Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (commonly referred to simply as "The Lorries") is a … Read Full Bio ↴Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (commonly referred to simply as "The Lorries") is a post-punk band formed by guitarist/songwriter Chris Reed and vocalist Mark Sweeney, along with bassist Steve Smith and drummer Mick Brown (who would later join The Mission). Sweeney left the band in late 1981 and Reed permanently took over as vocalist, with Martin Fagan joining as a second guitarist. The group's sound, featuring a numbing guitar drone, powerfully throbbing drums, and Reed's cavernous vocal tones, caused the Lorries (as their fans came to call them) to be quickly lumped into the then-developing gothic rock scene by pop journalists, although the band themselves preferred to cite Killing Joke and Wire as influences.
The use of a drum machine seems to have been a determining feature of bands coming out of Leeds, England (the Sisters of Mercy and The Three Johns are other examples).

In 1982, independent record label Red Rhino signed the band based on the strength of some of the group's demos. Their first single "Beating My Head" made a strong appearance on the influential New Musical Express (NME) independent record chart. Fagan and Smith soon departed the band, to be replaced by Dave Wolfenden and Paul Southern respectively. In 1983 and 1984, several more singles would be released by the band (including "He's Read" and "Monkeys On Juice"). In 1985, the band's debut album, Talk About The Weather, was released and reached #1 on the NME indie rock chart. The album received generally positive reviews and sold extremely well for a small label offering. The single "Hollow Eyes" obtained good sales as well, as did follow-up non-LP singles "Chance" and "Spinning Round", the latter of which is generally felt to be the Lorries's strongest song.

The band released one more album on Red Rhino (Paint Your Wagon) in 1986, a single ("Cut Down") and a four track EP ("Crawling Mantra", released as by The Lorries), before signing to Situation Two, an off-shoot of major label Beggars Banquet Records. Two albums followed, 1988's Nothing Wrong and 1989's Blow. These albums proved to be a slight change in direction for the band. The songs here were a little slower, with stronger, more conventional melodies sweetened by occasional female backing vocals. Reed's lyrics were less downbeat, almost optimistic. Overall, Blow is a warmer album than the band's previous, somewhat dour offerings; the Lorries pretty much left their specious gothic rock trappings behind for good. Neither one of the Beggars Banquet albums appeared on any mainstream pop charts. Singles, including "Only Dreaming (Wide Awake)" and "Open Up" (which upon its release was chosen by NME as the magazine’s Single of the Week), also failed to chart, and the band was subsequently dropped by the label. In 1991, the band released Blasting Off on the tiny Sparkhead label. Despite the relative strength of the song "Talking Back" (released as a single prior to the LP), the album was considered a major disappointment by fans and sold poorly. Reed broke up what was left of the band at that point.

In 2004, Reed revived the band and released four new songs on their website and then toured Europe and a DVD, "Thunder in the Black Cave" soon followed. The band recently announced they will tour again in 2009.

Feel a Piece
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Lyrics

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Seeing is believing, I have seen these things before
Hold a conversation, pick yourself up off the floor
Destination nowhere, but the truth is close at hand
All the feelings of a lifetime, but I never knew your name

I need something
Just someone to hold onto
Yes something

Feel a piece of me now

Hidden in the floorboards, there's a secret to be told
If I knew where I could find you wrap you up and take you home
And if I had a secret I would hold you in my arms
I would have you, I would take you, and we could fly away

I need something
Just someone to hold onto
Yes something
Feel a piece of me now

Value of your virtue is the price I have to pay
With a lengthy explanation, I could never understand
Just what is inside you, finds the doorway to my soul
The flesh is weak, the spirit strong, so take me now, so take me now

Something
Just someone to hold onto

Yes something
Feel a piece of me now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's "Feel a Piece" capture the search for human connection amidst feelings of isolation and vulnerability. The singer expresses a desire for intimacy and understanding with lines like "I need something/ Just someone to hold onto" and "All the feelings of a lifetime, but I never knew your name." The lyrics suggest a yearning for a deeper emotional connection and a struggle to find meaning in life's experiences.

The imagery in the song further emphasizes this theme of isolation and longing. The reference to "destination nowhere" suggests a feeling of aimlessness, while the hidden secret in the floorboards represents the potential for discovering something meaningful but elusive. The lines "The flesh is weak, the spirit strong/ so take me now, so take me now" further convey a sense of desperation for connection and meaning.

Overall, the song's lyrics convey a deeply human sentiment: the desire for connection, meaning, and understanding in a world that often feels opaque and disconnected.

Line by Line Meaning

Seeing is believing, I have seen these things before
I have experienced similar situations and I have proof of their existence.

Hold a conversation, pick yourself up off the floor
Let's talk and cheer up, let's not be defeated by the difficulties we face.

Destination nowhere, but the truth is close at hand
We may not have a set path, but we know the truth is near and we can find our way.

All the feelings of a lifetime, but I never knew your name
I have experienced a depth of emotion that is usually only felt with someone you've known your whole life, yet I don't even know your name.

I need something Just someone to hold onto Yes something Feel a piece of me now
I am longing for human connection and touch, to feel less alone and isolated.

Hidden in the floorboards, there's a secret to be told If I knew where I could find you wrap you up and take you home
There is something important hidden and waiting to be discovered, and if I knew where to find you, I would bring you with me and keep you safe.

And if I had a secret I would hold you in my arms I would have you, I would take you, and we could fly away
If I had a way to escape and bring you with me, I would and we could leave all our troubles behind.

Value of your virtue is the price I have to pay With a lengthy explanation, I could never understand Just what is inside you, finds the doorway to my soul The flesh is weak, the spirit strong, so take me now, so take me now
I am willing to pay any price to experience your goodness and morality, even if I can't fully grasp it. I believe what's inside of you is what connects with my soul, despite our physical weaknesses.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTOPHER REED, DAVID WOLFENDEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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