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
Big Town
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the crest of a wave
Throwing money at strangers
Taking candy from babes
Shaking hands with the big top (?)
As the rain came down
I thought it would not stop
Sending letters to Paris
Taking pictures from the top.
There's a lot of things
For you to do...
There's a lot of dreams
That won't come true.
I grew up in a big town
The lessons were not hard to learn.
If you want them to love you,
Then you must not love them, in return.
Spent the night at a party
Where I drank so much
I fell under your spell...
Eight o'clock in the morning
And the daylight makes me
Look and feel like hell.
When you live in a big town
There are sights and sounds
That make you
Want to cry...
The lyrics to OMD's "Big Town" explore the complexities of urban living through a series of disconnected images and observations. The opening lines set the scene: the singer has discovered a big town on the crest of a wave, a place of energy and opportunity where people are throwing money at strangers and taking candy from babes. Here, the singer shakes hands with the big top, a metaphor for the powerful and influential people who run the city. But despite the excitement and opportunity, the rain comes down and the singer fears it will never stop. This speaks to the sense of unease and unpredictability that can come with city life.
The lyrics then shift to a more personal perspective, as the singer reminisces about growing up in a big town and learning the lessons needed to navigate its social dynamics. The singer points out the paradox of trying to gain acceptance in a place where love must be withheld in order to be valued. The song ends with a description of a wild night of partying that leaves the singer feeling like hell in the light of morning. The final lines acknowledge that living in a big town can be overwhelming and heartbreaking, despite its allure.
Line by Line Meaning
I discovered a big town
I found myself in a large, busy city.
On the crest of a wave
The city was thriving and full of energy.
Throwing money at strangers
People in the city were careless with their money and prone to reckless spending.
Taking candy from babes
Some people in the city are unscrupulous and take advantage of vulnerable individuals.
Shaking hands with the big top (?)
Interacting with powerful people in high positions was common in the city.
As the rain came down
It rained often in the city.
I thought it would not stop
The weather patterns were unpredictable and could be hard to manage.
Sending letters to Paris
Communicating with faraway places was possible from the city.
From the Empire State
The city specifically referred to New York, which is known for its skyline and the building known as the Empire State Building.
Taking pictures from the top.
Views from the top of buildings in the city were highly sought after and represented the prestige and influence of the city.
There's a lot of things
For you to do...
The city was full of exciting opportunities, activities, and events.
There's a lot of dreams
That won't come true.
While there were many opportunities in the city, not everyone was able to achieve their dreams or ambitions.
I grew up in a big town
The singer was from a city and had experiences unique to urban living.
The lessons were not hard to learn.
The city taught the singer valuable lessons that were easy to understand and internalize.
If you want them to love you,
The singer recognized that in the city, people could be fickle and superficial.
Then you must not love them, in return.
To truly succeed in the city, the artist believed that it was necessary to be detached and not genuinely care about others.
Spent the night at a party
Where I drank so much
I fell under your spell...
The artist had a night of excessive partying and may have been influenced by someone they met there.
Eight o'clock in the morning
And the daylight makes me
Look and feel like hell.
The morning after the partying, the singer felt terrible and the responsibilities of the city were taking a toll on their appearance and mood.
When you live in a big town
There are sights and sounds
That make you
Want to cry...
Despite the opportunities and excitement in the city, the environmental factors and emotional stress could be overwhelming and cause distress for some people.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW MC CLUSKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind