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
Tender Object
Orange Juice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick inside and eyes to the ground
Looking for a sign to set me free
In my chic cold misery
Step we gaily, on we go
Heel to heel and toe to toe
Lock me away, I need to unwind
From your window?
Listen, remembering with deep regret
How we used to dance in a discoteque
Ask me why I say dance to forget
My fall from grace, my losing face
These are the tears, the tears I can't hide
The pride inside, I can't deny
The hurt, the pain, all thrown out
My window
I trusted you
Listen I step
Down to the arcade
And I see my reflection in the window
And I feign affection for that window
I could be kidding you on
I could be kidding you on and on...
I step down to the arcade
And I see my reflection in the window
Come step down to the arcade
And we'll laugh at our reflections in the window-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
In Orange Juice's song "Tender Object", the singer is feeling lost and stuck in a cycle of misery. They are searching for some sign or release, but seem unable to escape their own negative emotions. The first stanza describes their internal struggle as they walk around, feeling sick and looking for a way out. The use of the word "chic" suggests that this may be a societal pressure or expectation that they are struggling to meet. The next two lines are somewhat contradictory, as they describe a group of people walking together, but also being locked away and needing to unwind. This could represent the singer's desire to be part of a community, but also a fear of being confined or restricted by them. The final line of the first stanza is directed towards a specific person, perhaps someone the singer trusted or relied on for support.
The second stanza begins with a reference to memories of dancing in a discotheque, which could represent happier times or a sense of freedom. However, the singer then explains that they dance to forget their "fall from grace" and "losing face". This suggests that they are dealing with feelings of shame or failure, and are trying to escape them through dancing. The final lines of the second stanza echo the first, with the phrase "my window" being repeated. This could symbolize a barrier or isolation from the outside world.
In the final section of the song, the singer steps down to an arcade and sees their reflection in a window. They appear to be making light of their situation by feigning affection for the window and laughing at their reflection. This could represent a coping mechanism or a way to avoid confronting their problems directly. Throughout the song, there is a sense of yearning for something - whether it be freedom, connection, or self-acceptance - but the singer seems unsure of how to achieve it.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I go around and around
I am aimlessly walking around in circles, feeling sick and dejected, with my gaze fixed on the ground, searching for some kind of sign that can liberate me from my chic yet hopeless and gloomy existence.
Step we gaily, on we go, Heel to heel and toe to toe
We walk merrily, one foot in front of the other, in lockstep with one another, but in reality, we are trapped inside our own minds, hidden away from the world.
Lock me away, I need to unwind, Did you ever hear anything so unkind From your window?
Sometimes, I just want to be left alone to relax, but the world can be so cruel and unsympathetic, as if it takes pleasure in draining people. Can you hear me crying out for help through your window?
Listen, remembering with deep regret How we used to dance in a discoteque Ask me why I say dance to forget My fall from grace, my losing face
Taking trips down memory lane, I recall with great longing how we used to go out, dance and have a good time in our young adult days. However, these memories remind me of the mistakes and shortcomings I've made since then and how far away I am from that time in my life.
These are the tears, the tears I can't hide The pride inside, I can't deny The hurt, the pain, all thrown out My window
These tears of mine signify emotions that even I cannot contain, despite the inherent pride I hold within. The hurt and pain I feel intensifies with time, and I can't keep them bottled up anymore, so I just let them all pour out through my window.
I trusted you
My trust in you is greatly misplaced, and now that the truth has come to light, it's hard to look at things the same way, knowing that everything I shared with you wasn't kept in confidence.
Listen I step Down to the arcade And I see my reflection in the window And I feign affection for that window
I take a few steps to the arcade and notice my reflection in the window. I try to show love for that glass, without even believing it myself, hoping it reflects back at me.
I could be kidding you on I could be kidding you on and on...
I could keep on pretending, deceiving you, and spieling the same lie in a loop without once stopping.
Come step down to the arcade And we'll laugh at our reflections in the window-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa
Let's go down to the arcade and have a hearty laugh at our reflections in the windows together. It'll remind us that life takes a heavy toll on everyone, and we need to learn to let things go and smile more often.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EDWYN STEPHEN COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind