It was in 1978 that Duffy helped form Duran Duran with college friends Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. After recording demos and playing local gigs Duffy left the band to form Only Five Believers. This latter band evolved into The Hawks who released their sole single Words of Hope in 1980, beating his first band Duran Duran by a year.
The Hawks eventually dissolved and Duffy formed Tin Tin, a four-piece synth-led band who recorded Kiss Me (1983). This was picked up by WEA and became a major club hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Financed by Warners, Duffy moved to America for 1 year to write songs but was eventually dropped and returned to England to be signed by Virgin/10. In the meantime, he had relaunched himself as a solo artist called Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy. A re-recording of Kiss Me was reissued in 1985 and became a major hit followed by Icing on the Cake and the album The Ups And Downs. After this period, he dropped the Tin Tin from his name and proceeded to record as Stephen AJ Duffy. He released 3 more singles and 1 more album called Because We Love You. This marked the end of his pop phase.
Following an experimental dance album, Designer Beatnik under the alias Dr Calculus, Duffy was dropped by Virgin/10 and he returned to his folk roots and formed The Lilac Time with his brother, Nick. The band evolved into a four-piece and were picked up by Fontana. They recorded three albums and released 9 singles before they were dropped and signed to Alan McGee's Creation label. The resulting album, 1991's Astronauts was another critically acclaimed LP but also another commercial disaster. They were dropped by Creation and The Lilac Time split.
In 1993, after signing with EMI, the album Music in Colors was released. It was a collaborative effort with violinist Nigel Kennedy and featured 9 songs of Duffy and 9 instrumentals of Kennedy. It was credited to Stephen Duffy feat. Dr. Nigel Kennedy. Again, it was a commercial flop and the inevitable happened - Duffy was dropped. In 1994, he moved to Alaska and then to USA to start a record with R.E.M. and Velvet Crush producer, Mitch Easter. During this time, Duffy also started to regularly co-write songs with Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies and their songs can be heard on various BL albums from 1994 onwards.
After reading about the Britpop boom that was occurring in Britain in late '94, he managed to secure a deal with BMG subsidary Indolent and a new album simply called Duffy was released in 1995. By this time, he had dropped the Stephen from his name and rather Morrissey-like, he was simply known as Duffy. Even though the album was mostly recorded in the US, Duffy found himself wrapped up in the Britpop wave and he recorded a one-off single called Hanging Around as Me Me Me with Alex James of Blur in 1996. Reaching the lofty heights of #17, this was the first chart action Duffy had experienced in 11 years. He started to record his 2nd album as Duffy but shortly before it was to be released, he got dropped. Again.
Major indie Cooking Vinyl picked the album up (called I Love My Friends) and released it in 1998. After this, Duffy reformed The Lilac Time with his brother Nick and original drummer Michael Giri and also added the girl, who in 2008 would become Mrs. Stephen Duffy, Claire Worrall as backing vocalist. Worrall had been working as the touring keyboardist/backing singer/guitarist for Robbie Williams live band. The resulting album Looking for a Day in the Night was released in 1999. Somehow managing to keep a deal with Cooking Vinyl, the band released the follow-up Lilac6 in 2001. Three successive albums on the same label was a major feat but inevitably he was dropped in 2002.
Following a chance meeting with old Duran Duran bandmate, Nick Rhodes, the duo started to re-record old demos Duffy had found on a cassette in the back of a drawer. After 6 weeks of recording, the album Dark Circles credited to The Devils was released on their own label, Tape Modern. Featuring old Duran songs and brand new songs written by the duo, Rhodes commented that this is how the debut Duran LP would have sounded had Duffy stayed on with them.
His next project was a new Lilac Time album and this was released on his own label, Folk Modern, in 2003 and credited to Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time. The album wryly called Keep Going was again critically acclaimed but had little commercial success. Later that year, it was announced that Duffy was going to be new co-writer of Robbie Williams.
The following year, Duffy scored a #1 hit with the song Radio performed by Williams and produced & co-written by Duffy. The eventual fruits of their labour were realised in 2005 when the album Intensive Care was released. Duffy had major input in the album as sole producer, co-writer and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, programming). Also during this year a self-titled album by The Vanity Project was released. This was an alias for Steven Page of Barenaked Ladiesand the album featured 12 songs co-written by Duffy.
In 2006, Duffy embarked on a major world tour with Robbie Williams as live on-stage guitarist and "musical director". Following this recent rise in his profile, much of his back catalogue has now been reissued by all his former labels. The latest Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time album Runout Groove was released in October 2007.
In September 2009, Duffy released his first major career retrospective, Memory & Desire - 30 Years in the Wilderness, covering both his work as a solo artist and as The Lilac Time.
Icing On The Cake
Stephen Duffy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To stand outside the council house
To stand as a reminder of what you are
And what you want to be
I want to live with you
Want to sleep with you
In a house, in a peaceful world
They want to break you
Don't let them make you unhappy
You are the icing on the cake
The party on the street
The love you cannot fake
The truth you cannot cheat
You were left on the doorstep
Of the Social Security
You were hoping for a future as someone
Not just a leisure refugee
I always saw you as a fighter and a winner
Not content to only write your name
Their right way is the wrong way for what you are
And what you were born to be
Born to be young and free
To be young and wise
Not to listen to all their lies
Don't let them make you
Don't let them break you
Don't let them make you unhappy
Here we come waltzing home
By the moon so bright
By the sea, by the harbour wall
They want to take you
They want to break you
Shape you and make you unhappy
The first verse of this song describes the singer's desire to honor their partner by creating a statue to remind them of their identity and aspirations. This statue would be erected outside of the council house, which is a symbol of government and bureaucracy in the UK. The singer sees their partner as someone with potential and is supportive of their desire to become something more.
The chorus further emphasizes the singer's admiration for their partner, describing them as the "icing on the cake," a symbol of celebration and sweetness, as well as a truth that cannot be ignored or manipulated. The singer recognizes the struggles that their partner has faced, including being left on the doorstep of Social Security and being perceived as a "leisure refugee". Despite these challenges, the singer sees their partner as a fighter and a winner, someone who is destined to break free from societal expectations and limitations.
The final verse urges the partner to remain strong and resist the pressures to conform to the expectations of others. The singer wants their partner to remain young and free, and resist the lies and manipulation that threaten to make them unhappy. The song ends with an allusion to waltzing home by the moon and sea, suggesting a romantic and idyllic escape from the pressures of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, let me make you a statue
I want to immortalize you by making a statue of you to stand outside the council house; to serve as a reminder of who you truly are and what you want to become.
I want to live with you
I desire to share my life with you; to be with you always.
Want to sleep with you
I not only want to live with you, but also share an intimate physical relationship with you.
In a house, in a peaceful world
I envision our lives together in a tranquil place where we can both find solace and comfort.
They want to take you
The world may want to control or manipulate you for their own desires.
They want to break you
Those who want to take you may also attempt to tear you down and break your spirit.
Don't let them make you unhappy
Do not allow the world to make you unhappy or prevent you from achieving your dreams and aspirations.
You are the icing on the cake
You are the perfect complement; enhancing the beauty of life and making it much richer.
The party on the street
You are the source of joy, celebration and excitement in the world.
The love you cannot fake
Your love is genuine and true; it cannot be fabricated or pretended.
The truth you cannot cheat
You are the epitome of honesty and sincerity; nothing can make you untrue.
You were left on the doorstep
You were abandoned and left to fend for yourself.
Of the Social Security
You were relegated to the care of the government; dependent on them for support.
You were hoping for a future as someone
You wanted to be recognized as an individual with a unique identity; not as a statistic.
Not just a leisure refugee
You are not merely a person who seeks constant entertainment and pleasure; you are much more than that.
I always saw you as a fighter and a winner
I have always viewed you as a strong, determined person who triumphs over adversity.
Not content to only write your name
You do not settle for mediocrity or merely being known for your name; you strive to achieve greatness.
Their right way is the wrong way for what you are
The conventional path that others may tout as the 'right way' is not suitable or beneficial for you and your goals.
And what you were born to be
You have a unique purpose and destiny that you were born to fulfill.
Born to be young and free
You were created to be youthful and liberated; free from the constraints of society.
To be young and wise
You are not only youthful, but you also possess great wisdom that belies your age.
Not to listen to all their lies
Do not be swayed by the multitude of falsehoods that others may say; trust your own instincts.
Here we come waltzing home
We are returning home in a manner that is carefree and full of merriment.
By the moon so bright
The atmosphere is lit by the luminous glow of the moon; providing a romantic ambiance.
By the sea, by the harbour wall
The ocean and the port are nearby, providing a picturesque landscape.
Shape you and make you unhappy
Others may try to shape and mold you in their own image, which can lead to unhappiness.
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andredom2009
Cereja No Topo do Bolo
Stephen Duffy
Baby, deixe-me fazer-lhe uma estátua
Para ficar fora da casa de conselho
Para ficar como um lembrete de que você é
E o que você quer ser
Eu quero viver com você
Quero dormir com você
Em uma casa, em um mundo de paz
Eles querem levá-lo
Eles querem quebrar você
Não deixe que eles te fazer infeliz
Você é a cereja no topo do bolo
A festa na rua
O amor que você não pode fingir
A verdade que você não pode enganar
Você foi deixado na porta do hotel
Da Segurança Social
Você estava esperando por um futuro como alguém
Não apenas um refugiado lazer
@roypock5834
Why don't we hear this on the radio anymore? Such a brilliant 80's track!
@ElvarMasson
I don't know. I don't listen to the radio 😉
@richtraube2241
Try gem radio new wave out of Dublin, an Internet radio station .
@ecapa0020
This wonderful track emphasises just how catchy a tune can be. It's a perfectly composed pop song. It just doesn't get much better than this.
@JoeStudd96
That pre-chorus is lovely!
@alansmithee3066
Totally agree!
@KeepBizzy
Best bit
@greggmitchell2392
YES!
@Wildzippy
Still sounds crisp and fresh today. He was such a cool pop star.
@ajs41
The original lead singer of Duran Duran.