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/
Both Sides Now
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you, right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
But something's lost and something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
The song Both Sides Now by Paul Young is a lyrical masterpiece that talks about how perspectives change with time and circumstances. The song begins with the singer describing his/her youthful imagination of the world, that was filled with bows of angel hair, ice-cream castles in the air, and feather canyons everywhere. The singer reminisces about how they looked at the clouds with wonder and awe; however, as time changes, so do perceptions. What were once clouds of imagination and beauty have now become roadblocks. The clouds today prevent them from doing many things they intended to do.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about their perspective on love, how they once looked at it as every fairy tale come true; but now, it's just another show, and they leave people laughing when they go. The singer has learned that love comes with conditions and is no longer the whimsical fairy tale they once experienced. Finally, the song concludes with the singer's perspective on life. The singer has experienced tears and fears, and now, old friends are strange and say they have changed. However, according to the singer, something is lost, and something is gained in living every day.
Overall, Both Sides Now is a song about how perspectives change with time and experience. The song talks about how everything seems different when viewed from two sides, and understanding both perspectives can lead to a more profound understanding of everything in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Bows and flows of angel hair
I used to see beauty in everything, even in something as fine as angel hair.
And ice cream castles in the air
I used to dream of impossible things, but now realize they are just as unreal as an ice cream castle in the air.
And feather canyons everywhere
I used to think there were endless opportunities and paths, like canyons, but now I understand how finite they are, like feathers floating away.
I've looked at clouds that way
I once had a particular perspective of the world, personified by clouds in the sky.
But now they only block the sun
The same clouds now represent an obstacle in my life, blocking the light and happiness I once pursued.
They rain and snow on everyone
The same issues that affect me now affect everyone indiscriminately, like rain and snow.
So many things I would have done
The cloud of my problems have prevented me from achieving my desired goals.
But clouds got in my way
The same clouds that once represented my dreams now represent my problems and hinder my path.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
I have experienced differing perspectives of life, representative of the ever-changing clouds.
From up and down and still somehow
From so many different directions and still cannot fully capture what the clouds really mean.
It's cloud illusions I recall
My memories of anything are not simply of the object itself, but also my own personal feelings and interpretations that are tied to it.
I really don't know clouds at all
Despite having experienced perspectives on clouds and life, I still have not come to a complete understanding.
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
I once associated love with romantic, magical things like moons, Junes and ferris wheels.
The dizzy dancing way you feel
The feeling of being in love is all-consuming and even dizzying at times.
As every fairy tale comes real
Fairy tales and their happy endings used to inspire and inform my belief in love.
But now it's just another show
My current experiences have left me disillusioned with romance, seeing it now as simply an act or show performed.
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
People you leave after a romance may have started to see through the show and may even be laughing at how superficial it all is.
And if you care, don't let them know
If you still care, even after a relationship has become shallow, it's best not to let the other person know because it might just be another part of the show.
Don't give yourself away
Don't let your true emotions show, as that only makes you vulnerable to being hurt in the act of showmanship.
I've looked at love from both sides now
I have seen love in so many different ways, both the perceived magical way and the shallow show-like way.
From give and take and still somehow
I have been in love through a give and take mentality, and yet that still leaves much to be desired in true love.
It's love's illusions I recall
Just as with the clouds or life, my memories of love are clouded by my own illusions about it.
I really don't know love at all
Despite having experienced differing perspectives, I still can't say I truly understand what love really is.
Tears and fears and feeling proud
These emotions are all tied to the experience of living.
To say I love you, right out loud
To openly express your love is a powerful and meaningful experience.
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Life is full of dreams, plans, and chaotic ups and downs.
I've looked at life that way
I have viewed my own life through a similar lens of disorder and chaos, as well as beauty.
But now old friends are acting strange
The passage of time and the changes of life's journey sometimes create unexpected reactions, making even old friends act differently or change their perspective.
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Even people who have known you for a long time will notice changes in you or perceive you in a way that doesn't fit their memory of you.
But something's lost and something's gained
The passage of time and changes in perspective may cause personal loss or gain, even if that means the loss of what was once considered valuable or the gain of new facets of life.
In living every day
These changes, losses, and gains all arise from the natural progression of living every day.
I've looked at life from both sides now
Just as with clouds and love, I have experienced the passing of time and changes in perspective regarding life itself.
From win and lose and still somehow
From the highs and lows of life, despite all of the changes and losses and gains, there is still much I don't quite comprehend.
It's life's illusions I recall
My memories of life are but a collection of my own illusions about what it is and what it means.
I really don't know life at all
In the end, despite all of the experiences, loses, gains, and personal beliefs, I am ultimately left not knowing life at all.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@septemberautumnleafmeadows6165
Bows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say I love you, right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
But something's lost and something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
@colincook4773
Played this at Mams funeral. She loved this track. Always brings a tear to my eye. Miss you Mam.
@eightiesmusic1984
Sorry for your loss. It is a very moving song.
@lauramarymcculloch9388
My mum loved it too 💚
@scott72able
It is a beautiful song. Maybe the most beautiful song ever. And this is the best version.
@raymondsweeney8073
Beautiful song ❤ Maire Brennan lives about 20mins drive from where I am tonight & met Paul young early 90s and what a really nice person 👏👏👏
@genejohnson5530
I have just listened to this version of this classic song. Absolutely loved it. Joni owns this song but these version adds another dimension to it. It's just a great story.
@zeroair4
I cried at the end of Switch because of this song. I was 15 and CONVINCED that I experienced a piece of heaven. It's like blue sky and clouds with the lyrics softly written in white. I never forgot that feeling. Also, if you listen to the track all the way to the very end you can hear Clannad softly cooing as if lulling a baby to sleep but really reassuring us! Honest and loving with a happy ending to everyone's story. It almost makes this life make sense.
@anastasiabelyaeva3898
I was 3 or 4 when I obsessed over that movie, cried every single time, but loved it, Still wished for Amanda to stay alive. Now I think that watching that movie at a such young age had an impact on me, but I remember almost every detail. How crazy is that. And I absolutely agree with the piece of heaven, I think it shaped my perception of religion even.
@disastermaster1413
Indeed that was a good film. One of the best that was made for HBO in the 90s
@Kaymon7
I also remember crying while watching the movie.