Their early sound was a quirky, cabaret-inflected pop-rock with witty, literate lyrics from Blegvad. Their first two albums featured members of Faust in the backing band, although the second was later re-recorded with session musicians for Virgin records.
By 1975, they had been interleaved with the British avant-rock group Henry Cow, a union that produced two important works: a theatrical, Kurt Weill-esque set of songs entitled Desperate Straights and a much more daunting and avant-garde set entitled In Praise Of Learning.
The band has had fitful reunions ever since, sometimes just for the odd single, but often for major projects (the 1991 television opera Camera and the 1998 studio album Ça Va, for example).
Krause, Moore and Blegvad reformed Slapp Happy again in November 2016 to perform with Faust at the Week-End festival in Cologne, Germany. The two groups also played on 10–11 February 2017 at Cafe Oto in London. On 24 February 2017 Slapp Happy (without Faust) performed at Mt. Rainer Hall, Shibuya in Tokyo. In September 2017, Slapp Happy and Faust played at the 10th Rock in Opposition festival in Carmaux, France. They made a final appearance in November 2017 in Brussels, Belgium.
Strayed
Slapp Happy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
snowing sour rays,
interfere with clearly being here today.
I'm sorry to say
I think I've strayed.
She said "say it - go aheard & at a planet bay it,
bay - it's the same today
as any other day".
I confess it, why should I repress it?
Unless it's wrestled through
it grows on you,
when you've strayed.
Gone into hiding, can't abide the latest tidings
from the tribe. It's reported hopes are thwarted,
nothing of the wonderful survives.
Its resurrection is the purpose of our lives,
but who can rise?
How thick the lids lie on my eyes…
The lyrics to Slapp Happy's song Strayed are a reflection on the challenges of maintaining focus in the present moment. The singer describes feeling haunted by memories of the past, which interfere with their ability to fully engage with the world around them. The line "snowing sour rays" is a powerful image of the way in which negative memories can cloud one's perception of the present. The chorus reveals that the singer feels they have strayed from their intended path in life, but they are not quite sure how to get back on track.
The second verse introduces a conversation with another person, who offers platitudes about how every day is the same and encourages the singer to "bay" their troubles (a possible play on words of "bury" or "say" depending on interpretation). The singer is left feeling even more isolated, as they recognize that their struggle is not easy to communicate to others. In the final verse, the singer describes feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world and the difficulty of finding hope amidst chaos. The closing lines acknowledge the challenge of breaking free from the patterns of thought and behavior that keep us from living fully in the present moment.
Overall, Strayed is a poignant exploration of the human experience of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself and the world. The lyrics capture the frustration and confusion that can come with this state of being, as well as the difficulty of finding a way back to a more centered and grounded place.
Line by Line Meaning
All my dismembered, half-remembered yesterdays,
My memories of the past are fragmented and incomplete.
snowing sour rays,
These memories fill my mind with negativity.
interfere with clearly being here today.
They distract me from living in the moment.
I'm sorry to say
Unfortunately,
I think I've strayed.
I believe I have lost my way.
She said "say it - go ahead & at a planet bay it,
Someone told me to express myself freely,
bay - it's the same today as any other day".
And that no matter what, every day is just like any other.
I've gone astray.
I have deviated from the right path.
I confess it, why should I repress it?
I admit my mistake and question why I should hide it.
Unless it's wrestled through it grows on you,
If I don't work to overcome it, it will only get worse.
when you've strayed.
When you have lost your way.
Gone into hiding, can't abide the latest tidings from the tribe.
I have secluded myself and can't bear the negative news from my community.
It's reported hopes are thwarted, nothing of the wonderful survives.
The news is full of stories of lost dreams and nothing positive seems to remain.
Its resurrection is the purpose of our lives,
The goal of life is to revive the good and positive.
but who can rise?
But who has the strength to do so?
How thick the lids lie on my eyes…
How ignorant and unseeing I have been.
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.