
I meant it
My love for you is genuine and sincere
Now I know what a fool I've been.
I realize now that my love was not reciprocated or appreciated
But if you kissed me now
If you showed me affection now
I know you'd fool me again.
You would deceive and hurt me again
Oh, oh, baby.
An exclamation of fondness or endearment
A crowded room,
A space filled with people
Friends with tired eyes.
Tired or exhausted looking companions
I'm hiding from you
I am avoiding and trying to stay away from you
And your soul of ice.
Your cold, unfeeling personality
My god I thought you were someone to rely on.
I had faith and trust in you to be dependable and supportive
Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on.
I offered comfort and consolation in difficult times
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart.
A passionate and devoted expression of love
A man under cover but you tore me apart, ooh-hoo.
A man concealing his true feelings, but your actions caused emotional damage
Now I've found a real love, you'll never fool me again.
I have a genuine, lasting love with someone who will treat me better
A face on a lover with a fire in his heart (I gave you my heart)
An expression of passionate love given to you
A man under cover but you tore him apart
A man hiding his true feelings, but your actions caused emotional damage
Maybe next year I'll give it to someone
Perhaps in the future I will give my love to someone else
I'll give it to someone special.
I will give my love to someone deserving and appreciative of it
Special...
An emphasis on the importance and value of finding the right person
Someone...
An open-mindedness to finding a new love interest
Contributed by Lincoln Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NIKOLAY ERSHOV
Впервые слышу эту рождественку в их исполнении. Это же хит Джорджа Майкла в дуэте 82-го года ещё до сольной карьеры. Картинка новогодняя лишняя здесь.