Their biggest commercial and critical success came with 1990's Jordan: The Comeback (one of two albums produced by Thomas Dolby), which was a hit in the UK and nominated for a BRIT award. The band also had a UK Top 10 hit with their 1988 song The King of Rock 'n' Roll.
Perhaps their finest album, Steve McQueen (originally released in June 1985) was re-released in August 2007 as a 2-CD deluxe edition, with a bonus disc of eight acoustic reinterpretations of some of the original tracks. Of the release, the record company said: "Digitally remastered by original producer Thomas Dolby, the album is sounding even better than ever. As if that weren't enough it is complemented here with a second disc containing eight sublime acoustic versions, which have been specially re-recorded for this release by Paddy McAloon."
Steve McQueen was released in the US under the title Two Wheels Good following pressure from the late actor's estate.
Prefab Sprout released Let's Change the World With Music - The Blueprint in 2009 on the Kitchenware Records label (website). See also Sprout Trivia below.
Discography:
Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone) / Radio Love - Feb 25, 1982 (their first record, released on their own label Candle)
The Devil Has All the Best Tunes / Walk On - Oct 1983 (Kitchenware) (feat. Wendy Smith and Fiona Attwood)
Swoon - Mar 1984
Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (US) - Jun 1985
From Langley Park to Memphis - Mar 1988
Protest Songs - Jun 1989
Jordan: The Comeback - Aug 1990
The Best of Prefab Sprout: A Life of Surprises - Jul 1992 (compilation; exit Conti hereafter)
Andromeda Heights - May 1997
38 Carat Collection (disc 1) - Oct 1999 (compilation)
38 Carat Collection (disc 2) - Oct 1999 (compilation)
The Gunman And Other Stories - Jun 18, 2001 (sans Smith)
Chronology of Bandmembers:
Paddy McAloon (born Patrick Joseph McAloon, Jun 7, 1957, Durham); vocals / guitars / keyboards
Martin McAloon (born Jan 4, 1962, Durham); bass guitar
Michael Salmon; drums / percussion
Wendy Smith (born May 31, 1963, Middlesbrough); vocals / guitars / keyboards
Neil Conti (born Feb 12, 1959, Luton); drums / percussion
Fiona Attwood (Chester-le-Street); backing vocals
Sprout Trivia:
Paddy conceived the name "Prefab Sprout" when he was just 14 back in 1972, he revealed in an interview with French magazine BEST. It was his attempt at creating an unusual name like groups that were popular at the time (eg Tyrannosaurus Rex, Moby Grape, Grand Funk Railroad, etc.).
The band has had as many as 11 drummers (including Paddy McAloon himself on programmed percussion!) in its lineup. Of these, Conti was the most closely identified with the group. (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sproutfacts.html)
Paddy had apparently conceived of an album named Let's Change The World With Music (the working title of the band's forthcoming album, due February 2009) as far back as the early 1990's:
"I actually wrote a Gulf War album called Let's Change The World With Music, and I've got a couple of beauties, but there are right and wrong times to do things, and it came after another album I wrote which is much lighter... it's called Billy Midnight, very romantic. So the Gulf War album was a more serious response to that. I keep junking things all the time." - NME June 20, 1992 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
"And I have an album called Let's Change The World With Music; lots of songs about music, playing on that horrible thing where you listen to a song like "We Are The World" and the sentiment is great but it's such a cliché that it sticks in your throat. It plays on that edge between that kind of thing and real sincerity." - NME April 15, 1995 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
"Look, since 1990 I've written what I think of as my best music. You can hear some of it on Andromeda Heights. But I have also - in detailed demo form - an album called Let's Change The World With Music. It was written as the follow up to Jordan." - BEST magazine (France) July 1997 (source: http://www.browningmcintosh.com/plocktonwest/sprout_misc.html)
Cruel
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then takes you away from me.
There is no Chicago urban blues,
More heartfelt than my lament for you.
I'm a liberal guy,
Too cool for the macho ache,
With a secret tooth,
With a pious smile,
A smile that changes what I say.
While I waste my time,
In regretting that the days,
Went from perfect to just O.K.
Lordy, what would I do?
Don't call me possessive,
But God if he's smoochin' with you.
I's a jealous boy root,
The world should be free,
But don't you go following suit
My heart is aligned
It couldn't be neutral,
I couldn't be that way inclined.
It's hard to defend, ba ba ba, ba, ba ba,
These feelings tuppent up friend.
It's cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba
Its cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba,
ba ba
It's cruel, it's crueler than cruel.
But cruel is the gospel that's sets us all free,
Then takes you away from me.
Should a love be tender,
And bleed out loud?
Or be tougher than tough,
And prouder than proud.
If I'm troubled by every Folding of your skirt,
Am I guilty of every
Male inflicted hurt?
But I don't know how
To describe the Modern Rose,
When I can't refer to
Her shape against her clothes.
With the fever of purple prose.
But cruel is the gospel that's sets us all free,
Then takes you away from me.
Cruel is the gospel that's sets us all free,
Then takes you away from me.
My contribution, to urban blues.
Prefab Sprout's song "Cruel" has a deep and complex meaning that is open to interpretation. The lyrics seem to be about a man struggling with his feelings of jealousy and possessiveness towards someone he is in love with, who may be involved with someone else. The title itself, "Cruel," implies that the situation is painful and unfair.
The opening line, "Cruel is the gospel that's sets us all free, then takes you away from me," suggests that love and freedom are intertwined, but that they can also lead to separation and heartbreak. The reference to "Chicago urban blues" is interesting, as it invokes a certain image of heartache and longing. The singer's lament is described as being more heartfelt than this, emphasizing how deeply he is affected by this situation.
The second verse is where we get a sense of the singer's personality: he is a "liberal guy" who prides himself on not being the stereotypical jealous lover, but who still has a "secret tooth" for wanting more. He puts on a "pious smile" to mask his feelings but ultimately regrets that their relationship has gone from "perfect to just O.K." The line "Don't call me possessive, but God if he's smoochin' with you" is both humorous and telling - he doesn't want to be seen as controlling, but his jealousy is still present.
As the song continues, the singer questions the nature of love and whether it should be tender or tough. He wonders if his own feelings of possessiveness are contributing to the hurt in their relationship. The final verse is where the singer acknowledges his inability to fully express his emotions, using the analogy of a rose to explain that he can't describe the person he loves without a physical reference point.
Overall, "Cruel" is a poignant and introspective song about the complexities of love and jealousy, and how they can both inspire and hurt us.
Line by Line Meaning
Cruel is the gospel that's sets us all free,
Then takes you away from me.
Sometimes the truth, even if it hurts, can be liberating but at the same time it can also separate us from the people we love.
There is no Chicago urban blues,
More heartfelt than my lament for you.
My sadness and sorrow over losing you is stronger than anything resembling the blues music scene in Chicago.
I'm a liberal guy,
Too cool for the macho ache,
With a secret tooth,
For the cherry on the cake.
I consider myself a progressive, easy-going person who doesn't conform to traditional masculine stereotypes, but deep down I still have desires and secrets.
With a pious smile,
A smile that changes what I say.
While I waste my time,
In regretting that the days,
Went from perfect to just O.K.
I often put on a fake, innocent appearance that masks my true emotions and thoughts. I spend my days longing for the past when everything was perfect, but now things are just mediocre.
Lordy, what would I do?
Don't call me possessive,
But God if he's smoochin' with you.
I hate to admit it, but the thought of you being with someone else makes me feel possessive and jealous.
I's a jealous boy root,
The world should be free,
But don't you go following suit
My heart is aligned.
I know that everyone should be free to do what they want, but when it comes to you, I can't help but feel possessive and protective. My heart is fully dedicated to you.
It couldn't be neutral,
I couldn't be that way inclined.
It's hard to defend, ba ba ba, ba, ba ba,
These feelings tuppent up friend.
I can't remain impartial when it comes to you, I feel too deeply for you. It's difficult to explain or justify these intense emotions that I have for you.
It's cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba
Its cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba,
ba ba
It's cruel, it's crueler than cruel.
Love can be a cruel mistress, causing us pain and heartache even as it sets us free from our old selves. This pain can be more intense than anything else we could feel.
But cruel is the gospel that's sets us all free,
Then takes you away from me.
Should a love be tender,
And bleed out loud?
Or be tougher than tough,
And prouder than proud.
Love may be liberating, but it can also be harsh enough to cause pain and heartbreak. It's hard to say which kind of love is better: one that is gentle and open, or one that is tough and resilient.
If I'm troubled by every Folding of your skirt,
Am I guilty of every Male inflicted hurt?
If I get upset at even the smallest things you do, am I to be blamed for any pain you experience in our relationship, since it seems to always be caused by something I do?
But I don't know how
To describe the Modern Rose,
When I can't refer to
Her shape against her clothes.
With the fever of purple prose.
I struggle to describe you in beautiful, poetic language because it doesn't seem right to reference your physical appearance in such a way. It puts me in an awkward dilemma of how to praise you without objectifying you.
My contribution, to urban blues.
By singing about my heartbreak and sorrow, I feel like I'm contributing to the greater genre of blues music.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LYDON, JOHN ALEXANDER MCGEOCH, ALAN DIAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rosex3905
〈lyrics〉
Cruel is the gospel that sets us all free, then takes you away from me
There is no Chicago urban blues
More heartfelt than my lament for you
I'm a liberal guy, too cool for the macho ache
With a secret tooth, for the cherry on the cake
With a pious smile, a smile that changes what I say
While I waste my time, in regretting that the days
Went from perfect to just O.K
※
Lordy, What would I do?
Don't call me possessive, but God if he's smoochin' with you
I's a jealous boy root;
The world should be free, but don't you go following suit
My heart is aligned;
It couldn't be neutral, I couldn't be that way inclined
It's hard to defend
Ba ba ba, ba, ba ba, these feelings my tuppentup friend
It's cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba
It's cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba
It's cruel, it's crueler than cruel
※
But cruel is the gospel that sets us all free, then takes you away from me
Should a love be tender, and bleed out loud?
Or be tougher than tough, and prouder than proud
If I'm troubled by every folding of your skirt
Am I guilty of every male inflicted hurt?
But I don't know how to describe the Modern Rose
When I can't refer to her shape against her clothes
With the fever of purple prose
※repeat
But cruel is the gospel that sets us all free, then takes you away from me
Cruel is the gospel that sets us all free, then takes you away from me
My contribution to urban blues
〈歌詞〉
僕たちみんなを自由にしておいて、僕から君を奪ってしまう福音の残酷さとは
たとえそれがシカゴのアーバンブルースといえど
君をなくした心の底からの悲嘆に比肩するものではないな
何せ僕は寛大な男、男として受ける苦痛には何食わぬ顔でいられる
例えば、ケーキの上のさくらんぼを食べるときの
普段誰にも見せない八重歯や
偽善的な笑顔、僕の言うことを簡単に変えてしまう笑顔も気にしない
ただ、あの完璧だと思った日々が、こんなもんだろう思うぐらいにだめになってしまっているのを悔やんでいる
※
ああ、どうすればいいだろう
独占欲の強い男だとは言わないでくれ
だけど君が他の男と抱き合っているのを思ったら、
嫉妬せずにはいられない
人類はみんな自由であるべきだと思うけれど、
人の真似事をしてはいけない
僕の気持ちは偏っているんだ、公平とはいかない、そんなのは無理だ
この気持ちを守るのは大変だ
(親愛なる?)ぼくのともだち
こりゃ残酷だ
本当に残酷だ
残酷という言葉じゃ足りないくらい残酷だ
※
しかし、僕たちみんなを自由にしておきながら、唯一、僕から君を奪う福音の残酷さよ
愛は優しければより優しく、そしてはっきりと大きくあるべきだろうか
あるいはより力強く、あるいはより誇らしくあるべきだろうか
君のスカートが折りたたまれるたび頭を悩ませているなら、
(あらゆるの男が傷つけたという罪を私は負っていることになるのだろうか?)
そのモダンなバラをどう表現したらいいかわからないよ
彼女の服から
彼女自身を想像できないとなると
紫色した散文の熱量から彼女を想像できないとなると
※繰り返し
しかし、僕たちみんなを自由にしておきながら、唯一、僕から君を奪う福音の残酷さよ
僕たちみんなを自由にしておいて、僕から君を奪ってしまう福音の残酷さとは
僕のアーバンブルースへの貢献
@ArtAdamson
In my humble opinion Paddy McAloon is quite simply one of the most original song writers of modern times. When I first heard this song, it made my spine tingle. It still does today so many years later. There are not many artists that get inside your head and lift you up like his songs do. I bow to the genius of the man.
@glennbotes8937
One of the best Pop groups of the eighties and nineties that almost seemed to shun the limelight more as their commercial success rose.
@Stuscott15
This is one of the most over looked songs ever - one of Prefabs best and that is saying allot since they are all pure genius. Paddy is a songwriter and singer of such mercurial wonder - I salute him and this outstanding piece of music!!!
@rupertvandervell
If I'm troubled by every folding of your skirt
Am I guilty of every male inflicted hurt
Not only a gifted songwriter, Paddy McAloon is a genius poet.
@theotheoth
Yep, and now in these 'enlightened' times it seems we men are guilty of all of it.
@ianm7501
Saw PF in Glasgow- Nightmoves in 83- still listen and enjoy.
@lonegroover
I decided in 1984 that this was the Best Song Ever. Still haven't heard anything since to challenge that hypothesis.
@chutasynth
One of the best songs ever. It's cruel.
@bodymoovin8543
chutasynth it’s crueler than cruel
@malcolmpayne8211
If you searched for this in 2021 you have great taste!