Kershaw played guitar and sang in a number of underground bands from about 1976 before deciding on a career as a songwriter. However, he ended up performing his own songs rather than giving them to others, and signed a deal with MCA Records in 1983, which spawned a debut single, "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", which just missed out on the UK Top 40. At the beginning of 1984, he made his breakthrough when "Wouldn't It Be Good", featuring a video of Kershaw as a chromakey-suited alien, reached Number 4 in the UK charts. He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from debut album Human Racing , including the title track and a successful re-issue of his debut single, which ultimately proved his biggest hit as a performer when it got to Number 2 in the UK.
Despite winning awards, attracting admirers for his writing such as Elton John & Eric Clapton. He gainied a huge teenage fanbase, Kershaw was not without his critics. Some complained that he did too much onstage when he had a competent backing band called the Krew to play all the required guitar and keyboard parts of his songs.
Kershaw, who was married to long-time love and backing singer Sheri, then released a single called "The Riddle", which would send fans, journalists and linguists into overdrive, as each tried to establish what the meaning was behind the strange set of circumstances and clues which Kershaw put in the verses and chorus (though it in fact later turned out to be hastily created nonsense). Another major hit, it was also the title track of his second album, which also spawned two more UK Top 10 hits, "Wide Boy" and "Don Quixote".
In July 1985 Kershaw was among performers at Live Aid, Wembley Stadium. His star began to wane soon afterwards and he enjoyed only one more UK Top 40 hit, the debut single from his third album, Radio Musicola. Radio Musicola, despite receiving critical acclaim, was a flop in the UK charts. After this, Kershaw teamed up with 'We Built This City' producer Peter Wolf for his fourth album, The Works. After neither Kershaw or Wolf were happy with the results, Kershaw re-recorded the album with producer Julian Mendelsohn. The Works failed to chart in the UK, but itโs debut single, One Step Ahead, charted at No. 55. The albums failure led to him being dropped by MCA Records.
After The Works, Kershaw retired from recording music in favour of his original career path as a songwriter. His prowess as a songwriter served him well in 1991 when his song The One And Only, appeared on the soundtrack to the Brittish movie Buddy's Song and in the American film "Doc Hollywood", and provided a UK Number 1 single for the star of the film, Chesney Hawkes (son of the Tremeloes' Chip Hawkes). In 1993 The Hollies had a minor hit with another of his songs, The Woman I Love. Kershaw featured prominently as a vocalist on Tony Banksโ album Still, along with penning some of the tracks.
1999 saw the release of the Britpop-styled 15 Minutes, a collection of songs that are generally more personal and mature, and that he could not envisage being recorded by other artists. Both this and the more commercial To Be Frank (2001) are stylistically different from his earlier work by being underpinned by acoustic guitar rather than synthesiser.
These were followed by 'Youโve Got To Laugh', another collection of acoustic-led songs and 'EI8HT', a commercial MOR pop album brought on by the 80s revival and also led to the return of synthesisers in his music. Kershaw released his latest album, Oxymoron, in 2020 and is in the process of releasing a series of EPs, Songs from a Shelf. He still performs regularly.
For more information visit the official site at http://www.nikkershaw.net
Don Quixote
Nik Kershaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
makes you what you want to be
just like superheroes
you saw them on tv
coast to coast, wall to wall
got to go, duty calls
here i am
saved the world, back again
here i am
in my old, red saloon
i'm a knight in shining armour
if i were asleep, man
i couldn't be much calmer
hit the road, on the run
faster than anyone
here i amone for all, all for one
shake the fist, shoot the gun
here i am
don quixote
what do you say?
are we proud? are we brave?
or just crazy?
don quixote
what do you say?
are we shooting at windmills like you?
common sense, is as good
as a cafe' on the moon
when man and machinery come to their high noon
beat the clock, punch the wall
fix'd in no time at all
here i amradio on the blink
kick the cat, hit the drink
here i am
don quixote
what do you say?
are we proud, are be brave
or just crazy?
don quixote
what do you say?
are we shooting at windmills like you?
here i am
don quixote
we're all men of la mancha
The lyrics to Nik Kershaw's song Don Quixote seem to be about the power of imagination and how it can shape one's reality. The mind can play tricks, making a person believe they are someone they're not or can do things they otherwise couldn't. This is likened to superheroes seen on TV, where people can emulate these characters and feel powerful. The line "here I am, Superman, Lois Lane, saved the world, back again" is an example of this, where the singer imagines themselves as a hero saving the world.
The song then takes a turn, where the singer imagines themselves as Don Quixote, a character from a novel who famously fought windmills, believing them to be giants. This highlights the idea of imagination becoming obsessive or delusional. The line "are we shooting at windmills like you?" asks whether their own delusions are similar to Don Quixote's. This is contrasted with "common sense is as good as a cafe on the moon," suggesting that rationality and reality are sometimes more useful than imagination.
The song ends with the chorus "Don Quixote, what do you say? / Are we proud, are we brave / Or just crazy? / Don Quixote, what do you say? / Are we shooting at windmills like you?," leaving the interpretation of the lyrics up to the listener's own judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
your mind can play tricks
Your imagination can convince you of things that may not be real
makes you what you want to be
Imagination transforms your identity to that of your choosing
just like superheroes
Imagination allows you to craft and personify superheroes
you saw them on tv
Your exposure to popular media can influence your imaginative constructs
coast to coast, wall to wall
Everywhere you go or look, this influence is present
got to go, duty calls
Time to act upon those beliefs and values
here i am
I am ready to act
superman, lois lane
Imagined roles and relationships of superheroes
saved the world, back again
Accomplished a heroic feat and now ready for the next challenge
in my old, red saloon
Personal transportation chosen to reflect an imagined persona
i'm a knight in shining armour
Imagination transforms oneself into a chivalrous character
if i were asleep, man
This transformative sense of self brings calm even in rest
i couldn't be much calmer
Tranquility from self-imposed identity
hit the road, on the run
Time to go on another adventure
faster than anyone
Speed is a contributing factor to heroism
here i amone for all, all for one
I am ready to participate in a group of heroes whose goal is to help each other
shake the fist, shoot the gun
Actions or physical symbols that reflect the idea of heroism and defense
here i am
I am still ready to act
don quixotewhat do you say?are we proud? are we brave?or just crazy?
Reflecting on the idea of heroism, questioning whether it is a quality to take pride in or perceive as excessive
don quixotewhat do you say?are we shooting at windmills like you?
Questioning whether one has undertaken a misguided pursuit or fulfilled a worthy crusade
common sense, is as goodas a cafe' on the moon
In this imaginative realm, traditional concepts such as logic or knowledge are not seen as useful
when man and machinery come to their high noon
In a pivotal moment, when humanity and technology meet, individual identity and ingenuity triumphs
beat the clock, punch the wall
Exuding a sense of urgency and determination
fix'd in no time at all
A hero must be able to solve problems quickly
here i amradio on the blink
Even when faced with technical difficulties, one's sense of heroism persists
kick the cat, hit the drink
Even heroes can be susceptible to moments of frustration or weakness
here i am
Despite setbacks, one's sense of purpose remains strong
don quixotewhat do you say?are we proud, are be braveor just crazy?
Continued reflection on the value of pursuing a heroic identity
don quixotewhat do you say?are we shooting at windmills like you?
Continued questioning of the meaning behind one's heroic pursuits
here i am
Final declaration of readiness for action
don quixotewe're all men of la mancha
Referencing the ideals and values portrayed in the novel The Man of La Mancha
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GIOVANNI GUERRETTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wolf4jidg
Your mind can play tricks
Makes you what you want to be
Just like superheroes
You saw them on TV
Coast to coast, wall to wall
Got to go, duty calls
Here I am (here I am)
Superman, Lois Lane
Saved the world, back again
Here I am
In my old, red saloon
I'm a knight in shining armour
If I were asleep, man
I couldn't be much calmer
Hit the road, on the run
Faster than anyone
Here I am
One for all, all for one
Shake the fist, shoot the gun
Here I am
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we proud, are we brave
Or just crazy?
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we shouting at windmills like you?
Common sense, is as good
As a cafe' on the moon
When man and machinery come to their high noon
Radio on the blink
Kick the cat, hit the drink
Here I am
Beat the clock, punch the wall
Fixed in no time at all
Here I am
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we proud, are be brave
Or just crazy?
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we shouting at windmills like you?
Here I am
Don quixote
We're all men of la mancha
@AIRPORT-mc2ys
Your mind can play tricks
Makes you what you want to be
Just like superheroes
You saw them on TV
Coast to coast, wall to wall
Got to go, duty calls
Here I am (here I am)
Superman, Lois Lane
Saved the world, back again
Here I am
In my old, red saloon
I'm a knight in shining armour
If I were asleep, man
I couldn't be much calmer
Hit the road, on the run
Faster than anyone
Here I am
One for all, all for one
Shake the fist, shoot the gun
Here I am
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we proud, are we brave
Or just crazy?
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we shouting at windmills like you?
Common sense, is as good
As a cafe' on the moon
When man and machinery come to their high noon
Radio on the blink
Kick the cat, hit the drink
Here I am
Beat the clock, punch the wall
Fixed in no time at all
Here I am
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we proud, are be brave
Or just crazy?
Don quixote
What do you say?
Are we shouting at windmills like you?
Here I am
Don quixote
We're all men of la mancha
@SuperAvisena
I listened to Nik Kershaw when i was a teenager and just enjoyed the music but as 50 year old and looking at his arrangement and understanding the lyrics i would say he is a genius
@hijack3
correct, looking at the video and lyrics, it's clever pop music the world lacks today. The arrangement of this song is absolutely insane but that's another point
@hayleyharvey-sharp8279
I remembered a song the other day and Nik Kershaw's name came away a blast from the past. I'd forgotten about him! I listened from age 11, and I'm now 50. He's amazing; a great era where music had great feeling music and production was brilliant. Love it! โค
@michellelivingstone904
Oooh I'm so happy to have found this channel. I was a hard Nik fan as a kid. No Duran Duran for me. Thank you Nik for all your wonderful music.
@carlosadrianriquelmearce769
Yes,very Classic music
@robocop5935
Nick Kershaw didn't just sing. His music made you think beyond his lyrics. He was a unique singer like no other.
@rokit430
That is was music should do...not to put you in an entranced place though. Salvador Dahli tried to, but just thought of the Warped Ness of it. Spain...๐๐คฃ๐คฃ Very informative Mr Kershaw, like your friend Howard Jonesโค
@ShinigamiComplex
The world needs more video of fluffy haired Nik on horseback. ๐ข
@hklinker
This never gets old. Even with those keyboards, this song still seems like itโs in its own time. My favourite by Nik Kershaw.
@DaKotaCole
One of my favorite songs of all time