He was educated at King Edward VII School in Sheffield.
In the early 1980s, Oakey (along with the rest of the group) had a highly distinctive visual style. He was particularly famous for his asymmetrical haircut, long on one side and cropped short on the other. His vocal skills are known by its characteristic of nearly lacking any vibrato.
valerie
Philip Oakey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're hurting me
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Don't set me friee
What shall I do when you are gone?
I'll walk around looking sad
Valerie Valerie Valerie
You're getting me down
To move into town
What do you think you'll find out there?
You might as well stay as home
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Remember me
Misery misery misery
Is all I can see
What shall I do when you are gone?
I'm going to be so sad
Valerie Valerie Valerie Valerie
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Valerie Valerie Valerie
The lyrics to Philip Oakey's song Valerie appear to be about a relationship that is coming to an end. The singer of the song addresses Valerie repeatedly, expressing that she is hurting him and getting him down. He begs her not to set him free but at the same time wonders what he will do when she is gone. The line "Misery misery misery is all I can see" reinforces the idea that the end of the relationship will bring sadness and despair. The singer feels lost and unsure of what to do next, even suggesting that Valerie might as well stay at home rather than move away.
The repetition of Valerie's name throughout the song is interesting, as it gives her a certain power and prominence in the lyrics. The fact that the singer is so fixated on her suggests that perhaps Valerie is the one ending the relationship, leaving him feeling powerless and somewhat obsessed. The juxtaposition of the upbeat pop sound of the music with the sad lyrics also adds an interesting layer of complexity to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Repetition of the name 'Valerie,' emphasizing its importance in the song
You're hurting me
Valerie's actions are causing the singer distress
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Repetition of the name 'Valerie,' highlighting the source of the singer's pain
Don't set me free
The artist doesn't want to lose Valerie, even if she's causing pain
What shall I do when you are gone?
The artist is unsure how to cope with the impending loss of Valerie
I’ll walk around looking sad
The singer will visibly express their sadness when Valerie is gone
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Repeated name, expressing the continued pain and difficulty the singer is still going through
You're getting me down
Valerie's actions are having a negative impact on the artist's mood
Do you think that it's necessary
The artist questions whether Valerie's decision to move is really required
To move into town
Valerie is planning to relocate to a new location
What do you think you'll find out there?
The singer is curious about what Valerie hopes to achieve by moving
You might as well stay as home
The artist believes Valerie won't find anything better in a new place; she should stay where she is
Remember me
The singer wants Valerie to keep them in her thoughts even when they're apart
Misery misery misery
The singer is plagued by extreme unhappiness due to Valerie's departure
Is all I can see
The singer can only focus on their own suffering at this point
What shall I do when you are gone?
Repetition of earlier line to emphasize the artist's sense of helplessness
I'm going to be so sad
The artist will experience a great deal of sadness when Valerie departs
Valerie Valerie Valerie Valerie
Repeated name, expressing the singer's continued focus on Valerie
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Repetition of the name, expressing the continuous pain the singer is going through
Valerie Valerie Valerie
Final repetition of the name, concluding the song with a focus on Valerie's importance in the artist's life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind