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/
I'm Your Puppet
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll do funny things if you want me to, I'm your puppet
I'll be yours to have and to hold
Darling you've got full control of your puppet
Pull another string and I'll kiss your lips, I'm your puppet
Snap your finger and I'll turn you some flips, I'm your puppet
Your every wish is my command
All you gotta do is wiggle your little hand
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet
I'm just a toy, just a funny boy
That makes you laugh when you're blue
I'll be wonderful, do just what I'm told
I'll do anything for you
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet
Pull them little strings and I'll sing you a song, I'm your puppet
Make me do right or make me do wrong, I'm your puppet
Treat me good and I'll do anything
I'm just a puppet and you hold my string, I'm your puppet
Yeah, I'm your puppet
Walking, talking, living, loving puppet
I'm hanging on a string girl, I'll do anything now
I'm a walking, talking, living, loving puppet, and I love you
I'm a smiling happy face when you want me to
Even make you happy when you're feeling blue
The lyrics in Paul Young's song "I'm Your Puppet" seem to describe a relationship where one person is controlled entirely by the other. The puppet imagery is used as a metaphor for this control, with the singer saying that they will do whatever their partner wants them to do, whether it's doing funny things, kissing them, or even singing a song. The singer is portrayed as a toy or funny boy that exists solely to make their partner happy, and they seem entirely content with this arrangement.
It's interesting to note that the lyrics also suggest that the person being controlled is aware of their situation and even enjoys it. They refer to themselves as a "walking, talking, living, loving puppet" and say that they'll be "wonderful" and "do just what [they're] told" in order to please their partner. This could be seen as either disturbing or romantic, depending on one's perspective. Overall, the song seems to be about the power dynamics in a relationship and the ways in which people can become "puppets" to those they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Pull the string and I'll wink at you, I'm your puppet
I'm under your control and will do anything you ask me to, even something as simple as winking.
I'll do funny things if you want me to, I'm your puppet
If you want me to act silly or entertaining, I will do so because I am your puppet.
I'll be yours to have and to hold
Darling you've got full control of your puppet
You have complete power over me and our relationship. I will be with you always, and I will do whatever you want.
Pull another string and I'll kiss your lips, I'm your puppet
Snap your finger and I'll turn you some flips, I'm your puppet
My actions are entirely based on your input, and even something as intimate as kissing or something as playful as doing flips are at your disposal.
Your every wish is my command
All you gotta do is wiggle your little hand
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet
I will do anything and everything that you desire. Even the slightest movement of your hand will make me move in accordance.
I'm just a toy, just a funny boy
That makes you laugh when you're blue
I'll be wonderful, do just what I'm told
I'll do anything for you
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet
I am here solely to bring you happiness and make you laugh whenever you are upset. If you instruct me to do anything, I will comply, and I will never refuse a request.
Pull them little strings and I'll sing you a song, I'm your puppet
Make me do right or make me do wrong, I'm your puppet
If you want me to sing, I am at your service. Furthermore, I will do anything that pleases you, regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
Treat me good and I'll do anything
I'm just a puppet and you hold my string, I'm your puppet
Yeah, I'm your puppet
If you treat me kindly and affectionately, I will be your devoted slave. You are in charge of our relationship, and I am your willing puppet.
Walking, talking, living, loving puppet
I'm hanging on a string girl, I'll do anything now
I am not just a figurative puppet but a real one, capable of walking, talking, and living. I am entirely bound to your will, and I will do anything that you ask me to, no matter how difficult or challenging it may be.
I'm a walking, talking, living, loving puppet, and I love you
I'm a smiling happy face when you want me to
Even make you happy when you're feeling blue
Not only am I your puppet, but I am also deeply in love with you. I will always be happy and smiling for you, and I will never let your sadness persist for more than a moment if I can help it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SPOONER OLDHAM, DAN PENN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jehnefer Castro
Pull the string and I'll wink at you, I'm your puppet
I'll do funny things if you want me to, I'm your puppet
I'm yours to have and to hold
Darling you've got full control of your puppet
Pull another string and I'll kiss your lips, I'm your puppet
Snap your finger and I'll turn you some flips, I'm your puppet
Listen, your every wish is my command
All you gotta do is wiggle your little hand
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet
I'm just a toy, just a funny boy
That makes you laugh when you're blue
I'll be wonderful, do just what I'm told
I'll do anything for you
I'm your puppet, I'm your puppet
Pull them little strings and I'll sing you a song, I'm your puppet
Make me do right or make me do wrong, I'm your puppet
Treat me good and I'll do anything
I'm just a puppet and you hold my string, I'm your puppet
Darling, darling, pull the strings, let me sing you a song any day
I'm your puppet baby, you can sing for me all night long
Honey, yeah
Alessandra Cruz
A música da minha formatura ao lado de minha mãe o maior amor do mundo hoje com 97 anos! Obrigada por tudo!!!
mancear
Esta música de "Marvin Gaye", ficou muito bem interpretada com Paul Young and Elton John.
Everton Silveira Teodoro
Que música deliciosa de ouvir e lembrar da infância hehehe
Renato Lima
Essa música mim lembra os fins de tarde de por do sol, e o Amor!
Marcela Siqueira
Linda d+ vendo a reprise da a viagem 2021!!! Que canção
Fabio Camargo Eletricista
Eu adoro este dueto de Elton John com Paul !
tony diogenes
Que Música Maravilhosa!
Leny Silva
Não me canso de ouvir :*
Gil
EITA MÚSICA BOA DANADA!!!!! ESTA TOCA FUNDO! LINDA D+++++++++++
Gil
Me arrepio sempre que ouço esta música.