The band, from Burlington, Ontario, consisted of Gordon Deppe (vocals and guitar), Sandy Horne (vocals and bass), Rob Preuss (keyboards and piano) and Derrick Ross (drums). Preuss also replaced Brett Wickens in 1980.
In the late eighties, Preuss went on to play with Honeymoon Suite and Ross left the band and were replaced by Scott MacDonald and Steve Kendry.
The band released five albums (and a soundtrack that was credited to Gordon Deppe but included a couple songs from the "Tell No Lies" ep).
Their most popular songs included " Romantic Traffic", "Nova Heart", "Old Emotions" and "Tell No Lies".
Gordon Deppe is currently a music programmer for one of the Galaxie Music Network (television) channels in Canada.
For more information, check out thespoons.ca.
Their latest album, Static in Transmission , was released in 2011. A single from the album, You Light Up is available on Youtube.
They should not be confused with Spoon (American band) or The Spoons (multiple artists).
Clever
Spoons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She comes riding a pale horse
I see her laugh behind her smile
She takes your love from me
She puts venom in your words
She makes you something that you¹re not
She talk talk
Talks to me
Clever
So clever
She¹s haunting me
Forever
She¹s clever
And now she¹s far away
I bring flowers to your door
I think I¹m happy but I¹m not...no
My mortal enemy
Sometimes I miss you in my sleep
You may be deadly to the touch
But come come
Come to me
Come so...
Clever
So clever
She¹s haunting me
Forever
Now heaven¹s
Not far away
I can¹t look back
All my fascination
No matter how dangerous
I¹m not much good
When it comes to patience
I don¹t believe
I don¹t believe in luck
She¹s clever
So clever she¹s haunting me
Forever
Now heaven¹s
Not far away
Clever
So clever
She¹s clever
Now heaven¹s
Just words away
The lyrics of Spoons' song Clever are a powerful expression of the singer's struggle with his emotions after losing his love to a mortal enemy, who seems to have put venom in his words and turned him into something he is not. The mention of a pale horse is a subtle reference to the biblical book of Revelation, where it's mentioned by St. John. The rider on the horse is considered to be Death, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This imagery sets the bleak tone of the song, as Death is seen to be inexorable and unconquerable, just as the enemy who has taken the singer's love away.
The singer's frustration at his helplessness is palpable in the lines, "You may be deadly to the touch, but come to me." He is torn between his memories of the past with his love and his hatred for the enemy who has stolen her away. The enemy is described as being clever, haunting, and forever present, symbols of her domination over the singer. Yet, the description of her as being clever also acknowledges her intelligence and cunning, perhaps suggesting that the singer is drawn to her despite his feelings of hatred.
The final lines of the song, "Now heaven's just words away," suggest that the singer is either resigned to his fate or looking for a way out of his predicament. It's a powerful image of a man who is struggling with his emotions but is also aware of the limitations of his own willpower. Ultimately, the song is a deep meditation on the complexities of human relationships and the power of the enemies we face within ourselves and in the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
My mortal enemy
Refers to someone who is an adversary and has caused harm or trouble previously.
She comes riding a pale horse
Suggests a reference to death and that the enemy is someone who causes a final end to something important.
I see her laugh behind her smile
Indicates that the enemy is cunning and hides their true intentions behind a facade.
She takes your love from me
Means that the enemy interferes in the emotional relationships of a person's life and causes separation or pain to those affected.
She puts venom in your words
Refers to how the enemy corrupts the communication between people and poisons their interactions with negative influences.
She makes you something that you're not
Suggests that the enemy influences people so much that it changes what they believe and how they behave.
She talk talk
Means that the enemy speaks often and dominates conversations with their words.
Talks to me
Indicates that the enemy is communicating with the singer specifically and trying to manipulate or control them.
Talks so...
The previous lines are repeated to emphasize how the enemy communicates excessively and with ulterior motives.
Clever
Describes the enemy as sly or scheming in their actions.
So clever
Repeats and emphasizes how cunning the enemy is.
She's haunting me
Suggests that the enemy is continually on the singer's mind and causing distress.
Forever
Reflects how the effects of the enemy will last and continue to affect the singer's life.
And now she's far away
Suggests that the enemy has left or is not currently present in the singer's life.
I bring flowers to your door
Implies that the singer is trying to improve or repair a previously damaged relationship but is unsure of their success.
I think I'm happy but I'm not...no
Points out that the singer may not be experiencing true happiness and may still be troubled by the enemy's actions.
Sometimes I miss you in my sleep
Indicates that the singer has mixed emotions about the enemy and may not be fully resolved from their past experiences.
You may be deadly to the touch
Suggests that the enemy is dangerous and may have harmful intentions towards others.
But come come
Invites the enemy to engage with the singer despite knowing their potential danger.
Come to me
Suggests that the singer wants to reconcile, even with the dangerous enemy.
Come so...
Repeats and emphasizes the invitation to the enemy, displaying the singer's desperation for resolution.
Now heaven's not far away
Reflects a change in the singer's perspective and that they may have found peace and resolution in their life.
I can't look back
Suggests that the singer has moved past their previous troubles and is not willing to revisit them.
All my fascination
Means that the singer was once intrigued or captured by the enemy and their actions.
No matter how dangerous
Indicates that the singer is willing to confront risks and danger to reach resolution.
I'm not much good
Suggests that the singer may not be able to handle the situation with the enemy on their own and may need help.
When it comes to patience
Means that the singer may struggle with waiting and finding a long-term solution.
I don't believe
Indicates that the singer may be skeptical about certain aspects of their life.
I don't believe in luck
Means that the singer does not think that chance or fate will solve their problems.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.