Paul Heaton formed The Housemartins in the early 1980s. The Housemartins released a number of singles and two studio albums, London 0 Hull 4 and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. Their most famous hit was an a-capella version of the Isley Brothers' Caravan of Love, which was a Christmas number one in the UK.
In 1988, Paul Heaton formed The Beautiful South from the ashes of The Housemartins. The Beautiful South released two top ten singles, Song for Whoever and You Keep It All In, which featured Irish singer Briana Corrigan on vocals. In 1989, the band released an album "Welcome to the Beautiful South" by which time Corrigan had joined the band as a full time member. The band's biggest success to date is the release of the single "A Little Time" in 1991. It reached number 1 on the charts. In 1993 the band released their third album, "0898 Beautiful South".
In 1994, Briana Corrigan left the band and a new female vocalist, Jacqui Abbott, was brought in. During the recording of the band's fourth album "Miaow", Heaton was increasingly irritated with the band and at one time told them to get their act together or he would leave. "Miaow" is some of Heaton's most depressing songwriting (only their fifth studio album, "Blue Is The Colour", is considered sadder). Heaton was going through a break-up with his girlfriend and other problems at the time. After the release of Miaow's third single, "Prettiest Eyes", the record company was worried about the band's sales, so they proposed a greatest hits release to save the band. Heaton hated the idea as he was trying to keep the band as far away from mainstream as possible, but nevertheless, "Carry on up the Charts" was released in December 1994 and it sold overwhelmingly, going platinum and becoming one of the biggest selling albums of all time in the UK.
The band returned to form a number one album, "Blue Is the Colour". Their sixth album, "Quench", also hit the top spot. In 2000, after the release of "Painting It Red", Jacqui Abbott left the band to care for her son. A second compilation album, "Solid Bronze", was released and two more studio albums with a new female vocalist, Alison Wheeler. The first, Gaze, became the first Beautiful South album to fail to reach the top 10, and the band were then dropped by Mercury Records.
The following year (2004), newly signed to Sony, they released the curiously named covers album Goldiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs, an eclectic album that featured the Beautiful South's unique take on a wide variety of tracks by the like of ELO, Blue Öyster Cult, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, S Club 7, and Rufus Wainwright. Again, despite considerable publicity and promotional TV appearances, the album failed to make the top 10.
2006 saw the release of yet another album of new material, "Superbi." Reviews were generally positive. "Superbi" has more of an alt-country sound (plenty of slide guitar, for example) than previous Beautiful South releases. The album maintains the band's trademark eccentricity, however, featuring a dobro on one song.
On the ITV documentary music series Faith & Music screened 29th October 2006, Paul talks openly and honestly about his atheism and his battle with alcoholism.
Heaton is the father of two daughters, although he has never married.
www.paulheatonmusic.co.uk
Lust
Paul Heaton Lyrics
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The one that would drown out the screams
Blowing so strongly along with the rain
They could pin back a man and his dreams
The stoops and the comers whispered one word
It cut like the wind to your face
Sharper than nail, louder than bomb
When patrol car approached the same sex couple
They were kissing in their usual spot
When the feds whispered to the younger of the two
'There's something here you may have forgot'
Lust was just a wind that battered every neighbourhood
Mistrust was just a gale right behind
Carried on the storm of collusion and confusion
Was the dust that turned the seeing to the blind
'Take this', he said, as he passed him the gun
'And make sure you keep it well placed'
'The man right here who calls himself your lover
Is also working for the eighth'
Just an hour on. paranoia's come and gone
And the younger man's crying. 'what a waste'
'I had to pull the trigger, blow the brains out of my lover
'Cause they said that he was working for the eighth'
When patrol car approached the same sex couple
They were kissing in their usual spot
When the feds whispered to the younger of the two
'There's something here you may have forgot'
Lust was just a wind that battered every neighbourhood
Mistrust was just a gale right behind
Carried on the storm of collusion and confusion
Was the dust that turned the seeing to the blind
The lyrics of Paul Heaton's song "Lust" paint a bleak and ominous picture of a southside neighborhood where a sense of fear and betrayal hangs heavy in the air. The setting is described as silent, with only the sound of the wind drowning out the screams, creating an eerie atmosphere. The wind is portrayed as a force that can overwhelm and shatter a person's dreams, emphasizing the harsh reality of the environment.
The lyrics introduce the concept of a mysterious and dangerous entity referred to as "the eighth," a word that carries a chilling weight and seems to instill fear in those who hear it. This unseen presence is likened to a sharp nail or a loud bomb, signifying its destructive power and the fear it evokes. It symbolizes a pervasive threat that looms over the community, causing paranoia and suspicion to run rampant.
The narrative unfolds with a same-sex couple being confronted by law enforcement, who ominously suggest that one of them may be involved with the enigmatic "eighth." The situation quickly escalates as a gun is introduced, leading to a moment of tragic betrayal and violence. The lyrics highlight the devastating consequences of mistrust and deception, culminating in a heartbreaking revelation that leads to irreversible actions and profound sorrow.
Through vivid imagery and poignant storytelling, the song delves into themes of betrayal, paranoia, and the destructive impact of secrets and suspicion. The repeated references to lust, mistrust, collusion, and confusion underscore the insidious nature of these forces, which ultimately cloud judgment and lead to tragic outcomes. The lyrics serve as a poignant commentary on the erosion of trust and the consequences of succumbing to fear and deception in a world fraught with danger and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
The southside was silent except for the wind
In a quiet neighborhood, only the wind could be heard, drowning out any other noise.
Blowing so strongly along with the rain
The wind was forceful, almost overpowering, accompanying the rain.
They could pin back a man and his dreams
The wind was so intense it could hold back a person and crush their aspirations.
The stoops and the comers whispered one word
People in the neighborhood were talking quietly about something significant.
It cut like the wind to your face
The word spoken was hurtful and impactful, just like a sharp gust of wind to the face.
Sharper than nail, louder than bomb
The impact of the word was more piercing than a nail and louder than an explosion.
A word only known as the eighth
The word had a powerful meaning that was only understood by a select few, known as 'the eighth.'
Carried on the storm of collusion and confusion
The chaos and deceit surrounding the situation were like a storm, sweeping through and causing uncertainty.
Was the dust that turned the seeing to the blind
The lies and betrayal clouded people's judgment and obscured the truth, making them blind to reality.
'There's something here you may have forgot'
The authorities were hinting to the man that there was important information he might have overlooked.
'Cause they said that he was working for the eighth'
The man felt compelled to take drastic action against his lover because he believed false information that he was involved with the secretive group 'the eighth.'
'what a waste'
The man regretted his actions and felt sorrow for the loss that resulted from his mistaken belief.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Paul Heaton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Graham Champken
Love it!
Marion Stippe
Great Song and great singer
Rhyme Assassin
This is dope