Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (often abbreviated to OMD) are a synthpop… Read Full Bio ↴Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (often abbreviated to OMD) are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral, United Kingdom.

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

The Messerschmitt Twins
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My mind is made up
I'm changing faster
Your mind is made up
Avoiding worries
My old ? start to fade away
Forget the talking
Forget the actions
Quiet voices and all that happen

In just one of hour
You could knock me down
Twos a one now
And ones a four now
No longer giving
No longer taking
You these ways I try
Never seem to fail
When you're asking
You sound like telling
Despite the questions
You're not receiving
I can't explain
Why to disappear
Your mind is made up
The time is taken
You reach decisions
We can't avoid them
There's no success
No matter what we do
The two are ones now
And ones a four
No longer giving
No longer taking
These ways I've tried
You never seem to fail

These ways I've tried
You never seem to fail
These ways I've tried
You never seem to fail
These ways I've tried

Overall Meaning

The Messerschmitt Twins by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark is a song with ambiguous lyrics, open to interpretation from the listeners. The song starts with the singer stating that his mind is made up, and he is changing faster. He talks about how the other person's mind is also made up and is avoiding worries. The singer talks about how he is leaving his old ways behind and letting go of talking and actions. He mentions quiet voices and all that happens in just one hour. The lyrics suggest a sense of urgency and time running out.

The singer talks about how the other person's questions sound like telling, and despite the questions, they are not receiving any answers. The lyrics suggest a breakdown in communication and a lack of understanding between the two individuals. The singer also mentions that no matter what they do, there is no success, and two individuals are now one. The final lines of the song repeat the phrase "these ways I've tried, you never seem to fail," suggesting that the singer has been unsuccessful in trying to bridge the gap and understand the other person.

Overall, the Messerschmitt Twins is a thought-provoking song that talks about the breakdown of communication, changing ways, and the inability to understand the other person.

Line by Line Meaning

My mind is made up
I have already made a decision

I'm changing faster
I am growing and evolving quickly

Your mind is made up
You have already made a decision

Avoiding worries
You are trying to ignore problems

My old ? start to fade away
My past habits are disappearing

Forget the talking
Stop focusing on words

Forget the actions
Stop focusing on actions

Quiet voices and all that happen
Everything that occurs in silence

In just one of hour
Within a short amount of time

You could knock me down
You have the power to hurt me emotionally

Twos a one now
Two have become one