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.
Hand on Heart
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No healthy survival in rooms unattached
Just trying to touch you, but never to hold you
In this burning confusion, with hands made of clay
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
In this prison of nowhere, you've played my emotions
You've stretched my condition, my head is all fire
With gates made of iron, like a lamb to the slaughter
Emotional torture is a game you enjoy
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
The importance of nothing, your own bleak conclusion
Illusions an answer, but never the healer
And crippled in silence, the stretch of a lifetime
The power to hold me, your pleasure to gain
It's a dicey situation I have found myself in
It's a dicey situation I have found myself in
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
You've got your hand on my heart
On my heart
The lyrics to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's song Hand on Heart seem to be about the struggle for freedom and the emotional manipulation that can occur in relationships. The opening lines, "So tell me what I pay for the price of freedom, No healthy survival in rooms unattached," suggest that the price of freedom may come at the cost of being emotionally disconnected from others. The line "Just trying to touch you, but never to hold you" suggests that the singer may be in a relationship that is not fulfilling or that they are not able to fully connect with their partner.
The chorus, "You've got your hand on my heart," is repeated throughout the song and suggests that the singer's partner has a hold over them emotionally. The lyric "In this prison of nowhere, you've played my emotions, You've stretched my condition, my head is all fire" further emphasizes the power that the partner holds over the singer. The metaphor of a prison suggests that the singer feels trapped in this relationship and the partner is the jailer.
The lyrics "With gates made of iron, like a lamb to the slaughter, Emotional torture is a game you enjoy" suggest that the partner enjoys the emotional pain they are causing the singer. The lines "The importance of nothing, your own bleak conclusion, Illusions an answer, but never the healer" suggest that the partner may be manipulating the singer with empty promises or illusions of a better future.
Overall, the song Hand on Heart seems to be about the emotional manipulation that can occur in relationships and the struggle for freedom in those situations.
Line by Line Meaning
So tell me what I pay for the price of freedom
I want to know what sacrifice I must make in order to be free.
No healthy survival in rooms unattached
Being alone is not a healthy way to survive and thrive.
Just trying to touch you, but never to hold you
I am only interested in a temporary connection, not a lasting relationship.
In this burning confusion, with hands made of clay
I am lost and uncertain, with weak and ineffective hands that cannot shape my own destiny.
You've got your hand on my heart
You have a powerful and controlling influence over me.
In this prison of nowhere, you've played my emotions
I feel trapped and hopeless, and you have manipulated my feelings for your own gain.
You've stretched my condition, my head is all fire
You have pushed me to my limits and caused me great mental anguish and distress.
With gates made of iron, like a lamb to the slaughter
I am helpless and vulnerable, like a defenseless animal being led to its death.
Emotional torture is a game you enjoy
You derive satisfaction from causing me emotional pain and suffering.
The importance of nothing, your own bleak conclusion
You view the world as meaningless and empty, with no purpose or hope for the future.
Illusions an answer, but never the healer
You cling to false beliefs and illusions as a way to cope, but they do not actually heal your inner wounds.
And crippled in silence, the stretch of a lifetime
I am paralyzed and trapped in my own thoughts and emotions, with no way out for the rest of my life.
The power to hold me, your pleasure to gain
You derive pleasure from holding power over me and manipulating me for your own benefit.
It's a dicey situation I have found myself in
I realize that I am in a risky and uncertain situation.
You've got your hand on my heart
You continue to exert your powerful influence over me and control my emotions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTOPHER PAUL REED, DAVID WOLFENDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karen Copsey
0:52 Laying on the bed, under a red light, sipping Earl Grey tea, 56, black nails, orange pixie crop & still adoring this kind of music!❤️💛
papperlapapp
Sittin here at my Kitchen table, with this music, with some lousy burned down candles, a Whiskey Cola at 2am. In a small town called Bad Lobenstein, in the east of Germany...
Came back home an hour ago.
Visited a friend near my flat.
We had some beer, some homegrown weed, some Speed many ours ago...
Now I'm sittin here in my Kitchen, Lost in History of POSTPUNK and some good old pieces...
Found this yet.
I like it very much...🔥♥
A good Night to you all...
Armando Babolo
I hope you are still there after a year !
Eddie Willers
great stuff - I still have the vinyl somewhere (I think) A vastly underrated track from a hugely underrated band of the mid-80's UK indie scene.
Nancy
i love the lyrics. thanks for uploading it
FRANCES GREEN
Love this track
Bella Donna
I FORGOT ABOUT THEM AND I ACTUALLY SAW THEM PLAY!!! ❤❤❤
TheGreatBenderina
I second the motion, to make it LOUDER DAMMIT!! Can't go wrong!
Alfie Whitnell
Just ordered the original vinyl off Discogs, buzzing
Lukas Redfield
second best band ever after Joy Division