… Read Full Bio ↴New Musik were a London based Synthpop group active from 1979 to 1982.
The lead singer and frontman was songwriter/producer Tony Mansfield, who was also a former member of the Nick Straker Band. New Musik first appeared on the BBC TV pop programme, Top Of The Pops in October 1979 with their debut hit single "Straight Lines" which received airplay on BBC Radio 1 from special guesting DJ Frank Zappa.
Their debut album "From A To B" (1980) reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart and contained four UK chart hit singles; "Straight Lines", "Living By Numbers", "This World Of Water" and "Sanctuary". New Musik also topped the French singles chart with "On Islands" from this album.
Touring the UK in 1980, New Musik performed at both the Oxford and Cambridge Balls (with Elvis Costello) and at the Rotterdam New Pop festival in the Netherlands, and did a second UK tour in 1981.
Their second album, Anywhere (1981) reached #68 in the chart, but despite gaining international acclaim, neither of its singles "Luxury" or "While You Wait" charted in the UK.
In 1981 a compilation album, Sanctuary, was released in the U.S., consisting of four tracks from From A To B and eight from Anywhere. Previous to this release, there had also been a four song 10" vinyl Straight Lines released by CBS Records in the U.S. as part of their short-lived Epic "Nu-Disk" series, which had also included The Clash's Black Market Clash.
After the demise of GTO Records, New Musik released their third and final album, Warp (1982) which was more experimental. Oddly, it featured a synth version of The Beatles "All You Need Is Love", alongside an identically titled track of their own. Tracks such as "Hunting", "A Train On Twisted Tracks" and "Kingdoms For Horses" showed much promise, but without promotion and with limited record company support, the group disbanded shortly after.
Known for their originality and innovative approach to recording, New Musik specialised in catchy synth-pop with clever, often thought-provoking lyrical content. Tracks such as "Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home)" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind" highlighted environmental issues, still a minority interest in the early 1980s.
Several artists have covered tracks by New Musik, including Camouflage who did a version of "On Islands" in 1989.
Mansfield went on to achieve considerable success in the field of production for the likes of After The Fire, A-Ha, Aztec Camera, The B-52s, The Damned, Captain Sensible, Naked Eyes, Mari Wilson, Jean Paul Gaultier, Miguel Bose and Ana Torroja, some of his most successful projects.
From A To B and Anywhere were released on CD in 1994, and again in 2001, remastered and with bonus tracks. Warp was also released (with bonus tracks) on CD for the first time in 2001, in Japan. This remains its only CD release.
They All Run After the Carving Knife
New Musik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For just how long
They attack they defend
To reach the end
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
They race to the top
And they take the pain
Is it all in vain
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
Now they've lost their minds
And they seek to find
The very top of the hill
And some of them will
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
The lyrics to New Musik's "They All Run After the Carving Knife" seem to be commenting on the relentless pursuit of success and power, and the toll that it takes on people. The song talks about a race to the top, where everyone is attacking and defending to reach the end. However, it seems that many people are losing themselves in this pursuit, as they "take the pain" and continue chasing after their goals. Despite all of this, some people will still try to climb to the top of the hill.
The repeated phrase "see how they run" suggests a sense of frenzied activity and desperation. The people in the song are running so hard that they've "lost their minds," and are now just seeking the very top of the hill. It's not clear if they'll find what they're looking for once they get there, but the implication is that they'll keep running regardless.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the societal pressure to constantly strive for success, and the all-consuming nature of that endeavor. The pursuit of power and wealth can warp people's sense of self and lead to a dangerous cycle of always wanting more.
Line by Line Meaning
The race is on
The competition has begun
For just how long
It is unclear how long this competition will last
They attack they defend
Participants aggressively compete and protect their positions
To reach the end
Winning is the ultimate goal
See how they run
Observe the intensity and effort put into the competition
They race to the top
Competitors strive to attain the highest rank
Until they drop
Their pursuit of victory can exhaust them
And they take the pain
Enduring physical or emotional discomfort is an accepted part of the competition
Is it all in vain
Is the effort and pain worth the potential rewards?
Now they've lost their minds
Their obsession with winning has driven them to irrational behavior
And they seek to find
They are desperate to discover the most effective way to win
The very top of the hill
The pinnacle of success
And some of them will
Not everyone will succeed
Writer(s): Mansfield Anthony Charles
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daaver Ali
[Verse 1]
The race is on
For just how long?
They attack they defend
To reach the end
[Chorus]
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
[Verse 2]
They race to the top
Until they drop
And they take the pain
Is it all in vain?
[Chorus]
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
[Verse 3]
Now they've lost their minds
And they seek to find
The very top of the hill
And some of them will
[Chorus]
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
Yarlan Zey
What an intro! Opening track from the amazing album Anywhere. 12 Tracks of pure genius. Tony Mansfield, I salute you.
Wim van nerum
So true!!!!
T 1000
This song is the PERFECT embodiment of the 80s. I actually can't cope with it, especially when the synths come in during intro and the chorus 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
TheTanthius
Brilliant band!! So ahead of there time. Just simply excellent in all areas.
Daaver Ali
[Verse 1]
The race is on
For just how long?
They attack they defend
To reach the end
[Chorus]
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
[Verse 2]
They race to the top
Until they drop
And they take the pain
Is it all in vain?
[Chorus]
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
[Verse 3]
Now they've lost their minds
And they seek to find
The very top of the hill
And some of them will
[Chorus]
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
See how they run
kippers 'n custard
Still sounds as haunting as the first time!
Alexander Kruppa
My dad played this song to me when I was a teenager and it somehow got stuck in my head. I still listen to it every once in a while as it reminds me of him.
Cookie Crumble2012
Let's get Mr Mansfield back out again. Such a shame not to have such a genius at the forefront of music. Bloody hell - I'm gutted.
karlos kastanheira
magic band with fabulous songs
Silke K.
I bought this record in Hamburg in the early 80is , didn´t know about the group. Its always in my favourites list. Thank you guys,....