Considering the lengthy amount of time between the Blue Nile's first three albums, the work ethic of Buchanan is often questioned. However, his work with the Blue Nile has always been critically praised, no matter how long it took to hear them. In 1980, Buchanan formed the Blue Nile, named after Alan Moorehead's 1962 book, with fellow Glasgow University graduates Robert Bell (bass) and Paul Joseph Moore (keyboards).
The group released its debut LP, "A Walk Across the Rooftops", in 1984. The album's lush, atmospheric pop was lauded in the U.K.; Buchanan's velvety voice recalled Bryan Ferry's silky croon and Scott Walker's melancholy baritone. While "A Walk Across the Rooftops" earned the Blue Nile flattering reviews, the band's modest image and refusal to perform live gave them anonymity, allowing their music to take prominence; Buchanan once wasn't even recognized by friends in a bar to be a member of the group. After "A Walk Across the Rooftops", the Blue Nile scored the film "Goven Ghost Story" and recorded the theme music for "Halfway to Paradise".
Five years passed before the Blue Nile released their second album, "Hats". In 1996, the band's third album, "Peace at Last", was a Top 20 hit in the U.K.
After the longest period between albums, eight years, the band released "High" in 2004. It reached number 10 on the UK Album Chart, a record high for the band. Although acoustic guitar is still present on some tracks, the overall musical sound is more reminiscent of "Hats".
In May 2012 Buchanan released his debut solo album "Mid Air", through his own Newsroom Records.
After Dark
Paul Buchanan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And You learn
How to watch
Your bridges burn
Didn't I tell You
Everything I wanted?
How I loved You
Most of all
Evening falls
On me now
A carousel
On empty ground
Didn't I tell You
Everything You wanted?
That I loved You
And I love You
After dark
Yeah I love You
And I know You
I was always
Thinking of You
How I love You
When I love You
After dark?
The lyrics of Paul Buchanan’s song “After Dark” revolve around the themes of love, loss, and reminiscence. The opening lines, “Life goes by and you learn how to watch your bridges burn,” introduce the idea that as one grows older, they become more accustomed to experiencing heartbreak and disappointment in personal relationships.
The second verse echoes this sentiment, as the singer reflects on a past love and regrets not expressing their feelings more explicitly, asking, “Didn’t I tell you everything I wanted? How I loved you when I loved you most of all.” Buchanan’s use of repetition in the chorus, “That I loved you and I love you after dark,” further emphasizes the idea that the true depth of one’s feelings may only become apparent once the sun has set and the distractions of daily life have faded away.
The final verse brings the focus back to the singer’s unrequited love, as they profess, “I was always thinking of you, how I love you when I love you after dark.” Overall, “After Dark” communicates a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost love while acknowledging the inevitability of heartbreak in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Life goes by
Time passes quickly and without much warning
And You learn
Through the passage of time, you gain knowledge and experience in life
How to watch
You have developed the skill to observe and monitor situations
Your bridges burn
As you navigate life, you sometimes harm relationships or connections with others
Didn't I tell You
I have communicated with you before about this matter
Everything I wanted?
I expressed my desires and needs to you
How I loved You
My feelings for you were intense and genuine
When I loved You
At some point in the past, I loved you deeply
Most of all
Above everything else, my love for you was the most important thing
Evening falls
Nighttime has arrived
On me now
I am currently experiencing this
A carousel
A spinning ride with up and down motions
On empty ground
This ride is happening in an area that is devoid of life or activity
That I loved You
I cared for you deeply
And I love You
My feelings for you have not faded with time
After dark
Specifically, my love for you remains strong during the nighttime hours
Yeah I love You
I have strong feelings of affection for you
And I know You
I have a deep understanding of who you are as a person
I was always
In the past, I consistently felt a certain way
Thinking of You
You were often on my mind and I reflected on our relationship
How I love You
My feelings of love for you were intense and emotional
When I love You
At points in my life, my love for you was extremely strong
After dark?
Does my love for you remain strong during the nighttime hours?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Gerard Buchanan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind