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.
Just Got Back from Heaven
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Laughing friends won't buy it.
I've been known to tell them white lies,
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
I just got back from heaven.
I can see their faces
As I mention places,
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
I just got back from heaven.
[Chorus]
Heaven isn't so far away.
You walk through the door
And you're light years away.
Someone looks right into your eyes,
And you feel the magic that you can't deny,
And you sway
All through the night.
If you stay
All through the night.
Look at the shape I'm in,
I just got back from heaven.
Searching for some glory.
People make up stories;
One too many drinks at the bar.
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
I just got back from heaven.
[Chorus]
Any destination
Makes a great vacation.
This is something greater by far.
This time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
I just got back from heaven.
The song "Just Got Back from Heaven" by Sparks depicts the euphoria and magic one experiences after a heavenly vacation. The song begins with the singer stating that they have just returned from heaven, but their friends are skeptical as they are known to tell white lies. The singer confesses that they have over-described the places they have been to before, but this time, they swear it's the truth. The singer sings about how heaven is not very far away, and upon entering through the doors, one feels light-years away from the world. The magic of heaven is such that one cannot deny it, and it takes you in its sway all through the night.
The singer then talks about how people always search for glory and make up stories, but this time it is different. The magic of heaven is such that even the mere destination is a great vacation. The singer somehow finds themselves in this shape of euphoria after their visit to heaven.
The song is a metaphorical representation of living in the moment, enjoying the small things in life, and finding bliss in them. It suggests that Heaven is not a destination to be reached after death, but it is present on earth. The song encourages people to cherish the moments and enjoy the little things of life.
Line by Line Meaning
All I get is quiet,
I am not receiving any response or acknowledgment from my laughing friends when I tell them about my experience.
Laughing friends won't buy it.
My friends are not convinced by my story and are not taking me seriously.
I've been known to tell them white lies,
I have a history of telling falsehoods to my friends in order to impress them.
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
Despite my past behavior, I am being completely honest about my recent experience.
I just got back from heaven.
I have recently returned from a place so amazing, it feels like I have been to heaven.
I can see their faces
I am able to visualize the skeptical and incredulous expressions on the faces of my friends.
As I mention places,
As I describe the location I have recently visited.
Places that I've overdescribed,
I might have exaggerated and embellished the details of the place I visited in my previous descriptions.
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
I am being genuine and truthful about the amazing experience I have had.
Heaven isn't so far away.
The place I visited is so magical and otherworldly that it feels like it is as close as heaven.
You walk through the door,
Upon entering this place, you experience a significant change and it feels like a portal to a different world.
And you're light years away.
You are transported to a different dimension that is light years away from the reality we live in.
Someone looks right into your eyes,
You make immediate and intense eye contact with someone in this place.
And you feel the magic that you can't deny,
You experience a transcendent and undeniable feeling of enchantment and wonder that you cannot ignore.
And you sway all through the night.
You can't help but move and dance to the mesmerizing music and atmosphere of this place throughout the night.
If you stay all through the night.
If you choose to remain in this place for the whole night.
Look at the shape I'm in,
I am currently in a state of physical and emotional exhaustion due to the intensity of my recent experience.
Searching for some glory.
I have been seeking out a fulfilling and meaningful experience for some time now.
People make up stories;
Others often exaggerate or invent stories for their own benefit or to entertain others.
One too many drinks at the bar.
The stories people tell are often fueled by alcohol and a sense of bravado.
But this time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
Despite the skepticism surrounding stories of this nature, I am adamant that I am telling the truth about my recent experience.
Any destination makes a great vacation.
A change of scenery and a break from routine can make any location a desirable vacation spot.
This is something greater by far.
The place I visited was not just another vacation spot, but something much more profound and life-changing.
This time I swear it's the truth, oh, oh.
I assure you, without a doubt, that my recent experience was real and transformative.
I just got back from heaven.
I have recently returned from a place that was so incredible, it could only be described as heaven.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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.