Taco was born to a Dutch couple in Jakarta (On a side note, Indonesia was once a Dutch colony). Prior to his worldwide hit with Puttin' on the Ritz, he fronted a Berlin-based band called Taco's Bizz. Their niche was performing Depression-era oldies in a more contemporary style, and soon Taco was courted by record labels to release a solo single. Puttin' on the Ritz gained so much attention that an entire album was funded by RCA Records. Both the album and the single were hits in Europe, and thanks to a popular MTV video for Puttin' on the Ritz, the single and the album became hits in America as well, selling over 500,000 copies of Taco's 1982 debut album After Eight.
A follow-up album, Let's Face The Music, was recorded in 1984 for RCA, but it failed to recreate Taco's initial success, and he vanished from the American market immediately thereafter. Taco continued to record, however, focusing mostly on the German market with albums Swing Classics/In The Mood Of Glenn Miller in 1985 and Tell Me That You Like It in 1986 for Polydor. In 1987 he recorded the self-titled album Taco. In 1989 he briefly flirted with contemporary dance music by releasing a pair of singles, Love Touch and Got To Be Your Lover, that were blatantly styled after the high energy disco sound popularized by Stock Aitken Waterman. Afterwards he repositioned himself as a swing/soul singer. He has collaborated with Geff Harrison of Kin Ping Meh fame.
He currently resides in Germany, occasionally performing in Berlin and recording.
He has been referenced on the TV show The Simpsons. Episode BABF19, "Behind the Laughter", features Willie Nelson saying, "Thank you, Taco, for that loving tribute to Falco", as well as the end of the tribute itself. Recently, Taco was referenced in an episode of The Venture Bros. in describing Klaus Nomi's tuxedo attire.
Winchester Cathedral
Taco Lyrics
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You're bringin' me down
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
You could've done something
But you didn't try
You didn't do nothing
Now everyone knows
Just how much I need her, that girl
(Are you that girl?)
She wouldn't have gone far away
If only you'd started ringing your bell
Winchester Cathedral
You're bringin' me down
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
Winchester Cathedral
You're bringin' me down
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
You could've done something
But you didn't try
No, you didn't do nothing
You let her walk by
Now everyone knows
Just how much I need her, that girl
(Are you that girl?)
She wouldn't have gone far away
If only you'd started ringing your bell
Winchester Cathedral
You're bringin' me down
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
Winchester Cathedral
You're bringin' me down
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
You could've done something
But you didn't try
You didn't do nothing
You let her walk by
Now everyone knows
Just how much I need her, that girl
(Are you that girl?)
She wouldn't have gone far away
If only you'd started ringing your bell
Winchester Cathedral
You're bringin' me down
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
The song "Winchester Cathedral" by Taco is a melancholic tune about a man who is devastated by the departure of his lover. The song is written in an unusual style that mixes modern pop with the melody of a medieval church choir. The song's unusual arrangement is further underscored by the intermittent organ chords that are played throughout.
In the song, the man blames the Winchester Cathedral for not tolling its bell as his lover leaves. He suggests that if the bell had been rung, his lover would not have gone far away. His heart is broken, and he is overwhelmed by the pain of losing his lover. The Cathedral becomes a metaphor for the feeling of being unable to change what has happened, leaving him feeling helpless and hopeless.
The use of the Winchester Cathedral in the song is symbolic as the Winchester Cathedral is a famous church located in the city of Winchester, England. It is one of the largest and most ornate cathedrals in England, constructed in the 11th century. Its bells are rung regularly as part of the daily services, and it is a significant landmark in the region. The lyrics of the song suggest that the Cathedral has the power to bring people together, and its bells could have saved the singer's relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Winchester Cathedral
The singer is addressing the Winchester Cathedral, implying that it is responsible for bringing him down.
You're bringin' me down
The singer is expressing his disappointment and blaming the cathedral for his situation.
You stood there and watched as
My baby left town
The singer is accusing the cathedral of not doing anything while his loved one left town.
You could've done something
But you didn't try
The artist is arguing that the cathedral had the power to do something, but chose not to intervene.
You didn't do nothing
You let her walk by
The artist is emphasizing that the cathedral did absolutely nothing to stop his loved one from leaving.
Now everyone knows
Just how much I need her, that girl
(Are you that girl?)
The singer is revealing his own vulnerability and need for his loved one, and asking if anyone can relate to his pain.
She wouldn't have gone far away
If only you'd started ringing your bell
The singer is suggesting that the cathedral could have prevented his loved one from leaving if they had only rung their bell as a signal.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Geoff Stephens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind