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.
West Wakes Up
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The west wakes up to fall asleep
When I find it shows me sense is all forgotten
Then I'll wait then I'll wait
For a sign hope for predictions
The west wakes up it's easy to be gone
Won't help me now won't help me sleep
Realize the world outside is an illusion
Where I wait where I wait
For a sign hope for predictions
The west wakes up it's easy to be gone
For a sign hope for predictions
The west wakes up it's easy to be gone
For a sign hope for predictions
The west wakes up it's easy to be gone
For a sign hope for predictions
The west wakes up it's easy to be gone
The west wakes up...
The lyrics of "West Wakes Up" by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry have a melancholic and introspective tone, reflecting on the nature of truth, reality, and the human experience. The first two lines of the song speak of a sense of incompleteness and the difficulties of staying awake and aware in a world where half-truths abound. The singer finds that sense is forgotten and waits for a sign or prediction to guide them. The repeated refrain of "the west wakes up it's easy to be gone" suggests a sense of disconnection and emptiness, a feeling of being lost and alone in the modern world.
The verse "To keep my wishes in your pocket every night / Won't help me now won't help me sleep" speaks to the futility of seeking solace in external things, instead implying that the only way to find true meaning and connection is by facing the realities of the world around us. The line "Realize the world outside is an illusion" suggests a similar sentiment, highlighting the need to look beyond surface-level appearances to find deeper truths.
Overall, "West Wakes Up" is a meditative and thought-provoking song that explores the complexities of human experience and the tension between truth and illusion. The repeated refrain, combined with the introspective lyrics and melancholic tone, creates a sense of longing and disorientation that resonates long after the song ends.
Line by Line Meaning
The west wakes up to find completeness in half-truth
The western world awakens and realizes that the sense of security they once had is only partially true.
The west wakes up to fall asleep
Despite being awake, the western world is still asleep to the reality of the world around them.
When I find it shows me sense is all forgotten
The singer realizes that the belief system they once had is now invalidated and forgotten.
Then I'll wait then I'll wait
The artist decides to wait for something, but it's unclear what they're waiting for.
For a sign hope for predictions
The artist is looking for some kind of sign or hope for the future.
The west wakes up it's easy to be gone
Despite awakening, the western world is at risk of being lost or forgotten.
To keep my wishes in your pocket every night
Hoping for something without taking action won't help the singer reach their goals.
Won't help me now won't help me sleep
The artist realizes that simply wishing for something won't help them in the present or make them feel at ease.
Realize the world outside is an illusion
The artist realizes that what they once believed to be true about the world isn't actually real.
Where I wait where I wait
The artist is still waiting for something, but it's unclear what they're waiting for.
The west wakes up...
The western world is awakening and it's unclear what the consequences will be.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
A. Serna
so so good
Patrick Lokhorst
This song catched me by the first second.