The group was founded in 1978 by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, after they had been involved in several bands, including The Id. Later drummer Malcolm Holmes and saxophonist Martin Cooper joined. McCluskey and Humphreys formed the core of the outfit until 1989, when the group split in two. McCluskey retained the name and continued to record and tour as OMD with a new line-up until 1996, while Humphreys, Holmes, and Cooper formed "The Listening Pool".
According to Songfacts, Enola Gay was the first of 7 Top 10 UK singles for the group; their only US hit was If You Leave, which was written for the 1985 movie Pretty In Pink.
In late December 2005, OMD's official website announced a 2006 reformation, for both live performances and a new album, with rehearsals beginning in summer 2006. The line up features the original 1980's members (Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper). The "Architecture & Morality" tour for late 2006 was postponed until the beginning of 2007.
The tour finally took place in the spring of 2007 featuring "Architecture & Morality" played in its entirety plus a 'greatest hits' set, although each concert famously ended with stirring rendition of B side/album track and fan favourite "The Romance of the Telescope".
Plans are now ahead for the release of a documentary DVD (since released and available here), a live DVD of the 2007 tour (release postponed until 2008) and a new studio album released in 2010, entitled "History of Modern".
The group's 12th studio album, English Electric, was released on 5 April 2013. The group's 13th studio album, The Punishment Of Luxury, was released on 1 September 2017. The group's 14th studio album, Bauhaus Staircase, was released on 27 October 2023.
Official OMD website: http://www.omd.uk.com
Live and Die
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come over to me and discover
I want to be near you
And you need to be far away
You always seem to make me feel at home
Baby..
Before I go people lie
You make me want to cry
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever live and die
I look at all of the people
Doing it over and over
You're never getting older
I wish that you could be here
I hope that you and I
Made the same mistakes
Baby..
Before I go
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
You make me want to cry
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever live and die
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
You make me want to cry
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever live and die
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
You make me want to cry
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever, forever live and die
"Forever Live and Die" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is a melancholic song that expresses the feeling of being lost and uncertain about relationships. The first verse conveys the conflicted emotions of someone who is torn between the desire to be with someone and the realization that they need space. The use of the contrast between "near" and "far away" creates a sense of distance and longing. The second verse seems to reflect on the monotony and lack of excitement in life, and how it can make people feel like they are stuck in a cycle. The chorus repeats the phrase "I never know why" several times, emphasizing the feeling of confusion and the inability to understand one's own emotions. The final line "Forever live and die" suggests that these feelings are persistent and that they contribute to a sense of despair.
Overall, "Forever Live and Die" is a poignant and introspective look at relationships and the emotional complexities that come with them. It highlights the difficulty of understanding one's own feelings and the sense of loneliness that can come from seeking love and connection while feeling lost and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
I never wanted another
I never desired another person, I only want you
Come over to me and discover
Come to me and explore our affection
I want to be near you
I desire to be close to you
And you need to be far away
But you require distance
You always seem to make me feel at home
You have a presence that makes me feel comfortable
Baby..Before I go people lie
But before I leave, I must admit that in this world, people are dishonest
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
I cannot understand, I don't comprehend why
You make me want to cry
You bring me to tears with your actions or words
Forever live and die
We're doomed to a cycle of living and dying, without solutions to these problems
I look at all of the people
I see all these people
Doing it over and over
Repeating the same mistakes time and again
You're never getting older
They are not becoming wiser or learning from experiences, but stuck in a loop
I wish that you could be here
I desire your presence
I hope that you and I made the same mistakes
I pray that we shared the same errors, and know it would be fine if we made them again
Baby..Before I go
Darling, before I leave
Forever live and die
We continue to exist and wither away endlessly
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
I cannot decipher or reason out why
You make me want to cry
You bring me to tears with your actions or words
Forever live and die
We're doomed to a cycle of living and dying, without solutions to these problems
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
I cannot understand or fathom why
You make me want to cry
You bring me to tears with your actions or words
Forever live and die
We continue to exist and wither away endlessly
I never know, I never know, I never know, I never know why
I cannot decipher or reason out why
You make me want to cry
Your actions or words bring me to tears every time
Forever, forever live and die
We are consigned to live and die indefinitely, without a solution to all these nonsense.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Graham Weir, Neil Weir, Paul Humphreys
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@maurinoana
I never wanted another
Come over to me and discover
How I want to be near you
And you need to be far away
You always seem to make me feel at home
Hey you
People like
I never know, I never know, I never know why
You make me wanna cry
I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever live and die
I look at all of the people
Doing it over and over
You never get any older
I wish that you could be here
I look at you and I
Make the same mistakes
Hey you
People like
I never know, I never know, I never know why
You make me wanna cry
I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever Live and Die
I never know, I never know, I never know why
You make me wanna cry
I never know, I never know, I never know why
Forever Live and Die
@ericbear2514
Hopefully there's still plenty of people still listening to this amazing song in 2023!
@zulmamabelgonzalez4300
En este momento
@burglb.1792
❤ soeben am lauschen dieser schönen Klänge
@iblegal
Brings back some great memories
@ilovesuisse1
Yes me! I play this song in my car a lot.
@50Swifty
Here!! 😅
@Stevie163
It’s 2024 and I’m still listening to this amazing song
@elvirac-nk3hx
Me too! ❤
@marionkennedy9651
AND ME!!!!!❤
@rachelwise5193
I want to find a time machine and go back to this time and never ever leave!!