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.

Tear Me Up
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Waiting for the rain to fall
And I know it's sure gonna fall hard on you

'Cause you tear me up and pick me down
And I take my life with a wretched smile
So I call your name, and I cry out loud
'Cause tomorrow's gone, so I hide my tears

Waiting for the rain to fall
And I know it's sure gonna fall hard on you

All my life, you are there to hold me
Like I hold my tears inside

And you built it up 'til the world's exploding
I can't hide my tears today

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Tear Me Up" by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry convey a sense of helplessness in a tumultuous relationship. The first stanza of the song refers to waiting for the rain to fall, which could symbolize the hard times or difficulties that are on the horizon. The rain is sure to fall hard on the person the singer is addressing, indicating that they will be the one to suffer the most. The chorus "You tear me up and pick me down" shows how the person is being hurt and brought down repeatedly, even as they smile through their pain. The line "so I hide my tears" shows that the person is determined to be strong and not to let others see their vulnerable side.

Throughout the song, the singer seems to be reaching out to someone who is always there for them, but who also seems to be responsible for tearing them down. This person has a powerful hold over them, built up over time until it feels like the world is exploding. The verse "All my life, you are there to hold me/Like I hold my tears inside" is particularly poignant, highlighting the emotional bond between the two people. Even though the relationship is fraught, the singer cannot imagine life without them.

"Tear Me Up" is a powerful song about love and pain, showing how even the strongest people can feel helpless and vulnerable in the face of powerful emotions.

Interesting Facts about Tear Me Up by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry:

1) “Tear Me Up” appears on the 1985 album “Paint Your Wagon”, which has been described as one of the most influential post-punk albums of all time.

2) The band was formed in the late 1970s in Leeds and was originally called the Red Lorry, a play on the phrase “red lorry, yellow lorry” that is used to test elocution.

3) “Tear Me Up” was one of the band’s most successful singles, reaching number 7 in the UK independent charts.

4) The song has a distinctive, driving beat that is characteristic of the band’s sound.

5) Red Lorry Yellow Lorry were known for their intense, brooding live shows that often left audiences stunned.

6) The band’s name was changed to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry in 1982 as a nod to the fact that they were heavily influenced by American garage bands like the Standells and the Seeds.

7) “Tear Me Up” is a standout track on “Paint Your Wagon”, which also features classic songs like “Hollow Eyes” and “Talk About the Weather”.

8) The band went through several lineup changes over the years, but their sound remained consistent, blending post-punk, gothic and alternative rock elements.

9) “Tear Me Up” has been covered by several other bands over the years, including the US indie rock outfit Crocodiles.

10) Today, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry are widely regarded as one of the most influential post-punk bands of the 1980s, with their music continuing to inspire new generations of fans.

Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for the song could not be located.

Line by Line Meaning

Waiting for the rain to fall
Anticipating a change or hardship

And I know it's sure gonna fall hard on you
Predicting the negative consequences of one's actions

'Cause you tear me up and pick me down
The subject experiences emotional turmoil and instability due to the actions of someone else

And I take my life with a wretched smile
Despite the inner turmoil, the subject continues to present a facade of happiness

So I call your name, and I cry out loud
Expressing emotional pain and reaching out for help

'Cause tomorrow's gone, so I hide my tears
Acknowledging the fleeting nature of time and attempting to conceal emotional vulnerability

All my life, you are there to hold me
The subject has relied on this person for emotional support throughout their life

Like I hold my tears inside
The subject keeps their emotions bottled up and hidden

And you built it up 'til the world's exploding
The person has caused emotional stress to build up to an explosive level

I can't hide my tears today
The subject is no longer able to keep their emotions concealed and is experiencing a breakdown