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.
Talk About the Weather
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You keep saying that it's up to me
You ain't nothing but a true embrace
You ain't nothing but a hidden face
And you're looking fair enough to me
You just see what you want to see
I want to know if you really care
I want to take you way down there
You say you love me but not quite yet
I want to go out there to an open space
Those tears to cry and show your face
Oh I'm so soaked to the skin
Yeah I'm so soaked to the skin
You want to talk about the weather
Saturation is a point
There's nothing left you know
Nowhere left for me to hide
Nothing left but still alive
To face it all and here today
There's nothing left in you and me
And I can't show you this inside
If all you want to do is hide
I want to take you out and get you wet
You say you love me but not quite yet
I want to go out there to a sheltered place
Those tears to cry and show your face
Oh I'm so soaked to the skin
Yeah I'm so soaked to the skin
You want to talk about the weather
Sheltered from tomorrow
As though it may never come
You hide behind a wall of stone
And then you fell you're not alone
So face it all it's here today
You love me in your sheltered way
And I can't hold you in my hands
And talk about these hidden charms
I want to take them
You want to talk about the weather
Oh I'm so soaked to the skin
Yeah I'm so soaked to the skin
You want to talk about the weather
The lyrics to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's song Talk About the Weather depict a one-sided relationship that is struggling with communication issues. The singer appears to be frustrated with their partner's inability to open up and express their true feelings. The recurring line, "You want to talk about the weather," could be interpreted as the partner's way of deflecting difficult conversations or avoiding confrontation. The singer wants to take their partner to a place where they can stand in the rain and let their emotions out, but the partner seems hesitant to do so.
The line, "Saturation is a point, there's nothing left you know," suggests that the relationship has reached a critical mass and there is nowhere left to hide. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that there is still something between them, saying "there's nothing left in you and me." They want to be able to express their true feelings and connect on a deeper level, but feel like their partner is holding back.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you keep coming up to me
You keep approaching me with your words and actions
You keep saying that it's up to me
You keep making me responsible for everything that happens between us
You ain't nothing but a true embrace
Your actions are only a superficial, insincere act of affection
You ain't nothing but a hidden face
Your true identity remains concealed from me
And you're looking fair enough to me
You appear to be attractive, but I am not sure if this is true
You just see what you want to see
You only perceive what you desire
I want to know if you really care
I am curious to discover whether you truly have any feelings for me
I want to take you way down there
I want to bring you to a vulnerable, exposed position
And stand in the rain and get you wet
And experience the unfiltered, raw emotions together
You say you love me but not quite yet
You claim affection for me, but not at the level I desire
I want to go out there to an open space
I want us to be in a location where we are not confined or restricted
Those tears to cry and show your face
Where you can freely express your emotions and show your true self
Oh I'm so soaked to the skin
I am emotionally drenched by this situation
You want to talk about the weather
You want to engage in small talk to avoid discussing anything of substance
Saturation is a point
There is a limit to how much one can handle
There's nothing left you know
There is nothing left to salvage in this relationship
Nowhere left for me to hide
I am unable to conceal my feelings anymore
Nothing left but still alive
Despite our relationship being over, we are both still alive and must deal with the aftermath
To face it all and here today
To confront the reality of our situation together, in this moment
There's nothing left in you and me
Our connection is gone and there is no longer any spark
And I can't show you this inside
I am unable to express the depth of my emotions to you
If all you want to do is hide
If you only want to avoid dealing with our problems
I want to take you out and get you wet
I want to bring you into an emotional situation where we have no choice but to confront the truth
I want to go out there to a sheltered place
I want to create a safe environment where you can express yourself while feeling protected
Sheltered from tomorrow
Protected from the uncertainty of what the future holds
As though it may never come
As if the future does not hold any significant changes or events
You hide behind a wall of stone
You have constructed barriers to prevent true emotional connections
And then you fell you're not alone
And yet you ultimately feel isolated and disconnected
So face it all it's here today
We must come to terms with everything even if it is difficult, as it is all occurring in the present moment
You love me in your sheltered way
You may love me, but it is restricted by the walls you have built around yourself
And I can't hold you in my hands
I can't fully grasp the complexity of your emotions and personality
And talk about these hidden charms
And discuss your true, authentic qualities that are hidden from view
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTOPHER PAUL REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peter-utrblk
I saw them live in 1985. I had a whitenoise for a couple of days in my ears after that gig. But it doesn't matters, it was a pretty nice gig.
@AngusLofstedt
Just how loud were concerts in the Eighties? I hear everyone talking about not being able to hear for a couple of days after a gig…
@peter-utrblk
@@AngusLofstedt what?😉
@AngusLofstedt
I wish i could experience such ear annihilation…
@theekrusher
Still one of the best post-punk songs of all time. Makes me want to smash the place up.
@PanekPL
My brother in Christ, this isn't even that aggressive
@pascaldepester6976
@@PanekPL Indeed, this should be an aesthetical contemplation of desolation.
@djargus
Goth Rock songs. Red Lorry Yellow Lorry isn't Joy Division.
@sheamcdermott2548
Post punk poetry. Loud and angst ridden.great stuff
@nickmorris7089
Saw them live many times, alwas superb, 🔊, powerful & dark. Sadli missed.