At first, they enjoyed some success on the dance charts on their original Y Records label, releasing material such as 1983's 'Care', but the guys left for the big time on Arista Records for 1984's 'Jam Science'. Finding little success there, they switched to Island Records for the next year's breakout, 'Oil & Gold'. This album signaled a shift for the band, with Carl Marsh leaving the group and rockers Martyn Barker and Lu Edmonds joining what was now Andrews' vehicle. Indeed, Allen left the band after the followup, 'Big Night Music', came about, and Shriekback remained a collaborative around Andrews.
Dave Allen would go on to play in King Swamp, The Elastic Purejoy, and most recently in the reformed Gang of Four. Carl Marsh went on to serve in the band Happyhead. Both Allen and Marsh did return to the studio to contribute to the recording of Shriekback's 2003 release, titled 'Having a Moment'. Shriekback's material has essentially been an outlet for Andrews' personal work for many years now, also including collaborations with alternative music artists such as Wendy & Sarah Partridge (formerly of Electric Guitars) and Finn Andrews (Barry's son who is also of The Veils).
The band's best-known song is "Nemesis", which has received wide airplay on the indie/college circuit. The new wave song was notable among the rock tracks of its day for its use of unusual imagery and lyrics, including the use of the word "parthenogenesis" in the chorus. Shriekback is also known for having their dark, dramatic songs used in the Hannibal Lecter film 'Manhunter', their work being influenced by previous horror soundtrack music.
Every Force Evolves a Form
Shriekback Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every dream turns into something on a t-shirt
Every glance becomes a romance
(One little word and you can't keep it in your pants)
Every shout becomes a ziggurat
And every prayer becomes a citadel or car-park
Every curse becomes a human sacrifice
Watch that time those holy words
They all make tracks that your feet just have to follow
[Chorus]
Every force evolves a form
Every urge leads to something you can sit on
Every force evolves a form
Every impulse ends up as something you can hang your hat on
Every put-down becomes a dungeon
And every prejudice turns into broken glass and bludgeons
Every mystery turns into something you can see
And every small desire turns into something you can buy or hire
Watch those seeds those gentle words
They all make traps you can lose your fucking leg in
[Chorus]
Every thought burns into substance
Every dream turns into something on a t-shirt
Every glance becomes a romance
(One little word and you can't keep it in your pants)
They float above us like a cloud
And no-one knows where the rain will end up falling
[Chorus]
Every force evolves a form
Every force evolves a force evolves a form [Repeats]
The lyrics of Shriekback's song "Every Force Evolves a Form" speak about the power of thoughts, dreams, glances, shouts, prayers, curses, ideas, urges, impulses, put-downs, prejudices, mysteries, and desires to transform into tangible things that impact the world. The song suggests that every force, whether positive or negative, has the potential to create a form, a structure, or a product that reflects it. Even the holy words, gentle words, or seeds that we plant can have unintended consequences, like traps or tracks that lead us astray. The lyrics emphasize the inevitability and unpredictability of this process, as well as the importance of being mindful of the words and actions we use, as they can have lasting effects on ourselves and others.
The chorus repeats the phrase "every force evolves a form" and adds that "every urge leads to something you can sit on" and "every impulse ends up as something you can hang your hat on," reinforcing the idea that every force has a material manifestation and that everything we do or feel contributes to the world we live in.
Line by Line Meaning
Every thought burns into substance
Every idea or notion you have can eventually manifest itself into a tangible reality.
Every dream turns into something on a t-shirt
Every aspiration or imaginative thought you have can eventually be marketed and commercialized.
Every glance becomes a romance
Even a simple gaze can create a romantic connection or emotional attachment.
(One little word and you can't keep it in your pants)
An offhand remark or word can lead to sexual desires or impulses getting the best of you.
Every shout becomes a ziggurat
Every loud or forceful expression can build something monumental like an ancient temple.
And every prayer becomes a citadel or car-park
Every prayer or supplication can lead to something tangible like a fortress or a mundane structure like a parking lot.
Every curse becomes a human sacrifice
Every curse or verbal attack can have severe or even fatal consequences on the person it is directed towards.
Every good idea becomes a lifetime's work for someone
An insightful or revolutionary idea can become a driving force or passion for a person to dedicate their life to it.
Watch that time those holy words
Be mindful and careful of the words and expressions that hold deep meaning or spiritual significance to avoid causing harm or offense.
They all make tracks that your feet just have to follow
It's hard to resist the power and influence that impactful words and expressions have, as they can lead to our actions and choices being made for us.
Every force evolves a form
Every powerful or influential concept takes shape and materializes into a concrete form or expression.
Every urge leads to something you can sit on
Every compelling or impulsive desire can lead to a tangible result or outcome that you can physically interact with.
Every impulse ends up as something you can hang your hat on
Even fleeting or sudden impulses can lead to solid and permanent outcomes or achievements.
Every put-down becomes a dungeon
Negative or derogatory comments can trap or imprison a person mentally or emotionally.
And every prejudice turns into broken glass and bludgeons
Every biased or discriminatory belief can lead to violent or destructive actions against those it is directed towards.
Every mystery turns into something you can see
Every inexplicable or unknown phenomenon can be explained or revealed through investigation or experimentation.
And every small desire turns into something you can buy or hire
Even trivial or minor wants or wishes can be fulfilled by purchasing or hiring a service or product.
Watch those seeds those gentle words
Be cautious about the seemingly innocuous words or phrases that can have a powerful or long-lasting impact.
They all make traps you can lose your fucking leg in
Words or expressions can be deceptively dangerous or harmful, leading to disastrous consequences.
They float above us like a cloud
Powerful or influential concepts exist beyond our control or comprehension like an intangible cloud.
And no-one knows where the rain will end up falling
The impact and consequences of these concepts are unpredictable and can affect anyone in unforeseen ways.
Every force evolves a force evolves a form [Repeats]
Reaffirmation that every powerful or influential concept inevitably evolves into a tangible form or expression.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind