The Voidoids were started in 1976 when Richard Hell left The Heartbreakers. The first lineup consisted of Hell, Quine, Julian and Bell. The band released what has been considered their best album, Blank Generation, in 1977. This lineup dissolved around 1979.
A new lineup in 1982, this time with Hell, Quine and new members Naux (Juan Maciel) on guitar and Fred Maher on drums, was featured on The Voidoids second album Destiny Street. According to Hell, Destiny Street suffered due to Hell's being distracted during the recording process, especially by the use of narcotics. This second lineup dissolved around 1985.
1990 saw the release of the live album Funhunt (Live at the CBGB's & Max's), which was compiled from a series of audience tapes recorded between 1978 and 1985. 1990 also featured a reformation for a Japanese tour.
In 2009 Destiny Street Repaired, a remake and "repair" of Destiny Street, was released. Destiny Street Repaired featured guitarists Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell and Ivan Julian playing along to the original rhythm tracks.
Their best known songs were "Blank Generation", "Love Comes in Spurts", "The Kid With the Replaceable Head" and "Time".
The Plan
Richard Hell and the Voidoids Lyrics
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I'd had it, I'd had it, I was mush to the bones
I covered the windows, I was taking no calls
Then I thought for a month inside the alien walls
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
But I can recall it all
I was, I was at a loss
What can I do now?
I called up a girl I'd known for so many years
I'd seen her in shock, I'd seen the last of her tears
I admired her style from her toes to her brain
She accepted my plan and so she caught the next train
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
(They don't tell you so)
But I can recall it all
I remember
Back again
Welcome home
We would secretly smile inside our surgical masks
But we were serious too, we accomplished our ask
The schedule was followed, a daughter was born
And so the mother departed, I was left with her form
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
But I can recall it all
This is where it counts
Her education's begun, I'm intent on success
Her breathtaking beauty it brings out my best
I once knew true love, she won't know another
Life is renewed, my little girl is my lover
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
(They don't tell you so)
But I can recall it all
The lyrics to Richard Hell and the Voidoids' song "The Plan" depict a narrator who has withdrawn from human society and spent a month in seclusion, contemplating a mysterious plan. After calling up a girl he's known for years and admiring her style, the two of them put the plan into action, which results in the birth of a daughter. The singer becomes deeply devoted to his daughter, seeing her as his true love, and the song ends with the line, "Life is renewed, my little girl is my lover."
The lyrics to this song can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible reading is that they are a critique of societal norms and expectations around romantic relationships and family. The singer withdraws from society and rejects traditional notions of love and family, instead forging a connection with his daughter that is intense and possibly inappropriate. This could be seen as a commentary on the ways in which society places pressure on individuals to conform to certain expectations around relationships and family, even if those norms may not be right for everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
I withdrew from the street and all humanlike zones
I removed myself from society and all its normal aspects
I'd had it, I'd had it, I was mush to the bones
I was completely worn out and had nothing left in me
I covered the windows, I was taking no calls
I shut myself off from the outside world, ignoring all forms of communication
Then I thought for a month inside the alien walls
I spent an entire month thinking in isolation, disconnected from everything around me
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
Now I know, oh
They don't tell you so
But I can recall it all
I've figured out the truth, but it wasn't something that anyone had told me. I remember everything clearly.
I was, I was at a loss
What can I do now?
I was lost and unsure of what to do next
I called up a girl I'd known for so many years
I'd seen her in shock, I'd seen the last of her tears
I admired her style from her toes to her brain
She accepted my plan and so she caught the next train
I contacted a woman I knew and trusted, someone I'd seen in a difficult state before. I appreciated everything about her and she agreed to help me by coming to see me.
Back again
Welcome home
We would secretly smile inside our surgical masks
But we were serious too, we accomplished our ask
The schedule was followed, a daughter was born
And so the mother departed, I was left with her form
After she arrived, we set out on our plan. It was difficult, but we were able to complete what we set out to, leading to the birth of our daughter. However, the mother left, leaving only her physical body behind.
This is where it counts
Her education's begun, I'm intent on success
Her breathtaking beauty it brings out my best
I once knew true love, she won't know another
Life is renewed, my little girl is my lover
This is the most important part - my daughter's education and success is paramount. Her beauty and intelligence inspire me to be the best I can be. Though I once loved someone else, my love for her will be the only kind she'll ever know. She is my entire world.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD HELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind