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 Thomasโ "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 dรฉbut 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, 'Iโm 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/
Wherever I Lay My Hat
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it over me?
If it is, save your tears
For I'm not worth it, you see
For I'm the type of boy who is always on the roam
Wherever I lay my hat that's my home
I'm telling you that's my home
Over me?
If it's so I'd like for you to know
That I'm not worth it, you see
For I'm the type of boy who is always on the roam, mm
Wherever I lay my hat that's my home
Mm, that's my home
Oh, you keep telling me, you keep telling me I'm your man
What do I have to do to make you understand?
For I'm the type of guy who gives girl the eye
Everybody knows.
But I love them and I leave them
Break their hearts and deceive them everywhere I go
Don't you know that I'm the type of man who is always on the roam
Wherever I lay my hat that's my home
Wherever I lay my hat, oh oh, that's my home, mm yeh
That's my home
And I like it that way
You know I can't make it all alone sometimes that's the way, that's the way
I'm not saying
I'm not saying I don't love you
Just got to do what I want to do
The song "Wherever I Lay My Hat" by Paul Young is a powerful ballad about a man who is constantly restless and cannot stay in one place or commit to one person. He tells his lover that he knows she is upset and crying over him, but he is not worth her tears because he is always on-the-go and cannot stay put in one place. The singer is a young man who is eager to explore the world and cannot settle down in one place or with one person. He is telling his lover that he is not the type of man who is going to stick around, but he still loves her in his own way.
The line "wherever I lay my hat that's my home" is repeated throughout the song and serves as its chorus. It's a powerful image, reinforcing the idea that the singer is constantly on the move, and that he can make any place his home simply by being there. The song's final verse is about the singer's commitment to himself, rather than anyone else. He knows that he cannot stay with one person or in one place, and he's content to live his life on his own terms.
Overall, the song's lyrics are about freedom and the restlessness that comes with it. It's a poignant and introspective ballad that underscores the challenges of trying to find one's place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry
I can see that you will shed tears by the way you're looking
Is it over me?
Are you crying because we are done?
If it is, save your tears
If that's the case, keep your tears for yourself
For I'm not worth it, you see
Because I am not deserving of your tears
For I'm the type of boy who is always on the roam
I am the kind of guy who is constantly on the move
Wherever I lay my hat that's my home
Wherever I go, that's where I consider home
You had romance, did you break it by chance
Did we end our love affair by bad luck?
If it's so I'd like for you to know
If that is the case, I want you to understand
That I'm not worth it, you see
That I do not deserve your time and effort
Oh, you keep telling me, you keep telling me I'm your man
You always say that I am the one for you
What do I have to do to make you understand?
What should I do to make you comprehend my intentions?
For I'm the type of guy who gives girl the eye
Because I am the kind of man who flirts with women
But I love them and I leave them
However, I merely adore, then move on from them
Break their hearts and deceive them everywhere I go
I break their hearts and betray them wherever I am
And I like it that way
And I enjoy doing that
You know I can't make it all alone sometimes that's the way, that's the way
I cannot survive by myself at all times, that is simply how it is
I'm not saying
I am not implying
I'm not saying I don't love you
I am not stating that I do not have feelings for you
Just got to do what I want to do
I just have to do what I feel like doing
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Marvin Gaye, Marvin P Gaye, Norman Whitfield, Norman J. Whitfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OldhamSteve52
Takes me back to the 80โs when I thought Iโd never find love. Iโm 64 now, found myself a lovely wife, grandfather. Life turned out ok.
@iamshango3005
Newhamsteve
@georgie8154
Wow, that really gave me hope. I hope you have an amazing rest of your life!
@buttyscott1
Bless u
@OldhamSteve52
Thanks. Same to you.
@OldhamSteve52
Cheers.
@slconstable
Between Pinoโs incredible bass playing and Paulโs amazing soul voice, thatโs what makes me listen to this track to this day.
@chrishayworth282
Pino is an amazing bassist. I must admit I've been on a bit of a pino trip today.
@RodrigoPavao1705
I find this song because of Pino Palladino. Amazing fretless basslines.
@josepe316
Was Pino involved in the Commodores 'nightshift' because this song sounds super similar musically