The band's long career has seen them successfully adopt many different musical genres; including glam pop, power pop, electronic dance music and mainstream pop. Despite these many styles, a recognizable "Sparks sound" remains throughout, and they have enjoyed a large cult following since their first releases. Sparks have been highly influential on the development of popular music, in particular on the late 1970s scene, when in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder (and Telex subsequently), they reinvented themselves as an electronic pop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. In contrast to the esteem in which they are held by such peers as Depeche Mode, New Order, Morrissey and They Might Be Giants, who all cite Sparks as a major influence, their almost constantly changing styles and unique visual presentations have sometimes seen them dismissed as a novelty act.
The 2002 release of Lil' Beethoven, their self-described "genre-defining opus", and 2006's Hello Young Lovers (their 20th studio album) have brought Sparks renewed critical and commercial success, and seen them continue to "steer clear of pop conventions."
The 2021 documentary film 'The Sparks Brothers', directed by Edgar Wright, has renewed interest in the band for a new audience.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it never did come
But it never did come
We said, "Hey, where's our champagne?"
And they gave us a gun
Said to go and have fun
So many riches just out of reach
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
[CHORUS]
Let's take a walk
A walk down memory lane
Past the signs of the times
That lit our little way
And decide what it is
That made it all this way
And decide who it is
That might make it O.K.
The sun bears down on the man
With a girl on his arm
She's a victim of charm
She thinks, Sinatra the man
Think of him as you walk
Think of him as why ou walk
So many riches just out of reach
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
[CHORUS]
They say in 10 million years
That the sun'll burn out
And that'll be that
She drinks a couple of beers
Takes a look at the sun
She would love to see that
So many riches just out of reach
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
[CHORUS]
The lyrics of Sparks's song "A Walk Down Memory Lane" provides an introspective look into the dark reality of life where expectations often lead to disappointment. The opening lines "We all expected champagne, but it never did come" hint at the frustration of unfulfilled promises. The subsequent lines "We said, 'Hey, where's our champagne?' And they gave us a gun, said to go and have fun" reinforces the disillusionment and confusion, as if the only way to celebrate is to engage in violence. The song highlights the futility of striving for unattainable riches, as portrayed by the lines "So many riches just out of reach, coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah."
The chorus suggests taking a retrospective walk down memory lane, where one can contemplate the past to decide what made everything this way and who can make it okay. This reflective walk symbolizes the search for meaning in life, despite the uncertainty of the future. The mention of Frank Sinatra, "the man," adds an additional layer of nostalgia, as he is regarded as a legendary icon and a symbol of the American Dream. The final lines "They say in 10 million years that the sun'll burn out and that'll be that, she drinks a couple of beers, takes a look at the sun, she would love to see that" melancholically depicts the transient nature of life and the human desire to witness something unique and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
We all expected champagne
We were hoping for something extravagant
But it never did come
But unfortunately, it never happened
But it never did come
But unfortunately, it never happened
We said, "Hey, where's our champagne?"
We asked where our extravagant item was
And they gave us a gun
And instead gave us something dangerous
Said to go and have fun
And told us to use it for entertainment
So many riches just out of reach
There are so many desirable things that we can't have
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
Tempting opportunities were missed or unattainable
Let's take a walk
Let us take a journey
A walk down memory lane
Looking back at our past experiences
Past the signs of the times
Through the symbols of the era
That lit our little way
That guided us through life's path
And decide what it is
And determine what made it all possible
That made it all this way
What brought us to this point in time
And decide who it is
And identify who can fix the present
That might make it O.K.
To make everything better
The sun bears down on the man
The sun is shining on the man
With a girl on his arm
He has a woman accompanying him
She's a victim of charm
The woman is susceptible to his allure
She thinks, Sinatra the man
She imagines him as the legendary Frank Sinatra
Think of him as you walk
Picture his image while you travel
Think of him as why you walk
Consider why you are moving forward in life
They say in 10 million years
They speculate in a decade of millions of years
That the sun'll burn out
That the sun will extinguish
And that'll be that
And that will be the end
She drinks a couple of beers
She consumes a couple of beers
Takes a look at the sun
Looks at the sun
She would love to see that
She desires to observe it
So many riches just out of reach
There are so many desirable things that we can't have
Coming attractions washed up on the beach, oh yeah
Tempting opportunities were missed or unattainable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RONALD D MAEL, RUSSELL CRAIG MAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Scheherazade
A great Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on Aeroflot
This song is amazing.
Philip Kassabian
on Irreplaceable
Sparks is an absolutely fantastic band.
Philip Kassabian
on It's Educational
An absolutely great Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Calm Before the Storm
A great and fantastic Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on Perfume
A very catchy and great Sparks song.