Talk Talk were an English band formed in 1981, led by Mark Hollis (vocals, … Read Full Bio ↴Talk Talk were an English band formed in 1981, led by Mark Hollis (vocals, guitar, piano), Lee Harris (drums), and Paul Webb (bass). Initially a synth pop group, Talk Talk's first two albums, The Party's Over (1982) and It's My Life (1984), reached top 40 in the UK and produced the international hit singles "Talk Talk", "Today", "It's My Life", and "Such a Shame". They achieved widespread critical success in Europe and the UK with the album The Colour of Spring (1986) and its singles "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World". 1988's Spirit of Eden moved the group towards a more experimental sound informed by jazz and free improvisation, pioneering what became known as post-rock; it was critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful.

Friction with the band's label, EMI, resulted in legal action and countersuing. Webb departed, and the band switched to Polydor for their final studio album, 1991's Laughing Stock, but split soon afterwards. Singer Mark Hollis released one solo album in 1998 before retiring from the music industry; he died in 2019. The band's founding bass player and drummer, Paul Webb and Lee Harris, played in several bands together; long-term collaborator Tim Friese-Greene continued in the business as a musician and producer.

Discography
The Party's Over (1982)
It's My Life (1984)
The Colour of Spring (1986)
Spirit of Eden (1988)
Laughing Stock (1991)

Desire
Talk Talk Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Desire
Whispered spoken
In time
Rivers oceans

That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe

I'm just content to relax
Than drown within myself

Of mind
Sheltered broken
Denied
Gifted stolen

That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe
Ain't got a bed of excuse for myself

That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe
Ain't got a bed of excuse for myself

That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe
That ain't me babe

I'm just content to relax
Than drown within myself

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song Desire by Talk Talk are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about the struggle between desire and contentment. The opening lines suggest a desire that is whispered and spoken over time, like the flow of rivers and oceans. The repetition of "That ain't me babe" underscores the sense of not wanting to be caught up in desire or the drama that can come with it. Instead, the singer is content to relax and avoid drowning in their own inner conflicts.

The second verse expands on this theme, with lines like "Sheltered broken" and "Denied gifted stolen" suggesting a complex mix of emotions around the idea of desire. The repeated refrain of "Ain't got a bed of excuse for myself" reinforces the theme of taking responsibility for one's own choices and actions.

Overall, the song seems to be about the tension between the drive to pursue one's desires and the desire for inner peace and contentment. The music provides a dreamy, atmospheric backdrop that supports the mood of the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Desire
Longing for something

Whispered spoken
Conveyed in secret

In time
Eventually

Rivers oceans
Large bodies of water

That ain't me babe
I am not like that

I'm just content to relax
I am happy to rest

Than drown within myself
Rather than overwhelm myself internally

Of mind
Mental state

Sheltered broken
Protected yet damaged

Denied
Refuted

Gifted stolen
Something given but taken

Ain't got a bed of excuse for myself
I cannot make excuses

That ain't me babe
I am not like that

Ain't got a bed of excuse for myself
I cannot make excuses

That ain't me babe
I am not like that

I'm just content to relax
I am happy to rest

Than drown within myself
Rather than overwhelm myself internally

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRIESE-GREENE TIMOTHY ALAN, MARK DAVID HOLLIS, MARK S. HOLLIS, TIMOTHY ALAN FRIESE-GREENE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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