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.
Here Comes Bob
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Foot to floorboard, impact soon achieved.
Here comes Bob!
I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends,
Girl, this rubbled mess was caused by my neglect.
Of course, I'll pay and by the way, my dear,
Here comes Bob!
I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends.
Two-door coupes without the frills,
But that's just for casual acquaintances,
For stripped-down thrills.
Your car, girl; or mine?
It doesn't matter, doesn't matter, no,
But for affairs with staying power
I go after limousines.
It's always nice if something big
Is acting as your go-between.
And for group encounters I'll hit buses,
Mobile homes, or trains to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
It's hard to make acquaintances in our big town;
Most eyes stare at nothing much at all.
But here comes Bob!
I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends,
Friends, acquaintances!
Instant adulation comes to some at birth,
Born to queens or corporate entities.
But here comes Bob!
Someday they'll put me away;
I'll think back on active days.
Most were worth the minor scars,
Some were worth the damaged cars,
And the judge will say to me:
"Bob, you've got a bad means to a worthwhile end."
Well, here comes Bob!
The lyrics of Sparks's song Here Comes Bob describe a character who is aggressive in their pursuit of making new friends and connections. In the first stanza, the singer declares their lack of subtlety, describing how they speed toward a driver that has caught their attention. The repeated phrase "Here comes Bob!" highlights the character's confidence and determination. The second stanza further elaborates on the character's tactics, including hitting other cars and even buses or trains in order to meet new people. The stanza ends with the acknowledgement that their approach may not always be successful, but they are willing to take the risk. The final stanza reveals a sense of acceptance that the character's actions may lead to punishment, but they believe the reward of making new connections is worth it.
Overall, the song presents a humorous but slightly unsettling portrayal of a character who is willing to cause damage and risk punishment in order to make new friends. The repetition of "Here comes Bob!" adds to the catchy and somewhat celebratory tone of the song, highlighting the character's self-assurance in their approach.
Line by Line Meaning
When I spot a driver worth a second glance,
Whenever I come across a driver worth admiring,
Foot to floorboard, impact soon achieved.
I'll accelerate rapidly and soon hit the car of the driver.
Here comes Bob!
That's me, Bob, here to make an impression!
I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends,
I don't beat around the bush- I'll hit your car to make friends
Girl, this rubbled mess was caused by my neglect.
This messy accident is due to me not paying attention.
Of course, I'll pay and by the way, my dear,
Don't worry about the cost, I'll cover it. By the way...
Here comes Bob!
...I'm Bob and I'm here to make friends!
Sometimes I'll stoop to hitting
On occasion, I'll go as low as hitting
Two-door coupes without the frills,
unfancy two-door cars
But that's just for casual acquaintances,
I'll only hit those cars for casual friendships
For stripped-down thrills.
Simply for the excitement of it
Your car, girl; or mine?
Doesn't matter whose car we use
It doesn't matter, doesn't matter, no,
No, it really doesn't matter
But for affairs with staying power
For relationships that will last awhile
I go after limousines.
I prefer to hit limousines
It's always nice if something big
The bigger the better,
Is acting as your go-between.
As an intermediary for us
And for group encounters I'll hit buses,
When hanging out with friends, I'll hit buses
Mobile homes, or trains to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Or mobile homes or trains heading to Pennsylvania
It's hard to make acquaintances in our big town;
It's difficult to meet new people in our large city
Most eyes stare at nothing much at all.
Many people around here seem to be simply looking around doing nothing important.
But here comes Bob!
But guess who's here to help with that? Me, Bob!
I ain't subtle in my ways of making friends,
I'll remind you again, I'm not shy when it comes to making new friends
Friends, acquaintances!
I'm here to make both types of connections
Instant adulation comes to some at birth,
Some people are born into wealth and power
Born to queens or corporate entities.
Born to a life of royalty or corporate success
But here comes Bob!
But despite my humble beginnings, here's Bob!
Someday they'll put me away;
Eventually I'll get caught and face the consequences
I'll think back on active days.
At that point, I'll reflect on my more exciting times
Most were worth the minor scars,
Most of them were worth the small injuries
Some were worth the damaged cars,
Some of them resulted in damaged cars
And the judge will say to me:
When I'm in court, the judge will say
"Bob, you've got a bad means to a worthwhile end."
"Bob, your actions are unacceptable but your intentions are good."
Well, here comes Bob!
Regardless, here I come (again)!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: RONALD D 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.