They were featured on the NME's 1986 compilation C86 with one of their slower songs, "It's Up To You". Also in that year, they signed to the Chrysalis Records off-shoot Blue Guitar for a further single, 'I Don't Wanna Be Friends With You' and their first and only LP album, The Shop Assistants. This spent one week at number 100 in the UK album charts, which gives the band the distinction of being the (joint) least successful act ever to hit the national charts. The album was re-released on CD in 2001, although it is now hard to find.
The band split early in 1987, when Alex joined The Motorcycle Boy. After a two-year hiatus, the band reformed (without Alex) in 1989 with Sarah Kneale now on vocals and Laura MacPhail on bass and the addition of Margarita Vasquez-Ponte on drums, releasing a brace of singles in 1990 before splitting again, Keegan joining The Pastels.
Before I Wake
Shop Assistants Lyrics
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My heart grows cold at what I view
Though I laugh and tell myself
Of course it's not and I'm being silly
I wonder if the end can really be near
Remember when they made me pray,
"If I should die before I wake"?
That I wasn't going to anyway
And know that nothing could hurt me when you were here
If all my hopes should come to nothing
I know that I'll return to you
And when I feel the end is coming
It makes me want to run home to you
Sometimes I think we'll never see tomorrow
Sometimes I think that it's just as well
Sometimes I can't bear to think at all
And I turn my face towards the wall
If I should die before I wake
I want to lie with you beside me
Feel the last warmth of your body
Hold you so close up against me
That I can see no farther than your eyes
And we'll have one last night together
And see the last time we'll have together
Cause I don't want to live without you
I don't want to live without you
I don't want to live without you
The Shop Assistants’ song “Before I Wake” is about the fear of the end of the world and the desire to be with a loved one during the end. The lyrics reflect the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with living in a world where bad news is everywhere, and the fear that it may all come to an end at any moment. The opening lines describe the feeling of reading the news and feeling one's heart grow cold at what is being seen. Despite wanting to believe that everything is fine, there is still the underlying fear that the end could be near.
The song then transitions into a childhood memory of reciting the prayer "If I should die before I wake." The singer recalls the comfort they found in the presence of a loved one, and how their presence made them feel safe, almost invincible. This sense of safety has stayed with the singer as they faced the uncertainties of the world, and they wish to be back in the arms of their loved one during the end. The song ends with the singer expressing their desire to spend their last moments with their loved one and the fear of living without them.
Overall, the song captures the fear, uncertainty, and desire for love that many people feel when faced with the possibility of the end of the world. It also echoes the theme of the band's name, the Shop Assistants, in that the lyrics reflect the struggles and worries of everyday people.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes when I read the news
On occasion, when I go through headlines and stories in the news, my heart grows cold because of what I see and read.
My heart grows cold at what I view
I feel dreadful and cold inside due to the information and stories that I come across.
Though I laugh and tell myself
Although I sometimes laugh it off and convince myself that what I read isn't so bad.
Of course it's not and I'm being silly
I tell myself that it's not that bad, and I may be overreacting.
I wonder if the end can really be near
I often ponder and wonder if the end of the world could be close by.
Remember when they made me pray,
Do you recall when someone forced me to pray?
"If I should die before I wake"?
"If I pass away while I'm sleeping"?
When I cry you and laugh to say
When I shed tears, you were beside me, providing comfort, and cheered me up with laughter.
That I wasn't going to anyway
You reassured me that I wasn't going to pass away in my sleep, and helped to cure my worries.
And know that nothing could hurt me when you were here
I knew that as long as you were with me, nothing could harm me or cause me to feel vulnerable.
If all my hopes should come to nothing
In the event that all my aspirations and goals fail to materialize or lead to nothing.
I know that I'll return to you
I am confident and certain that I will find my way back to you.
And when I feel the end is coming
And when I sense that the end could be close by.
It makes me want to run home to you
I feel like racing back to your arms, where I feel safe and protected.
Sometimes I think we'll never see tomorrow
There are times when I suspect we might not make it through to the next day and nothing will change.
Sometimes I think that it's just as well
I catch myself thinking that it might not necessarily matter one way or another.
Sometimes I can't bear to think at all
There are instances where I find it incredibly hard and almost intolerable to think of anything.
And I turn my face towards the wall
During those times, I avoid thinking by merely turning my face towards the wall.
If I should die before I wake
"If I die while I'm sleeping."
I want to lie with you beside me
If that happens, I wish to have you beside me, lying down, comforting me.
Feel the last warmth of your body
I long to feel the warmth of your body and the close bond we share one last time.
Hold you so close up against me
I want to embrace you tightly and hold you so close that I can feel our heartbeats in sync.
That I can see no farther than your eyes
Our connection is so intense; I can only see and focus on your eyes and nothing else.
And we'll have one last night together
We'll spend one last night together, cherishing each moment and enjoying our time together.
And see the last time we'll have together
We'll witness and embrace the final moments we have left before we part ways.
Cause I don't want to live without you
I don't want to live without you, and I want you to know that.
I don't want to live without you
I can't imagine living without you, and it's something I dread.
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@algebrasuicide
this is one of the sweetest
@chrisdavie8163
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@rvlrmthrbrd2269
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