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.
Mandolin
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting in the dark
All centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
Memories, oh, memories
Lay stains upon your heart
When lovers dance into the trance
Oh, I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more
Oh, mandolin, oh, mandolin
Waiting in the dark
Well, centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
Incessant sound, incessant sound
That stirs the young and pure
Incestuous I kiss my hand
And play the calling drum
The lover cried into the silk
Many years ago
Your voice laid comfort down upon
His European skin
Oh, I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more
Oh, I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more
Oh, I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played, oh, I cried for more
Mandolin, oh, mandolin
Waiting in the dark
Oh, centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
The lyrics of Spandau Ballet's song "Mandolin" evoke a feeling of nostalgia and romance. The imagery of a mandolin waiting in the dark establishes an air of anticipation and longing. The reference to "centuries passed down upon your smooth Venetian skin" alludes to the mandolin's rich history, and its association with Italian culture and music. The mandolin is portrayed as a repository of memories, with "stains upon [its] heart" that are the residue of past love affairs. The image of lovers dancing into a trance weaves a picture of intimacy and passion, which is heightened by the candlelight.
The song's central message lies in the emotions stirred by the mandolin's music. The singer is moved to tears by the music, which has the power to evoke a cathartic, transformative experience. The sunrise that he sees "like never before" suggests a spiritual awakening, as though the mandolin represents an entry point to an alternate reality. The lines "Incessant sound, incessant sound/ that stirs the young and pure" suggest that the mandolin has the power to transport its listeners to a realm of purity and innocence. Even the act of kissing one's hand and "play[ing] the calling drum" has a sensual quality, as though the music is able to awaken the entire body to feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, mandolin, oh, mandolin
The singer addresses the mandolin twice in a row with deep appreciation.
Waiting in the dark
The mandolin is placed in a location where it awaits for someone to play it.
All centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
The mandolin has been around for centuries and bears the passage of time on its smooth, Venetian finish.
Memories, oh, memories
Lay stains upon your heart
The mandolin carries memories that deeply impact it.
When lovers dance into the trance
You weaved by candlelight
The mandolin is responsible for creating an atmosphere where lovers appeal to each other through dance.
Oh, I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more
The beauty of the mandolin music moved the singer deeply, making them want more of this experience.
Incessant sound, incessant sound
That stirs the young and pure
The music of the mandolin has the power to stir up the hearts and minds of young people with its incessant sounds.
Incestuous I kiss my hand
And play the calling drum
The artist is so wrapped up in the beauty of the mandolin's music that it feels like an incestuous act when they touch it.
The lover cried into the silk
Many years ago
Your voice laid comfort down upon
His European skin
A long time ago, the sound of the mandolin's music soothed a lover as they cried into a piece of silk, with the mandolin's sound providing them with emotional comfort.
Mandolin, oh, mandolin
Waiting in the dark
Once again, the artist addresses the mandolin and points out that it waits in the darkness for someone to play it.
Oh, centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
The mandolin's age and history are highlighted again, with the centuries passing down on its smooth Venetian exterior.
Lyrics © REFORMATION MUSIC INC
Written by: GARY KEMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind