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
Falling and Laughing
Orange Juice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taken as true
I only see what I want to see
Avoid eye contact at all costs
What can I do
To see your fine teeth smiling at me
That we should build a city of tears
All I'm saying
Is I'm alone and consequently
Only my tears satisfy the real need of my heart
I resist
You say that there's a thousand like you
Maybe that's true
I fell or you and nobody else
So I'm standing here so lonely
What can i do
But learn to laugh at myself
You might say
That we should build a city of tears
All I'm saying
Is I'm alone and consequently
Only my tears satisfy the real need of my heart
I resist
Fall falling falling again
Cos I want to take the pleasure with the pa-in
Fall falling - falling again
Cos I wan to take
The pleasure with the pain pain pain pain pain pain pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-in
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
Falling and laugh - ing
The lyrics of Orange Juice's song Falling and Laughing depict a narrator who is, perhaps, a bit naive in matters of the heart. The opening lines suggest that the singer is aware of how they may be perceived by others, but they only see what they want to see in the person they are singing to. They avoid eye contact because they are hoping to see the other person's smile. The chorus suggests that the two of them have different ideas about what should be done with their emotions. The other person may believe that they should build a city of tears, but the singer only finds solace in their own tears. They resist the idea of building this city of tears because it does not satisfy the real need of their heart.
The repeated line "falling and laughing" could be interpreted in a few ways. It could mean that the singer is able to laugh at themselves for their naivety and the pain they feel from the one-sided relationship. It could also mean that they are falling for this person and laughing through the pain of unrequited love. Additionally, the line "falling again cos I want to take the pleasure with the pain" suggests that the singer is perhaps enjoying the agony of their situation in a masochistic way.
Line by Line Meaning
You may think me very naive
I am aware that you may perceive me as gullible and inexperienced
Taken as true
Assuming that my perspective is factual
I only see what I want to see
I choose to focus solely on the things that bring me joy
Avoid eye contact at all costs
I try to refrain from engaging in any interaction with you
What can I do
I am not sure of what actions to take
To see your fine teeth smiling at me
To experience the pleasure of seeing your beautiful smile directed towards me
You might say
It is possible that you believe
That we should build a city of tears
That our collective sadness is significant enough to construct an entire city
All I'm saying
My point is
Is I'm alone and consequently
I am by myself, and as a result
Only my tears satisfy the real need of my heart
Crying is the only way I can fulfill my emotional needs
I resist
Although I am struggling, I am determined to keep going
You say that there's a thousand like you
You claim that there are many people just like you
Maybe that's true
Perhaps that is accurate
I fell or you and nobody else
I have fallen for you and nobody else
So I'm standing here so lonely
As a result, I am standing here feeling isolated and lonely
But learn to laugh at myself
I choose to find humor in my situation and not take myself too seriously
Fall falling falling again
I am falling again
Cos I want to take the pleasure with the pa-in
Because I want to experience both pleasure and pain
Cos I wan to take
Because I want to experience
The pleasure with the pain pain pain pain pain pain pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-in
Both the enjoyable and painful aspects of life
Falling and laughing
I am falling while also finding humor in the situation
Falling and laughing
I am falling while also finding humor in the situation
Falling and laughing
I am falling while also finding humor in the situation
Falling and laugh - ing
I am falling while simultaneously laughing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EDWYN STEPHEN COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@comradekonnen1107
The lyrics;
You must think me very naive
Taken as true
I only see what I want to see
Avoid eye contact at all costs
What can I do
To see your fine teeth smiling at me
I’m not saying
That we should build a city of tears
All I'm saying
Is I'm alone and consequently
Only my dreams satisfy the need of my heart
I resist
You say that there's a thousand like you
Maybe that's true
I fell for you and nobody else
So I'm standing here so lonesome
What can i do
But learn to laugh at myself
I’m not saying
That we should build a city of tears
All I'm saying
Is I'm alone and consequently
Only my dreams satisfy the real need of my heart
I resist
I’m not saying
That we should build a city of tears
All I’m saying
Is I'm alone...
Fall falling falling again
'Cos I want to take the pleasure with the pa-in
Fall falling falling in love with you
Cos I want to take
The pleasure with the pain pain pain pain pain pain pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-in
Fall falling
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
Falling and laugh - ing
@smashquin
Don't mind me, I only want the lyrics to sing it when I shower 😬
You may think me very naive
Taken as true
I only see what I want to see
Avoid eye contact at all costs
What can I do
To see your fine teeth smiling at me
You might say
That we should build a city of tears
All I'm saying
Is I'm alone and consequently
Only my tears satisfy
The real need of my heart
I resist
You say that there's a thousand like you
Maybe that's true
I fell or you and nobody else
So I'm standing here so lonely
What can I do
But learn to laugh at myself
You might say
That we should build a city of tears
All I'm saying
Is I'm alone and consequently
Only my tears satisfy
The real need of my heart
I resist
Fall falling falling again
'Cause I want to take
The pleasure with the pa-in
Fall falling falling again
'Cause I wan to take
The pleasure with the pain
Pain pain pain pain pain
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-in
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
Falling and laughing
@archiet2205
Edwyn achieved what life is really all about. Pursuing your passion and doing it well…
@honeynutcheerios1297
I LOVE THIS SONG IT FEELS LIKE SUMMER
@bedsitter1982
The fresh sound of young Scotland! Still fresh after 25 years.
@leonardotube
Still fresh after 40(!) years.
@manoutoftime9057
@@leonardotube more than that tbf.
@soulmuzak9120
God I love orange juice. the band is good too
@doctornobody611
End me
@addie7983
doctor nobody Drink your orange juice doc
@theoscheer2053
i laffed
@gardensfourlife
.