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
Then You Turn Away
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not when you're at your best
Or talk about the weather
I couldn't pass the test
So many things I do
So many things I say
Give you the wrong idea
So many things I say
Just make a fool of me
(And) then you turn away
Then you turn away.
I couldn't help but call you
I waited almost all the week
I didn't want to hear you
Laughing aloud at me
There's people saying that it's obvious
That I'm wasting my time on you
There's people saying that it's obvious
That I've fallen in love -
It's not true, (it's) not true, (it's) not true...
In the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's song "Then You Turn Away," the singer expresses his reluctance to interact with the person he is singing about when she is at her best. He avoids discussing the mundane subject of the weather because he starts to doubt his ability to pass the "test," which he might have set for himself. Throughout the song, there is an underlying sense of hesitancy and apprehension, as the singer seems to be at the mercy of his insecurities, which drive him away from the reality of the situation. He also acknowledges that he does many things and says many things that give her the wrong impression and, in turn, makes him appear foolish. In this sense, "Then You Turn Away" can be seen as a song about self-doubt and insecurity derailing the hope for a romantic relationship that could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't want to see you
I didn't feel emotionally capable of seeing you
Not when you're at your best
I didn't want to see you doing well, happy or thriving
Or talk about the weather
I didn't want to make awkward conversation for the sake of it
I couldn't pass the test
I wasn't able to live up to the expectations I thought you had for me
So many things I do
I act in various ways
So many things I say
I communicate in various ways
Give you the wrong idea
I unintentionally mislead you
So many things I do
I act in various ways
So many things I say
I communicate in various ways
Just make a fool of me
I embarrass myself and look foolish
(And) then you turn away
After everything I do/say, you end up ignoring or rejecting me
Then you turn away.
You choose to distance yourself from me, not giving me a chance
I couldn't help but call you
I couldn't resist reaching out to you
I waited almost all the week
I anxiously waited for days to hear from you
I didn't want to hear you
I was afraid of hearing how you really felt about me
Laughing aloud at me
I envisioned you finding my attempts at connection amusing or foolish
There's people saying that it's obvious
Others are judging me and my actions
That I'm wasting my time on you
They believe my feelings for you are not reciprocated
There's people saying that it's obvious
Others are judging me and my actions
That I've fallen in love -
They believe my emotions for you are deep and genuine
It's not true, (it's) not true, (it's) not true...
I deny the truth of what others are saying, or perhaps, I am trying to convince myself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW MC CLUSKEY, LLOYD MASSETT, LLOYD MASSETT 15%, STUART KERSHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@josealbertohernandezperedo5271
I didn't want to see you
Not when you're at your best
Or talk about the weather
I couldn't pass the test
So many things I do
So many things I say
Give you the wrong idea
So many things I do
So many things I say
Just make a fool of me
then you turn away
Then you turn away.
I couldn't help but call you
I waited almost all the week
I didn't want to hear you
Laughing aloud at me
So many things I do
So many things I say
Give you the wrong idea
So many things I do
So many things I say
Just make a fool of me
then you turn away
Then you turn away.
There's people saying that it's obvious
That I'm wasting my time on you
There's people saying that it's obvious
That I've fallen in love -
It's not true, (it's) not true, (it's) not true...
@thabobopape1487
I love this song. Wouldn’t have known it if it weren’t for my dad. One of his absolute favorites. I can still see him singing and dancing in the living to OMD❤🥺🕊😭
My his soul continue to Rest In Peace
@warrenfuchs2304
Great song keep those memories alive
@ES-aussie68
He sounds fun 🫶
@fatcat702
Such an underrated song. The synthesizer and bass are beautiful. How I love OMD.
@ES-aussie68
Love the 80's/90's I feel I'm the lucky generation that grew up with some pretty amazing music.
@darrenwilson9174
Instant 80s attraction
@GosiaKK86NL
I have the same feeling! Blessed
@ArshadKhan-kj8wg
I too, 80s my biz. And growing up to the greatest 80 songs of our time. Wow, I'm privileged to experience such timeline.
@warrenfuchs2304
I'm sure they made a slightly faster version than this originally
@ES-aussie68
@@warrenfuchs2304 I'd be interested in hearing that version. 😀