Growing up with an older brother Mark and a younger sister Joanne, Young first went to work at the Vauxhall Motors factory and in his spare time played in several bands as bass guitarist. The first group for which he became lead singer was Kat Kool & The Kool Kats. In the late 1970s he joined the Streetband, who had one Top 20 hit in the UK, with the humorous, novelty track "Toast", reaching No. 18 in November 1978.
In December 1979 the Streetband broke up and Young formed the Q-Tips, who established their name by playing live and supporting The Who on their 1982 tour but had no chart hits in the UK, although their single "Letter Song" did enjoy minor success in mainland Europe.
The Q-Tips went their separate ways in 1982, and Young was signed by CBS Records as a solo performer, uniting the fields of New Wave and Soul. His first two singles, "Iron Out the Rough Spots" and a cover of Nicky Thomas’ "Love of the Common People" had no success, but the third, a cover of the Marvin Gaye B-side "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" was No. 1 in the UK singles chart for three weeks in the summer of 1983, the first of fourteen British Top 40 singles.
Similar success followed all over Europe. In the UK, follow-up single "Come Back and Stay" reached No. 4, and a re-release of "Love of the Common People" made it to No. 2, while his début album No Parlez was certified platinum in various countries.
Young's style at the time was a warm, approachable white soul, though he sometimes received playful criticism for his fashion decisions. However, his choice of an Antony Price leather suit for the cover of No Parlez was impractical for stage, where an energetic show dictated more robust clothing.
1984 was a difficult year for Young, as his first heavy promotional and live concert tour of America affected his vocal cords to the extent that he couldn't sing at all for most of the year. He recovered, however, to famously perform the opening line to the Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and his second album, The Secret of Association, secured his future success in the U.S., Japan and Australia. Young's biggest worldwide hit came from this album in 1985 with a version of Daryl Hall & John Oates's album track "Everytime You Go Away". The song reached #1 on the U.S. pop charts.
His third and fourth albums, Between Two Fires, in 1986, and Other Voices, in 1990, were commercial failures (though the latter was a success in the US) but a popular duet, "Senza una donna-Without a Woman", with Italian blues singer Zucchero in 1991 and a corresponding greatest hits album (which also featured duets with Clannad and Joni Mitchell) returned him to success. It also included a new track, 'I’m Only Foolin Myself'. He sung "Radio Ga Ga" with Queen in 1992, at the tribute concert to the recently deceased Freddie Mercury.
In 1992, Paul Young formed Los Pacaminos, a Tex-Max style live band including other top-class musicians such as Jamie Moses and the late Matt Irving. The group have released two albums, with a third scheduled for released in 2024.
In 1993, Young released The Crossing, which produced his first solo Top 20 hit since 'Everytime You Go Away', 'Now I Know What Made Otis Blue'. After this, Young was freed from his contract with CBS. In 1994, he released the covers album Reflections, which was a commercial failure.
He reformed the Q-Tips for a short series of concerts that year in 1993. A year later he suffered significant vocal damage, which has followed him ever since. He contributed to the Vangelis album Voices in 1995. Young sang the British national anthem "God Save the Queen", on the eve of England's Euro '96 semifinal match against Germany.
In 1997, he released his final album to feature original material on EastWest Records. The album featured his final UK Top 40 hit, 'I Wish You Well' and abandoned soul in favour of a more country style somewhat similar to that of Garth Brooks. In 2006 and 2016, he released covers albums, Rock Swings On The Wild Side of Swing and Good Thing, with the former being only released in Germany.
Paul still actively tours solo and with Los Pacaminos and is releasing a new albums both solo and with his group in 2023. He spends his time with his family and following his past time of cooking.
www.paul-young.com/
Bite the Hand That Feeds
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one understands me when I speak my mind
I just get the feeling that I want to let go
Surrounded by the people, I don't want to know
I think, why can't we be alone?
You and I in the moonlight
All the signs peak to overload
And I bite the hand that feeds
Hurt, the heart that leads me
Trying so hard to explain
Feelings deep within me
I got my suspicions, I could never win
?Cause every step is taking me down that road again
I just get the feeling that I want to let go
Surrounded by the people, I don't want to know
I think why can't we be alone?
You and I with the lights down low
All the signs peak to overload
And I can't have my emotion
And I bite the hand that feeds
Hurt, the heart that leads me
Trying so hard to explain
Feelings deep within me
Now I feel the same way about you
Maybe it?s my jealousy
That makes me feel the way I do
And I bite the hand that feeds
Hurt, the heart that leads me
Trying so hard to explain
Feelings deep within me
And I bite the hand that feeds
Hurt, the heart that leads me
Trying so hard to explain
Feelings deep within me
And I bite the hand that feeds me
Hurt, the heart that leads me
And I bite the hand that feeds me
Hurt, the heart that leads me
And I bite the hand that feeds me
Hurt, the heart that leads me
And I bite the hand that feeds me
Hurt, the heart that leads me
And I bite the hand that feeds me
Hurt, the heart that leads me
The lyrics to Paul Young's "Bite The Hand That Feeds" reveal a sense of frustration and alienation from the world around the singer. He laments the lack of communication and understanding between people, feeling that no one comprehends him when he tries to express himself. This makes him want to detach himself from others and be alone, likely feeling overwhelmed and suffocated by the demands and pressures of society. However, he sees the contradiction in this desire, as he is unable to fully express his emotions and is thus unable to connect even in isolation.
The chorus of the song embodies this feeling of frustration and biting back at the things that are meant to nourish and support us. The singer bites the hand that feeds him, hurting the heart that leads him, as he struggles to explain the deep feelings within him. The repeated line "and I bite the hand that feeds me" captures a sense of self-sabotage, as the singer recognizes that his attempts to withdraw and protect himself are also harming him in some way.
Overall, "Bite The Hand That Feeds" speaks to a universal feeling of not fitting in or feeling understood, and the conflicting desire for both connection and solitude. The song seems to suggest that while it's important to protect ourselves and our emotional well-being, withdrawing entirely can also be harmful and preventing us from truly being understood.
Line by Line Meaning
No communication, static on the line
There is a lack of communication and understanding, leading to a feeling of disconnect.
No one understands me when I speak my mind
There is a lack of empathetic listening, making the singer feel unheard and misunderstood.
I just get the feeling that I want to let go
The singer feels trapped and wishes to escape their surroundings.
Surrounded by the people, I don't want to know
The artist is unhappy with their social circle and seeks solitude.
I think, why can't we be alone?
The artist longs for intimacy and privacy with someone they care about.
You and I in the moonlight
The singer imagines a romantic setting with someone special.
All the signs peak to overload
The intense emotions are becoming overwhelming, making it difficult to cope.
And I can't have my emotion
The artist feels stifled and wishes they could express their feelings freely.
And I bite the hand that feeds
The artist acts out against those who try to control or limit them.
Hurt, the heart that leads me
The artist is emotionally wounded by their struggles.
Trying so hard to explain
The singer is making an effort to communicate their feelings.
Feelings deep within me
The artist has intense emotions that are difficult to express.
I got my suspicions, I could never win
The singer feels pessimistic about their chances of success and is distrustful of others.
Cause every step is taking me down that road again
The singer feels stuck in a cycle of disappointment and failure.
You and I with the lights down low
The singer imagines a romantic setting with someone special, with a focus on intimacy and privacy.
Now I feel the same way about you
The artist has strong feelings of emotion towards someone specific.
Maybe it?s my jealousy
The artist recognizes that their emotions may be affected by feelings of jealousy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: MICHAEL PALM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LilZebra
Still sounds fresh, 31 years later.
CoolGoolMusic
how could it not with pino palladino on bass?!
rain73ful
This is great album, by a wonderful singer. I wore out my cassette tape by listening to this album, over and over in the 80's.
DJ Smith
Trying so hard to explain the feeling deep within me.
Lovely
Marcel Gootjes
Thanks for sharing..great album by a great artist!
Eddie Vanderpool
Marcel Gootjes a great escape from some of disco of the same period
Kidd Oldman
I had this album on cassette (remember them?) way back in '85; great memories--and this track is every bit a sizzling today! thanks for letting me enjoy.
Malcolm Hughes
hes touring with hue and cry should be great !
Malcolm Hughes
i had this album way back love this song
Matt Ma
This song(and most of the 80's classic tunes) are STRONG evidence showing how bad music nowadays SUCKS!!!!!!