In the late 70s, he and his childhood friend Steve George founded the band Pages (most notable for "I Do Believe In You") in Phoenix, Arizona. The outfit Mr. Mister sprang out of that project 1982. The two continued to apply their tight harmonies to background vocals on albums by successful pop artists like Laura Branigan while working on their own material as well. About the time when the first Mr. Mister album, titled 'I Wear the Face', came out in early 1984, Page was offered the chance to replace Bobby Kimball as lead singer of Toto. He even was also later offered Peter Cetera's place in the jazz rock outfit Chicago.
Page refused both offers, confident in Mr. Mister's potential. The single "Hunters of the Night" managed to become a near-hit, reaching the #57 slot on the Billboard Hot 100, and the new wave fueled album had brought them with producer Peter McIan, who had been behind releases by Dear Enemy and Men at Work. Still, the line-up of Page, George, Pat Mastelotto, and Steve Farris failed to reach a mass audience as the album just didn't sell that well.
Mr. Mister's second album, 1985's 'Welcome To The Real World', featured emotive lyrics from Page's cousin John Lang and became the breakthrough that the guys had been hoping for. The group had three top 10 singles, two of which even coming #1 hits on the U.S. pop charts. The band's compelling ballad "Broken Wings" had become a part of the national pop consciousness, particularly serving as a sort of 'signature song' for the outfit. In those days of widespread success, they toured with legendary diva Tina Turner, for whom their song "Stand And Deliver" was written. This song eventually appeared on Mr. Mister's third album, titled 'Go On', which the band said contined "some of the best stuff we ever did".
With expectations sky-high for the band, the guys planned on taking a more mature approach lyrically, standing up against the notorious materialism and celebration of greed during that decade, and the album had a sound that hinted at progressive rock. Nevertheless, 'Go On' failed to achieve commercial success, and the band members found themselves getting lost in the 80s pop/rock shuffle. Guitarist Steve Farris left around 1989, which seemed to spell the beginning of the end for the group. Still, the band began working on a fourth album, called 'Pull', with session guitarists. Dropped by their label before that work could be released, the band decided to break up for good.
That album remained unreleased for something like two decades, although one track ("Waiting In My Dreams") later appeared on a popular greatest hits collection. The release in its entirely finally surfaced in 2010 on the indie label Little Dume Recordings, a company project of Richard Page's that had also published solo efforts by him such as 'Peculiar Life'. After the band's split, Page continued to work as a composer (for example, he co-authored Madonna's 1994 Golden Globe nominated song "I'll Remember") and as a background singer for several artists. Page additionally produced a solo album, called 'Shelter Me', in 1996 that featured guest appearances by all his former band-mates.
Steve Farris has toured with Whitesnake and also recorded songs with artists such as Tori Amos and 4 Non Blondes. Pat Mastelotto has played with groups such as King Crimson and XTC. Steve George served as musical director for American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins until 1997, also having toured with the star Jewel. Finally, John Lang became a part of the alternative rock group Djinn (not to be confused with the DJ of the same name and other artists), an obscure band that gained some interest when they produced their 1998 album 'All-Time'.
Broken Wings
Mr. Mister Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why we can't just hold on
To each other's hands
This time might be the last
I fear, unless I make it all too clear
I need you so, oh
Take these broken wings
Learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let us in
Take these broken wings
Baby, I think tonight
We can take what was wrong
And make it right
Baby, it's all I know
That you're half of the flesh
And blood makes me whole
I need you so
So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again
Learn to live so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let us in
Take these broken wings
You've got to learn to fly, learn to live, love so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in yeah, yeah
Let us in
Let us in
Baby, it's all I know
That you're half of the flesh
And blood that makes me whole
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings
You got to learn to fly, learn to live and love so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up for us and let us in
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Ooh
The lyrics to Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings" convey a longing for connection and fear of losing that connection. The singer is struggling to understand why they can't hold onto each other and make things work, feeling like this could be their last chance to patch things up. The repeated plea of "I need you so" underscores the singer's desperation for the other person to stay with them.
The chorus offers a glimmer of hope, with the suggestion that they can learn to fly again and live freely if they can work through their issues. The motif of broken wings is a powerful one, representing both the fragility of the relationship and the possibility of renewal.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the challenges and rewards of love, and the need for vulnerability and perseverance to make it work.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I don't understand
Expressing confusion towards the situation
Why we can't just hold on
Questioning why they can't just stay together
To each other's hands
Physical touch and mutual support
This time might be the last
Acknowledging the possibility of separation
I fear, unless I make it all too clear
Feeling the importance of communicating clearly
I need you so, oh
Expressing deep emotional reliance
Take these broken wings
Asking to be helped and healed
And learn to fly again
Regaining confidence and strength
Learn to live so free
Finding freedom from pain and hurt
When we hear the voices sing
When we find inspiration and hope
The book of love will open up
The depth of love will be revealed
And let us in
And we will be embraced by love
Baby, I think tonight
Believing that the moment is important
We can take what was wrong
A chance to go back and fix mistakes
And make it right
To make amends and reconcile
Baby, it's all I know
The relationship is essential and all-encompassing
That you're half of the flesh
Describing the depth of their connection
And blood makes me whole
Acknowledging the completeness they bring to each other
You've got to learn to fly, learn to live, love so free
Encouraging personal growth to find true freedom in love
The book of love will open up for us and let us in
A message of hope and the potential for a deeper relationship
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Actual Music, S.L.
Written by: John Ross Lang, Richard James Page, Steve George
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gnnascarfan2410
Cannot believe this song is almost 40 years old, yet it sounds like it could have come out yesterday. Truly a timeless classic.
@pinty56
an absolute classic! brings back fond memories too... 😉
@rodolforodriguez6230
Absolutely
@schumifan78
This song is way too good to have come out yesterday..
@nicholashylton6857
Hopefully, but I doubt it. This kind of tune isn't commercial anymore.
@lianalonge1984
It feels like such a privilege to have grown up in the 80s. We may not have had the technology then as we do today, but the music, fashion, and creativity were the best. 🥰
@jamela6357
Yes!! I agree it was a great time. I'm a #78baby and #80sraised #bestdecadeever
@davidbarr56
Well said I agree 100%
@lianalonge1984
@@jamela6357 👊🏽 I’m a #70baby and #80teen. Movies like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Heathers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and others bring back so many good memories of being a teen. And recent movies/mini series like WW1984, Stranger Things, and The Wedding Singer are near and dear to my heart. 😁❤️
@seattlebeast6165
I've always wanted to go back in time to live in the 80s