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.
Jane
Stephen Duffy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
It wasn't long before I slept with her
I sang her songs while she dyed my hair
Jane, divided but I can't decide what side I'm on
Jane, decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane, Jane
I bought her gold , frankincense and myrrh
She thought that I was making fun of her
She made me feel I was fourteen again
She thinks it's safer if we'd just stay friends
Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane, Jane
I wrote a letter, she should have got it yesterday
That life could be better by being together
Is what I cannot explain to Jane
The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Still dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there
No promises as vague as Heaven
No longer Lawrence to your Vivian
Jane, desired by the people at her work and school
Jane is tired, 'cause every man becomes a lovesick fool
Jane, Jane
The song "Jane" by Stephen Duffy tells the story of a man who falls in love with a woman who works at a store named Jane St. Clair. He was immediately attracted to her and eventually they start a relationship. However, the love between them is divided as Jane doesn't believe that any man could ever be faithful. She decides to keep their relationship as friends to keep things safer. The man tries to convince Jane that they are better off together and writes her a letter but it seems like he is not able to communicate his true feelings towards her.
The lyrics of the song highlight the difficulties of a relationship where one person doesn't believe in love and has trust issues. The lines "Jane, divided but I can't decide what side I'm on" and "Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful" emphasize the internal conflict of the singer. It portrays how the man is struggling to decide whether it is worth fighting for the relationship or to give up.
The song's chorus "Jane, decided only cowards stay, while traitors run, Jane, Jane" is a contemplation of Jane's views on love and how they are hindering their relationship. The singer believes that Jane is running away from being in a relationship and not giving him a chance to prove himself.
Line by Line Meaning
The girl works at the store, sweet Jane St. Clair
Jane is a sweet girl who works at a store called St. Clair.
Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there
Stephen was dazzled by Jane's smile when he went shopping at the store.
It wasn't long before I slept with her
Stephen slept with Jane soon after meeting her.
I sang her songs while she dyed my hair
Stephen and Jane spent time together, with Stephen singing to her while she dyed his hair.
Jane, divided but I can't decide what side I'm on
Jane is conflicted, and Stephen is also unsure of where he stands in their relationship.
Jane, decided only cowards stay, while traitors run
Jane believes that only cowards stay in a relationship while traitors run away.
I bought her gold , frankincense and myrrh
Stephen gave gifts to Jane, but she thought he was making fun of her.
She made me feel I was fourteen again
Jane made Stephen feel young and in love again.
She thinks it's safer if we'd just stay friends
Jane wants to stay friends with Stephen because she believes it's safer than pursuing a romantic relationship.
Jane doesn't think a man could ever be faithful
Jane doesn't believe that men can be faithful in relationships.
Jane isn't giving me a chance to be shameful
Jane doesn't want to be with Stephen, so she's not giving him a chance to do something shameful.
I wrote a letter, she should have got it yesterday
Stephen wrote a letter to Jane, but it hasn't been received yet.
That life could be better by being together
Stephen believes that life would be better if he and Jane were together.
Is what I cannot explain to Jane
Stephen can't find a way to explain to Jane why being together would be better for them.
Still dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there
Stephen is still dazzled by Jane's smile even though he now shoplifts at the store.
No promises as vague as Heaven
Stephen is not making any vague promises to Jane.
No longer Lawrence to your Vivian
Stephen and Jane are no longer like Lawrence and Vivian, two characters from the novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover" by DH Lawrence.
Jane, desired by the people at her work and school
Jane is desired by people at her work and school.
Jane is tired, 'cause every man becomes a lovesick fool
Jane is tired of men becoming infatuated with her and becoming fools in love.
Jane, Jane
Repetition of Jane's name.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN FREDRICK SPINKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Russell
WOW, I didn't know that Stephen Duffy co-wrote this, it's one of my favorite BNL tunes! But I almost think I like Stephen's version more, so glad you posted this, thanks ;?)
Mekon Headed Freak
Swear to God, I spent the better part of 8 years trying to find the CD this song was on, and I just finally had to do YouTube to mp3 on this channel to get it.
Russell
WOW, I didn't know that Stephen Duffy co-wrote this, it's one of my favorite BNL tunes, but his version really is great, I love it ;?)
Picardy
He co-wrote the song with Steven Page, along with others for the barnaked ladies.
SPOON007a
brings tears and fond memories! thanks for posting!!!!
Picardy
Robert and I were saying that we actually prefer Stephen Duffy's voice. Confusing yes? As they both have the same first name. But I like S. Page's version a lot too. I just happened to be a Stephen Duffy fan first, like you with Page. Great song either way. Thanks for posting. Cheers.
Super-Ultra
Duffy's voice is nicer and smoother, but in singing abilities such as vibratos and strength, Page is definitely more powerful.
Super-Ultra
Also to add that you can't really compare their voices because Duffy sounds more 'stone-ish' while Paige sounds a little husky.
Picardy
The video plays right until the end of the recording actually. Duffy ended it this way, not me! Anyway, glad you enjoyed it.
Picardy
@marijapan It wasn't released at the time it was recorded but surfaced later as a bonus track on the "Duffy" CD, the one with London Girls on it. Cheers.