Their live reputation went from strength to strength and big support slots followed from The Who, ZZ TOP and The Pretenders. After successfully supporting The Who, a personal call from Roger Daltrey lead to Nikki and Been joining Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers, Peter Frampton and a few more rock gods on The British Rock Symphony Tour. The band toured the UK, Europe and Australia with the Orchestra, making a huge impression with their interpretation of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and Stairway to Heaven.
Their first performance at The Royal Albert Hall is a key moment in Nikki and Beens' lives. Roger held up both their arms and said to the audience who were going crazy, "What d'ya reckon then? Nikki Lamborn has the best female rock voice since Janis Joplin and I know what I'm talking about, I knew Janis."
Ball And Chain
Never the Bride Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my dream there's no tomorrow
If I had a friend I could trust he'd know
Then all his smiles I could borrow
I'd get on with my happy face
And I'd live my life in my perfect place and I'd
Break this ball and chain
I gotta break this ball and chain
This ball and chain
Every part of me has it's price
I don't hide behind a label
I'm easy to be with but who am I
A pictureless frame on a table
Waiting round for my happy face
In another time and another place when I
Break this ball and chain
I gotta get away from this house of pain yeh yeh
I gotta break this ball and chain
This ball and chain
Why do they come if they have to go
Why do they come if they have to go
So here I am with my happy face
And I'm sick and tired of this perfect place and I
I gotta. I gotta... Wah!
Break this ball and chain
I gotta get away from this house of pain yeh yeh
I gotta break this ball and chain
Gotta get away from this house of pain
I gotta break this ball and chain
This ball and chain.
The lyrics to Never the Bride's "Ball and Chain" tell a story of feeling trapped and yearning for freedom. The opening lines "why do they come if they have to go" allude to temporary relationships or friendships that don't last. The singer dreams of a perfect life but realizes that she needs a true friend to help her achieve it. The mention of a "pictureless frame on a table" conveys a feeling of emptiness and lack of identity.
The chorus of the song repeats the desire to break free from the "ball and chain" that is holding the singer back. There is a sense of frustration with the current situation as she sings "I'm sick and tired of this perfect place." The repetition of "gotta get away from this house of pain" emphasizes this feeling of entrapment.
Overall, the lyrics convey a message of longing for escape and the need for genuine human connection. The "ball and chain" could represent any obstacle in life, whether it be a toxic relationship, a job that doesn't fulfill you, or a mental health issue.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do they come if they have to go
I don't understand why people come in and out of my life so easily
In my dream there's no tomorrow
I find solace in my dreams, where there are no consequences for my actions
If I had a friend I could trust he'd know
If I had someone to confide in and rely on, they would understand my struggles
Then all his smiles I could borrow
His happiness would lift my spirits
I'd get on with my happy face
I would pretend to be happy, even when I'm not
And I'd live my life in my perfect place and I'd
I would deceive myself into thinking that everything is fine, even when it's not
Break this ball and chain
I need to free myself from the burdens that are holding me back
I gotta get away from this house of pain
I need to escape the negative environment that's causing me distress
Every part of me has it's price
I have to pay the consequences for all my actions and decisions
I don't hide behind a label
I refuse to be defined by other people's perceptions of me
I'm easy to be with but who am I
I don't have a clear sense of identity and purpose
A pictureless frame on a table
I'm just a meaningless object in the grand scheme of things
Waiting round for my happy face
I'm waiting for a reason to smile and be happy
In another time and another place when I
I imagine a future where I can finally find happiness and contentment
So here I am with my happy face
I'm putting on a facade of happiness, even though I'm not truly happy
And I'm sick and tired of this perfect place and I
I'm tired of pretending that everything is perfect, when it's far from
I gotta. I gotta... Wah!
I need to take action and break free from my current situation
Gotta get away from this house of pain
I need to distance myself from the constant pain and negativity around me
This ball and chain.
These burdens are holding me back from living a fulfilling life.
Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
drofmadness
What a powerful voice, Love it. Absolutely fantastic band