As Postcard's flagship band, Orange Juice quickly distinguished the label as a leading proponent of independent pop music; their 1980 debut single "Falling and Laughing," recorded for less than 100 pounds, garnered massive critical acclaim, and subsequent releases like "Blueboy," "Simply Thrilled Honey," and "Poor Old Soul" further established the group as a major new talent. Soon, sessions began for a full-length album; however, in the midst of recording, Orange Juice left Postcard to sign to Polydor, which funded the LP's completion. After the 1982 release of the album, titled You Can't Hide Your Love Forever, ex-Josef K guitarist Malcolm Ross joined the group, hastening the exit of Kirk and Daly (who went on to form Memphis) and paving the way for Zimbabwe-born drummer Zeke Manyika.
The addition of Manyika gave Collins the new capability of exploring a more complex fusion of pop and blue-eyed soul; consequently, 1982's Rip It Up was a more ambitious affair than its predecessor, veering from the buoyant Motown tribute "I Can't Help Myself" to the energetic pop of the title track, Orange Juice's lone Top Ten single. However, subsequent releases failed to chart, and relations between the group and Polydor began to disintegrate; amid these tensions, both Ross and McClymont quit, with Ross later resurfacing in Aztec Camera. Reduced to the duo of Collins and Manyika, Orange Juice enlisted reggae producer Dennis Bovell to record the 1984 EP Texas Fever.
After a makeshift tour, Collins and Manyika returned to the studio to record a dark, ambitious full-length effort; released in 1984, neither The Orange Juice nor its singles "What Presence?!" and "Lean Period" charted, and Collins was dropped from his contract, although Polydor kept Manyika on as a solo act. Only in 1995 did the stunning single "A Girl Like You" finally win Collins the commercial respect that had so long eluded him and his former bandmates. Later on, throughout the late '90s and early 2000s, the rise of Scottish bands as disparate as Belle & Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand won Orange Juice a younger set of fans, helped in great part by the 2005 compilation The Glasgow School.
Biography by Jason Ankeny
Dying Day
Orange Juice Lyrics
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Tongues are a-twisting
My eyes are glistening
Say hello to your debutante
And say bye-bye to true love
I heard your bugle playing
The sweetest music to my ears
I'm close to tears
We'll run away
And I'll always believe
Until my dying day
My dying day
I say I'm not sorry
To cast you off, discourteously
When you talk so realistically
The thrill of love
Is gone for me
I heard your bugle playing
The sweetest music to my ears
I'm not afraid of saying
I'm close to tears
We'll run away
And I'll always believe
Until my dying day
My dying day
The lyrics to Orange Juice's song "Dying Day" convey a sense of conflicting emotions and a struggle with love. The first verse suggests that there is some trouble in the relationship, with somebody whispering and tongues twisting. The singer's eyes are glistening, perhaps with tears, and they ask the listener to say goodbye to true love. However, they also seem to be drawn to their partner, as they describe the bugle playing as the sweetest music to their ears, and that they are close to tears.
The chorus is a declaration of love and hope, with the singer saying that they will always believe until their dying day. However, in the second verse, they seem to be trying to convince themselves that they are not sorry for ending the relationship. They describe their partner's talk as "realistic," suggesting perhaps that they were being practical and pragmatic, whereas the singer was looking for something more romantic and thrilling. Despite this, the bugle playing still affects them deeply, and they continue to struggle with their feelings.
Overall, "Dying Day" is a song about the complexities of love, and the conflicting emotions that can arise within a relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer is torn between their desire for passion and romance, and the practicalities of real life. The song is at once melancholy and hopeful, with the chorus offering a promise of enduring love despite the challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody is whispering
There are people gossiping behind my back
Tongues are a-twisting
People are twisting my words and spreading rumors
My eyes are glistening
I am crying, possibly due to the hurt caused by the gossip
Say hello to your debutante
Introducing a new person in your life, potentially indicating you have moved on from your previous relationship.
And say bye-bye to true love
You may have lost true love due to some actions or decisions of yours, indicating a sense of regret.
I heard your bugle playing
The other person is trying to keep the relationship alive despite it being on the verge of falling apart.
The sweetest music to my ears
The other person's efforts to sustain the relationship used to be something the singer cherished.
I'm not afraid of saying
I am not hesitant to express my emotions.
I'm close to tears
There is a pang of emotion building up, possibly due to sensing that the relationship is ending.
We'll run away
Both parties in the relationship will try to escape from reality, which has led to their separation.
And I'll always believe
The singer still has hope for the relationship.
Until my dying day
The hope will continue as long as he is alive.
I say I'm not sorry
The singer is unapologetic for the events that have led to the end of the relationship.
To cast you off, discourteously
The breakup was not handled well, showing a lack of respect for the other person.
When you talk so realistically
The other person is being honest and upfront about the situation, which is difficult for the singer to accept.
The thrill of love
The excitement and passion of the relationship have faded away.
Is gone for me
The singer no longer feels the same intensity of love as before.
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.