T'Pau was a late-1980s rock group led by singer Carol Decker. They had a st… Read Full Bio ↴T'Pau was a late-1980s rock group led by singer Carol Decker. They had a string of Top 40 hits in the UK, and several hits in the United States and Europe.

T'Pau formed in 1986. The members originated from the towns of Shrewsbury and Wellington in central England and took their name from a Vulcan high priestess in the classic Star Trek episode Amok Time. Their debut single and first hit was the 1987 release Heart and Soul. Initially a flop in the UK, it first became a hit in the U.S. Billboard charts, reaching #4, a feat it repeated in the UK Singles Chart some months later. The same year, the band had their biggest hit with the ballad, China in Your Hand, which spent five weeks at Number One in the UK chart, and also claimed the top slot in several European countries, although oddly the song made little impact on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

They had a number of smaller hits which made it to at least the UK Top 40, including the singles Valentine, Sex Talk (a new recording of early flop single Intimate Strangers), I Will Be With You, and Secret Garden. Their 1987 album Bridge Of Spies (the album was called T'Pau in the U.S.) was a best seller and won several British record industry awards.

Nevertheless, the band failed to maintain their success and split in 1991. But Decker reformed the band with a new line-up in 1998, and T'Pau have in recent years attempted a comeback.

In May 2005, Carol Decker reached the final round of the ITV show Hit Me Baby One More Time, singing the T'Pau hit China in Your Hand.

See also: Official site

Say You Will
T'Pau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Once in a while you tell me your love is true
Now and again you hold me like you used to
Are you looking for another girl
Who needs the same as you
Are you looking for another world
With not so much to lose

If I live and breathe for you

Hold back the seas for you
Oh, say you will, say you will
Say you will be mine

I know somebody once tore your world apart
Slowly I hope I'm mending your broken heart
If I hold you long enough
Will you speak the truth
Am I kissing you deep enough
To prove this love to you

If I take a stand for you
Hold out my hand for you
Oh, say you will, say you will
Say you will be mine

If I live and breathe for you
I'll hold back the seas for you
If I take a stand for you

Say you will, say you will
Say you will be mine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of T'Pau's "Say You Will" speaks of a woman's desperate plea to her lover to reassure her that his love for her is true. The opening lines of the song suggest that the man is inconsistent with his love, telling her once in a while that his love for her is true and holding her like he used to. She wonders if he is looking for another girl who shares his desires or a world where he doesn't have much to lose. Her insecurities are palpable as she yearns for his affection and commitment.

Despite these doubts, the woman remains committed to loving her partner. She acknowledges that someone has once destroyed his world, but she hopes to mend his broken heart. She holds him close and asks him to speak the truth about his feelings for her. She wants to prove her love for him by kissing him deeply enough so he can trust her. She assures him that she will take a stand for him, hold out her hand, and even hold back the seas for him if need be.

In sum, the song is a plea for reassurance and commitment from a woman who loves her partner deeply. She is willing to go to great lengths to prove her love and is hoping that her partner will reciprocate.

Line by Line Meaning

Once in a while you tell me your love is true
You don't often show me you love me, so I need to hear it to be sure

Now and again you hold me like you used to
You used to show me affection more often but now it's rare

Are you looking for another girl
Are you considering leaving me for someone else?

Who needs the same as you
Are you looking for someone who wants the same things as you do?

Are you looking for another world
Do you want to leave this world behind and start over somewhere else?

With not so much to lose
Do you want to start over somewhere where you don't have as much to lose?

If I live and breathe for you
I am willing to dedicate my entire life to you

Hold back the seas for you
I will do anything to protect you from harm

Oh, say you will, say you will
I need to hear you commit to me

Say you will be mine
Promise me that you will be mine forever

I know somebody once tore your world apart
I know you've been hurt in the past