Initially formed in 1976 in London, England, they didn't reach a stable line-up or decide on the Spandau name until 1978. Their odd title allegedly came from a piece of bathroom graffiti observed during the members early days. Inspired by a mixture of avant-garde synth pop and slick funk. as typified by their early track "Chant No 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", also known by other titles such as "Chant # 1", the band commercially broke through with an artistic public image as remarked upon as their music. Said track reached the #2 spot in the U.K. and was notable for inclusion of the horn section from the group Beggar & Co, which proved a fruitful collaboration on record.
Spandau Ballet's first two albums, 1981's 'Journeys to Glory' and 1982's 'Diamond', found them also mining their art rock and glam rock roots as their fan-base expanded, the group looking to the works of David Bowie and Roxy Music for inspiration. Both albums charted in the U.K. top 20 and were later certified gold by the RIAA. Additional popular songs from the band in this era include "To Cut a Long Story Short" and "Freeze" (also known as "The Freeze". The group also notably picked up a semi-friendly rivalry with new wave contemporaries Duran Duran.
After four hits in the U.K. followed by a couple of less successful releases, however, Spandau Ballet's chart career appeared to be on the wane. Yet Instinction, re-ignited their fortunes and became the first of eleven consecutive singles to reach the Top 20
Immensely popular in the UK, the New Romantic group eventually mellowed into a mainstream pop act. As with Duran Duran they 'broke America', albeit briefly - the title track of their 3rd album True peaked in the Top 5 of the Singles charts. The song gained a new life in the 1990's and beyond by being sampled in the songs Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by PM Dawn and N Dey Say by Nelly.
After a split in 1990 and a court case almost ten years later involving Hadley, Keeble & Norman suing Gary Kemp over royalties, they announced in March 2009 a reformation.
Code of Love
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
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She took so much out of his
It was a crucial assignment
No one ever asked for this
It was a little confusin'
He thought, he knew what to do
But now they're walkin' in silence
Well, she wrote you a song, sayin' that she approved
But you didn't understand
And when love comes along, it's just a catcher in the rye
It's hard to make those long term plans
Well, it's the code of love
You don't understand her
Well, it's the code of love
You could never ask for more
You could never ask for more
They made a certain agreement
He's bound to do what he's told
He ran back home with the message
Screwed up in a pocket cold
She sat at home with her reason
A sour note and a tear
But love comes home for the season
Breakin' down the walls of fears
Well, she wrote you a song sayin' that she approved
But you didn't understand
And when love comes along, it's just a catcher in the rye
It's hard to make those long term plans
Well, it's the code of love
You don't understand her
Well, it's the code of love
You could never ask for more
You could never ask for more
Well, it's the code of love
You don't understand her
Well, it's the code of love
You don't understand her
Code of love
Code of love
Code of love
...
The lyrics of Spandau Ballet's "Code of Love" tell the story of a man (possibly a soldier, hence the reference to "soldier blue") who was tasked with a crucial assignment involving a woman ("little girl") in his life. He put a lot into their relationship, but she took a lot out of it, leaving him confused about what to do. They walk in silence, suggesting a breakdown of effective communication. She writes him a song, but he doesn't understand it or her, making it difficult for him to make long-term plans.
Despite any confusion, there's a code of love at play here that the man cannot quite grasp. He might be bound to do what he's told, but love "comes home for the season," breaking down walls of fear. There seems to be a sense of longing and regret in the lyrics as they contemplate the nature of love and how it can be hard to understand or make sense of. The use of the phrase "code of love" implies that love is a set of rules or guidelines that must be followed, but it's not always easy to do so.
Overall, the lyrics of "Code of Love" paint a picture of a complicated and confusing relationship, with moments of beauty and connection but also moments of frustration and misunderstanding. It suggests that love is a powerful force that can be both joyful and painful, and that it's not always easy to navigate its intricacies.
Line by Line Meaning
He put so much into her life
He was fully invested in their relationship and gave her everything he had
She took so much out of his
She took advantage of his love and drained him emotionally
It was a crucial assignment
Their relationship was an important task or mission that they had to accomplish together
No one ever asked for this
Neither of them chose to fall in love, it just happened unexpectedly
It was a little confusin'
Their relationship was complicated and not always clear
He thought, he knew what to do
He believed he had a solid plan for how to navigate the challenges in their relationship
But now they're walkin' in silence
They are both keeping their thoughts and emotions to themselves, causing a lack of communication
Little girl and soldier blue
Referring to themselves, she is the one in control and he is the obedient one
Well, she wrote you a song, sayin' that she approved
She expressed her fondness for him through music, but he misinterpreted the message
But you didn't understand
He failed to comprehend her true intentions and feelings
And when love comes along, it's just a catcher in the rye
Love can be elusive and difficult to grasp, like trying to catch something in the wind
It's hard to make those long term plans
Planning for the future in a relationship is difficult when things are uncertain
Well, it's the code of love
Love has its own set of rules and expectations that are not always easy to follow
You don't understand her
He struggles to comprehend her actions and emotions
You could never ask for more
He knows he is lucky to have her and doesn't want to ask for too much
They made a certain agreement
They came to an understanding of how their relationship would work
He's bound to do what he's told
He feels obligated to fulfill his role in the relationship, even if it's not what he wants
He ran back home with the message
He completed his task and returned with the information she wanted
Screwed up in a pocket cold
The message was crumpled and ruined from being carried in his pocket
She sat at home with her reason
She thought about and justified to herself the actions she took in their relationship
A sour note and a tear
She felt sad and regretful about the current state of their relationship
But love comes home for the season
Love always finds its way back into their lives, especially during certain times of the year
Breakin' down the walls of fears
Their love helps them overcome their fears and doubts about the relationship
You don't understand her
He is still struggling to understand her true feelings and motivations
Lyrics © REFORMATION MUSIC INC
Written by: GARY KEMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind