They built up a small following on the Birmingham circuit playing venues including The Mermaid, Hare & Hounds, Peacocks and various halls of residence.
The band recorded their first single (Everybody Knows The Monkey/You're On My Mind) for the princely sum of £40 and released it in '86 on their own Girlie Records. This was followed by Is There Anyone Out There (4 track 12") before signing to Chapter 22.
The Mighty Mighty sound stood them apart from from many of their contemporaries. Chief songwriter Mick drew on influences as varied as Al Green, Billie Holiday, Josef K and Phil Spector. His guitar style paid homage to the aforementioned Scots, Ian McCulloch and The Au Pairs. Hugh's vocals echoed those of Scott Walker and Edwyn Collins. H's tight, fast beats came of years listening to punk, The Only Ones and the Pogues. Russell's pumping, melodic bass style was honed playing along to This Year's Model whilst at university in Sheffield. Pete's keyboard sound was influenced by The Doors and Al Kooper while his guitar style was a blend of Bunnymen, Johnny Marr, and The Velvets.
You're On My Mind
Mighty Mighty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the catcher gives the signs
There's someone new in her batter's box
And I'm riding the pine
The count is full and the game is cruel to lovers swinging blind
And I'm striking out
I'm striking outta my mind
Outta my mind
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
I've been to her new place
Yea, I've toured the whole inside
Her new life and her new love are so much different than mine
As he strikes a chords and sings
"Lordy-lord, I really scored this time!"
That's fine man, you can have her, I'm bored
I'm bored outta my mind
Outta my mind
Outta my mind
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
I saw you last night again
Did I go out or did I stay in?
All these memories have been hard to find
Did we run circles in Central Park
Or did we stay in Brooklyn and get drunk in the dark?
Or was it all in my mind?
Would you stay in my...
Why would you stay in my...
Why, when I'm out of my mind?
Woah!
I had a dream I fell in a wishing-well where I threw in my last dime
I searched around but all I found was this barren bottom-line
You were always first to quench your thirst but me, I was never far behind
Now I can't drink you
I can't drink you outta my mind
Outta my mind
Outta my mind
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Look at the sun, mama, starting to fall
Look at the stars starting to shine
I give up, I've had enough unattainable divine
If you plan to stay this way
Then the final move must be mine
And I'll just go out
I'll just go outta my mind
Outta my mind
Outta my mind
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
The song "You're On My Mind" by Mighty Mighty is a reflection on the emotional turmoil and confusion of someone who is trying to move on from a past relationship. The opening lines compare the situation to a baseball game, with the singer watching from the sidelines while their former partner enters a new phase of life. The metaphor continues as the singer strikes out and is left feeling lost and disoriented, wondering how to move forward when their thoughts are consumed by memories of their past love.
The chorus is a repetition of the phrase "outta my mind", emphasizing how the singer's thoughts are overtaken by memories of their ex, making it difficult to focus on anything else. They reflect on a recent encounter where they visited their former lover's new home and saw firsthand how different their life has become. The lyrics "That's fine man, you can have her, I'm bored" reveal a sense of bitterness mixed with a desire to move on.
The second verse reflects on the singer's struggle to distinguish between reality and their own imagination. The memories of their time together are hazy and distorted, leaving them uncertain about what was real and what was imagined. The dream sequence in the third verse adds to this confusion, as the singer falls into a wishing well and can't seem to escape their mental state. The song ends on an ambiguous note, with the singer acknowledging that they may need to make a final move in order to move on but still feeling trapped by their past.
Line by Line Meaning
The pitcher takes the mound
The situation has changed, and it's not in my favor
And the catcher gives the signs
Even though I am lost, life goes on without me
There's someone new in her batter's box
She has moved on, and I am not the focus of her life anymore
And I'm riding the pine
I am alone, watching from the sidelines while she is with someone else
The count is full and the game is cruel to lovers swinging blind
I am lost and life is not going according to plan
And I'm striking out
I am failing in this game of life
I'm striking outta my mind
I am losing my sanity as well
I've been to her new place
I have seen what she is doing without me
Yea, I've toured the whole inside
I know all the intimate details of her new life
Her new life and her new love are so much different than mine
She is happy, and I am not
As he strikes a chords and sings
Her new partner celebrates their relationship
"Lordy-lord, I really scored this time!"
He is relishing in the fact that he has won her over
That's fine man, you can have her, I'm bored
I am letting go of her and moving on with my life
I'm bored outta my mind
Without her, my life seems dull and pointless
I saw you last night again
You are still on my mind, even though you are not with me
Did I go out or did I stay in?
I can't separate dreams from reality
All these memories have been hard to find
I am struggling to come to terms with our past
Did we run circles in Central Park
I am having trouble remembering specific moments between us
Or did we stay in Brooklyn and get drunk in the dark?
I am questioning the reality of past experiences
Or was it all in my mind?
I am uncertain about what is real and what is imaginary
Would you stay in my...
I want to forget about you
Why would you stay in my...
I am confused about why you still occupy my thoughts
Why, when I'm out of my mind?
I am mentally and emotionally unstable because of my thoughts of you
Woah!
This is overwhelming and difficult to handle
I had a dream I fell in a wishing-well where I threw in my last dime
I am at the end of my rope and have run out of options
I searched around but all I found was this barren bottom-line
I am left with nothing but emptiness and loneliness
You were always first to quench your thirst but me, I was never far behind
You always moved on quickly, but I still am struggling to do so
Now I can't drink you
I can't forget about you
I can't drink you outta my mind
My thoughts of you won't fade easily
Look at the sun, mama, starting to fall
I am watching the end of a day
Look at the stars starting to shine
There is still beauty and wonder in the world
I give up, I've had enough unattainable divine
I am giving up on the idea of love and divine relationships
If you plan to stay this way
If you are set on forgetting about me and moving on
Then the final move must be mine
Then I must move on myself and let go of you
And I'll just go out
I will disappear from your life
I'll just go outta my mind
I will lose myself in the process
Outta my mind
Outta my mind
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Tim Beavers II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind