In 1985 they enjoyed their first UK hit single, "Lean On me (Ah-Li-Ayo)", an anthemic song which was promoted with an unusual video in which a British sign language interpreter provided a translation of the song's lyrics. The following year, Red Box (with the help of numerous guest musicians) released the album The Circle and the Square.
Toulson-Clarke responded to WEA's request for something to appeal to American radio with the sardonic "For America", which lambasted what he saw as the style-over-content approach of the American media, as well as alluding to American military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. Unsurprisingly, the song was not a hit in the USA, though it did reach the top ten in several countries including the UK.
In 1990 they scored a club hit with Enjoy which was essentially a remix of an old B-side by Paul Oakenfold under the Solid Gold Easy Amex name. This record charted at Number 75 on Independent Radio's Network Chart (also used by Number One Magazine) but missed the Gallup UK Singles Chart as used by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. By now the 'group' was essentially just Simon Toulson-Clarke with the following Train single and Motive album more akin to solo releases. The Train single was pulled from shelves for reasons unknown to even the band, Motive got very little press, and Red Box ended up going on a hiatus. Toulson-Clarke continued to work in the music industry. In 1997, Toulon-Clarke, Alistair Gavin (who worked on Motive), and Phill Brown formed SPA and released an eponymous album, which itself was a concept album dedicated to deceased American comedian Bill Hicks.
In 2010, the current incarnation of Red Box is still headed up by the group’s original protagonist, Simon Toulson-Clarke who has gathered together a group of musicians for their new album "Plenty".
As well as Toulson-Clarke on vocals, the group includes Derek Adams (formerly of Dream Academy and The Act) and the young singer-songwriter, Emily Maguire. Unlike the early, frenetic days of the 1980s, Red Box had the relative luxury of time and space to work on "Plenty". As Simon explains, they 'were able to apply a fine filter to the whole process; selecting the material and working through the best possible arrangements that they could find for each song'.
In 2019, their fourth studio album Chase the Setting Sun was released.
Discography - Singles:
* Chenko (Cherry Red Records CHERRY 73 - Jan 1984)
* Saskatchewan (Sire Records W9157)
* Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo) (Sire Records W 8926 - Aug 1985) UK #3 (Gallup)
* Chenko (WEA YX 59 - Jan 1986)
* For America (WEA YZ 84 - Oct 1986) UK #10 (Gallup)
* Heart Of The Sun (WEA YZ 100 1987) UK #71 (Gallup)
* Chenko (Tenka-Io) (WEA YX 125 - Jan 1986) UK #77 (Gallup)
* Enjoy - with Solid Gold Easy Amex (Eastwest Records YZ 466 - May 1990) UK #75 (Network Chart)
* Train (Eastwest Records YZ 531) - Oct 90
Discography - Albums
* The Circle & The Square (WEA), 1986
* Motive (EastWest), 1990
* Plenty (Cherry Red Records) 2010
* Chase the Setting Sun, 2019
It's True
Red Box Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You find any way that you can
You're losing your mind
And you're finding your heart in your hands
Oh, it's true
Don't breathe a word
Chase down the changes
You know how but you don't know when
Oh, it's true, oh, it's true
Nobody's perfect
You find any way that you can
You're walking in circles
It's science you don't understand
Oh, it's true, it's true
The lyrics of Red Box's song "It's True" definitely have an emotional depth to them. The opening lines, "Nobody's perfect, you find any way that you can" sets the tone for the song as it talks about an individual struggling to cope with their imperfections. The subsequent lines, "You're losing your mind and you're finding your heart in your hands" could be interpreted in different ways. Perhaps the individual is dealing with a mental health issue or is going through heartbreak. The song captures the vulnerability of the human experience with lyrics like these.
The chorus has a simple but effective message: "Oh, it's true." However, it's the verses that really speak to the listener's heart. For instance, the lines "Don't breathe a word, let the silence be heard now and then" indicate that there are moments where the individual just wants to be left alone. They want to feel the silence and perhaps even find comfort amid the solitude. The following line, "Chase down the changes, you know how but you don't know when" could be alluding to the need for self-improvement, but the individual doesn't know when they'll make those changes.
The final verse, "You're walking in circles, it's science you don't understand" could mean the individual is struggling with something that they cannot fully comprehend. They might feel lost or confused, causing them to feel overwhelmed. In conclusion, "It's True" is a song that explores the complexities of the self and being okay with one's imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
Nobody's perfect
No one is flawless
You find any way that you can
One tries every possible method available
You're losing your mind
Your mental state is deteriorating
And you're finding your heart in your hands
You are experiencing intense emotions
Oh, it's true
This is indeed the reality
Don't breathe a word
Remain silent
Let the silence be heard now and then
Occasionally, it's important to stay quiet
Chase down the changes
Pursue opportunities for transformation
You know how but you don't know when
You're well-versed but unsure about the timing
Oh, it's true, oh, it's true
It's an undeniable truth
Nobody's perfect
No one is infallible
You find any way that you can
People explore diverse avenues to achieve their objective
You're walking in circles
You're struggling to make progress
It's science you don't understand
Concepts beyond your comprehension
Oh, it's true, it's true
It's a reality beyond a speck of doubt
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.