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
Felicity
Orange Juice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they took it
Away from here
Honesty that could not have been too much more than me
One must be strong
For without the weather
Will change but within remain
We strive for happiness, I guess
When you lay it on the ground
Felicity, I guess so
Now I'm in a stupor
Behind the scenes which say
This way is OK
The clarity of my eyes
Shines both in memories of past victories
Fine scenes all shining white, shining white
Felicity, I guess so
Take me to the bridge now
Happiness
Oh oh happiness
Oh oh happiness
This is the sound of happiness
The song Felicity by Orange Juice is a poignant and thoughtful piece that delves into themes of loss and change. The opening lyrics, "I objected when they took it away from here", set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer laments the loss of something, although it is not clear what that thing is. The next lines, "Honesty that could not have been too much more than me, one must be strong" suggest that whatever was lost was something deeply personal to the singer. They may be struggling to come to terms with this loss and must find inner strength to cope.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more metaphorical, with references to the weather changing and things remaining unchanged within. The singer muses on the things we strive for in life and how they relate to happiness. The repeated refrain of "Felicity, I guess so" perhaps indicates a sense of resignation. Despite the ambiguity of the lyrics, there is a sense of comfort in the melody and the chorus. The final lines, "This is the sound of happiness", leave the listener with a feeling of optimism.
Overall, Felicity is a beautiful and nostalgic song that speaks to the human experience of loss and change. It is a reminder that life is not always easy, but that we can find happiness in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
I objected
I had an objection
When they took it
When they removed something
Away from here
From our vicinity
Honesty that could not have been too much more than me
I was very honest
One must be strong
We need to be resilient
For without the weather
Adverse conditions can discourage us
Will change but within remain
External factors may alter but we still feel the same
Unchanged the things with which
The things that bring us happiness stay the same
We strive for happiness, I guess
We all seek happiness, I suppose
When you lay it on the ground
When you are honest and straightforward about things
Felicity, I guess so
I suppose that's what Felicity means
Now I'm in a stupor
I'm in a daze
Behind the scenes which say
There are things going on that are not apparent
This way is OK
It's alright to proceed this way
The clarity of my eyes
My perspective is clear
Shines both in memories of past victories
I take pride in past successes
Fine scenes all shining white, shining white
Beautiful memories with a shine of purity and clarity
Felicity, I guess so
I suppose that's what Felicity means
Take me to the bridge now
Move me to the next part
Happiness
Joy
Oh oh happiness
Exclaiming joy
Oh oh happiness
Exclaiming joy
This is the sound of happiness
This is what joy feels like
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnnio99
This is the sound of HAPPINESS!!!
@femme-mirage
Sound of young beautiful Scotland!
@neilturtell
Played every few minutes on the Jukebox in the Leicester Uni union refectory for months - must have made the Union a fortune.
@tagtv
First time I've heard this since the '80s. I bought it as a new release, as a child, in '82. Thankfully, it still sounds fantastic.
@kennethmcclure5629
One of the best of new wave of scottish indie music, rock on edwyn!!
@80schick1967
"Now I'm in a stupor, behind the scenes, which say this way is, OK. The clarity of my eyes, shines forth in memories of past victories, fine scenes of...shining white, shining white... " I love the fragility and gaucheness of Edwin's delivery, GORGEOUS!
@theegyptianfringe8074
Sheer brilliance
@diskochimp
50p from Woolworth's, & it changed my life!
@3070Gordo
I knew a Felicity once, twenty years ago now, beautiful, funny, and the one that got away. Ah well, I'm happy, she's happy, it all worked out in the end. :)
@vversatile27
Happiness, oh oh happiness, this is the sound of happiness