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.
Swept
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Loose talk could sink this ship
Well the way that I am as weak as a lamb,
See it on my shaky lip
There's more to these actions,
That you could ever know
With the moon and the tide I'm drawn to your side
And moving with the flow
I know I'll drown this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
Throw the line
Now I'm swept,
And I'm lost within my mind
On a love that makes me blind
And this feeling I just can't forget,
Now I'm swept
On a tide that's in my soul
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
Now I'm swept
Mind over matter,
No matter where this mind will be
There's more to be said, oh, for games in the head
Than anything you'll ever see
There's safety in dreaming,
So wrap me in things that I know
With my head in the sand,
I'm at your command
And moving with the flow
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
I know I'll drown this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
Throw the line
Now I'm swept,
And I'm lost within my mind
On a love that makes me blind
And this feeling I just can't forget,
Now I'm swept
On a tide that's in my soul
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
Now I'm swept
The lyrics of Spandau Ballet's "Swept" portray a person who is vulnerable in love and feels powerless to its delirium. The opening lines of the song warn of the consequences of loose talk, indicating that the person singing has something to lose. They further reveal that the person is weak and prone to shaking with emotion, which shows that they are at the mercy of love. Despite the apparent weakness, there is a mysterious nature to the character's actions that the listener could never understand fully.
The chorus of the song repeatedly mentions being "swept" away and losing control within one's mind. The implication of the lyrics is a person who forgets the consequences of love and the risks they face by allowing it to consume them. The lyrics also suggest that the character knows that sinking or swimming between love and stability will cause them to drown; they are vulnerable to love’s enslavement. At the same time, they are hopeful that the love affair will continue, and they wish to be caught and not abandoned by their partner.
The bridge of the song suggests that there can be safety in daydreaming, which mirrors the safety of being in dreamland, where you're not exposed to real-world dangers. Overall, the lyrics of "Swept" reveal an emotional and vulnerable character prone to the hypnotic pull of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Be careful what you say,
Think before you speak, as loose talk can ruin everything
Loose talk could sink this ship
The consequences of loose talk could destroy this relationship
Well the way that I am as weak as a lamb,
I am vulnerable and easily influenced
See it on my shaky lip
My insecurity is evident in my trembling lip
There's more to these actions,
My actions have deeper meaning than what meets the eye
That you could ever know
You may never fully understand my motives
With the moon and the tide I'm drawn to your side
Like the ebb and flow of the ocean, I am irresistibly drawn to you
And moving with the flow
I am following my heart and allowing my feelings to guide me
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
When faced with a difficult decision, I am at risk of failing
I know I'll drown this time
I am certain that I will not succeed this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
When times get tough and I am struggling
Throw the line
Offer me your support and help me through this
Now I'm swept,
I am caught up in a powerful emotion
And I'm lost within my mind
My thoughts and feelings are overwhelming me
On a love that makes me blind
My intense love for you is blinding me to reason
And this feeling I just can't forget,
This intense feeling will stay with me forever
Now I'm swept
I am carried away by my emotions
On a tide that's in my soul
My deepest emotions are compelling me to act
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
The intensity of my emotions is making me lose control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
I am not ready for this to be over
Mind over matter,
Mental strength is important
No matter where this mind will be
Regardless of where my mind takes me
There's more to be said, oh, for games in the head
My thoughts and imagination are powerful forces
Than anything you'll ever see
My inner thoughts and emotions are more impactful than anything external
There's safety in dreaming,
Dreaming and imagination provide a sense of security and comfort
So wrap me in things that I know
I seek comfort in familiar things
With my head in the sand,
I am avoiding reality
I'm at your command
I am under your influence and direction
And moving with the flow
I am allowing my emotions to guide me
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
When faced with a difficult decision, I am at risk of failing
I know I'll drown this time
I am certain that I will not succeed this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
When times get tough and I am struggling
Throw the line
Offer me your support and help me through this
Now I'm swept,
I am caught up in a powerful emotion
And I'm lost within my mind
My thoughts and feelings are overwhelming me
On a love that makes me blind
My intense love for you is blinding me to reason
And this feeling I just can't forget,
This intense feeling will stay with me forever
Now I'm swept
I am carried away by my emotions
On a tide that's in my soul
My deepest emotions are compelling me to act
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
The intensity of my emotions is making me lose control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
I am not ready for this to be over
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Calogero Castaldo
Be careful what you say,
Loose talk could sink this ship
Well the way that I am as weak as a lamb,
See it on my shaky lip
There's more to these actions,
That you could ever know
With the moon and the tide I'm drawn to your side
And moving with the flow
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
I know I'll drown this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
Throw the line
Now I'm swept,
And I'm lost within my mind
On a love that makes me blind
And this feeling I just can't forget,
Now I'm swept
On a tide that's in my soul
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
Now I'm swept
Mind over matter,
No matter where this mind will be
There's more to be said, oh, for games in the head
Than anything you'll ever see
There's safety in dreaming,
So wrap me in things that I know
With my head in the sand,
I'm at your command
And moving with the flow
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
I know I'll drown this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
Throw the line
Now I'm swept,
And I'm lost within my mind
On a love that makes me blind
And this feeling I just can't forget,
Now I'm swept
On a tide that's in my soul
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
Now I'm swept
JWW642
Best Spandau Ballet song ever.
Trent Pelletier
They have so many amazing songs it's hard to choose a best but yes this one is definetly a top contender
Karina Lubyte
TREMENDOUSLY BEAUTIFUL! BUT THEY ALSO HAVE OTHER VERY GOOD SONGS!
Bill Armstrong
Should have been released as a single.
Hans Ulrich Rudel
Un hermoso tema, este disco llegó a chile en 1986, excelente tenerlo aún en cassette y vinilo.
Calogero Castaldo
Be careful what you say,
Loose talk could sink this ship
Well the way that I am as weak as a lamb,
See it on my shaky lip
There's more to these actions,
That you could ever know
With the moon and the tide I'm drawn to your side
And moving with the flow
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
I know I'll drown this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
Throw the line
Now I'm swept,
And I'm lost within my mind
On a love that makes me blind
And this feeling I just can't forget,
Now I'm swept
On a tide that's in my soul
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
Now I'm swept
Mind over matter,
No matter where this mind will be
There's more to be said, oh, for games in the head
Than anything you'll ever see
There's safety in dreaming,
So wrap me in things that I know
With my head in the sand,
I'm at your command
And moving with the flow
When it's time to choose and it's sink or swim,
I know I'll drown this time
When the cold wind blows and I'm falling in,
Throw the line
Now I'm swept,
And I'm lost within my mind
On a love that makes me blind
And this feeling I just can't forget,
Now I'm swept
On a tide that's in my soul
And this feeling that I have is losing me control
And I hope it doesn't end just yet,
Now I'm swept
MusicSkyHigh
This Song lifts my soul , the lyrics are so creative I also love this album, thanks for posting the lyrics, it's like an important message used in a form of a song, it makes you think from the first line of the song, the words , the melody,,,,,,,,,,, ( I love songs like this one ) !
Harvid Moreton
I have been a SB fan all my life, but only recently has it hit me just how good ie well written the songs are.
KyriakosGR
Great Spands'!
B Klarenbeek
Love❤