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.
Through the Barricades
Spandau Ballet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She says it must be youth
That keeps us feeling strong
I see it in her face, that's turned to ice
And when she smiles she shows the lines of sacrifice
And now I know what they're saying
'Cause our sun begins to fade
And through the barricades
Father made my history
He fought for what he thought
Would set us somehow free
He taught me what to say in school
I learned it off by heart
But now that's torn in two
And now I know what they're saying
In the music of the parade
We made our love on wasteland
And through the barricades
Born on different sides of life
We feel the same and feel all of this strife
So come to me when I'm asleep
We'll cross the line
And dance upon the street
And now I know what they're saying
As the drums begin to fade
And we made our love on wasteland
And through the barricades
Oh, turn around and I'll be there
Oh, there's a scar through my heart but I'll bare it again
Oh, I thought we were the human race
But we were just another borderline case
And the stars reach down and tell us
There's always one escape
Oh, I don't know where love has gone
And in this trouble land
Desperation keeps us strong
Friday's child is full of soul
With nothing left to lose, there's everything to go
And now I know what they're are saying
It's a terrible beauty we've made
So we make our love on wasteland
And through the barricades
Now I know what they're are saying
As hearts go to their graves
We made our love on wasteland
Oh, and through the barricades
Through the Barricades by Spandau Ballet is a song about two lovers from opposite sides of a political conflict who are kept apart by the barricades. The lyrics paint a picture of a world in turmoil, where families are torn apart by their beliefs, and love is a rare commodity. The first verse describes the mother's sadness at the loss of love, and her belief that it is the energy of youth that keeps love alive. However, the smile on her face shows the sacrifices she has made to keep her family together.
The second verse tells the story of the father, who fought for freedom but has now been torn in two by the conflict. The singer has learned what his father taught him but feels lost and disconnected from his roots. The chorus reminds us that love can flourish in the most hostile environments, even on wastelands, and through the barricades. The bridge talks about the couple's connection despite their differences and how they will overcome the barricades to be together.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother doesn't know where love has gone
My mother is unsure where the love that was once felt has gone
She says it must be youth
She believes the feeling of love is attributed to being young
That keeps us feeling strong
This feeling of love is what gives us strength
I see it in her face, that's turned to ice
I can observe in her facial expressions the cooling of the once felt love
And when she smiles she shows the lines of sacrifice
Her attempts to show happiness display the evidence of all she's given up
And now I know what they're saying
I understand what others are saying and referring to
'Cause our sun begins to fade
As our time together starts to run out
And we made our love on wasteland
Our love grew in difficult circumstances and places
And through the barricades
We endured hardship and opposition to maintain our love
Father made my history
My father shaped my past and defined my upbringing
He fought for what he thought
He'd struggled for and stood up for what he believed in
Would set us somehow free
His beliefs were towards freeing us from oppression
He taught me what to say in school
He instilled in me a particular understanding and way of communicating
I learned it off by heart
I memorized the lessons taught to me
But now that's torn in two
But now that way of life is seemingly fallen apart or invalidated
In the music of the parade
Against the sounds of victory attributed to the oppressors
Born on different sides of life
Despite different socioeconomic classes and cultures, we still share the same experiences
We feel the same and feel all of this strife
We share the same sense of suffering amidst all of this chaos
So come to me when I'm asleep
Find me when I am at peace and most vulnerable
We'll cross the line
We'll push through the things separating us
And dance upon the street
And revel in the open with no fear
As the drums begin to fade
As the battle quiets down
And there's a scar through my heart but I'll bare it again
Even though there is a wound in my heart, I am willing to fight for our love again
Oh, I thought we were the human race
I used to believe we were all equal and civilized
But we were just another borderline case
But it turned out we're only at the edge of the reality we thought existed
And the stars reach down and tell us
A sign showing us a path
There's always one escape
There's always a way out, no matter how impossible it may seem
And in this trouble land
In this land of conflict
Desperation keeps us strong
Our desperation and love is what gives us strength
Friday's child is full of soul
I, as one born on a Friday, have a great spirit
With nothing left to lose, there's everything to go
With nothing to lose, we have everything to gain from fighting for our love.
It's a terrible beauty we've made
Our love has been formed despite the hardship and destruction in its wake
As hearts go to their graves
As lives end
Oh, turn around and I'll be there
If and when you are in need again, know that I will be there for you
We made our love on wasteland
We have built our relationship despite being surrounded by obstacles
And through the barricades
We have persisted despite the challenges and hardships
Lyrics © REFORMATION MUSIC INC
Written by: Gary James Kemp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hairyass666
I'm so proud to be 50 years old...because I was so privileged to be part of the 80's and the 90's musical revolution...I wish the kids of today could have been there with me...X
@memorialgardens1664
1969 💪💕🙏🎼
@yasserm.dhouib9488
Exactly rightly said
@visitargentinanow1874
I'm 50 too and I hit the like 50 to your comment. Lol.
@redhandmac
fruit!
@rozatoldi5555
Absolutely true 🎶🎶🎶🧚🏻❤️🤟✌️
@adrianellis4497
Nothing written today comes close to the musical prowess of songs like this. Melodic, emotionally captivating, descriptive, expert musicianship. I couldn't tell you the name of one artist that has stood out for me in the last five years that comes close to the quality of music like this.
@Him_He_Me
Just playing the instrument tells you they were talented and skilled. Your descriptive writing is pretty cool too.
@iscreemz4494
Absolutely one of the most beautiful songs of all-time, in my humble opinion.
I get chills without fail every time Tony Hadley busts out: "Now I know what they're saying, as our hearts go to their grave."
Bravo Spandau Ballet.
Bravo!
@natureclips5849
Not just a 80s song and song that still can be heard today