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)
It's My Life
Talk Talk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I could buy my reasoning, I'd pay to lose
One half won't do
I've asked myself, how much do you
Commit yourself?
It's my life, don't you forget
It's my life, it never ends (it never ends)
Funny how I blind myself, I never knew
If I was sometimes played upon, afraid to lose
I'd tell myself, what good you do
Convince myself
It's my life, don't you forget
It's my life, it never ends (it never ends)
I've asked myself, how much do you
Commit yourself?
It's my life, don't you forget
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
It's my life, don't you forget
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
It's my life, don't you forget
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
The lyrics of Talk Talk's song 'It's My Life' are about taking ownership of one's own life instead of being a passive spectator. The opening line of the song, 'Funny how I find myself in love with you', is an expression of surprise at the singer's unexpected feelings for someone else. However, the second line of the song, 'If I could buy my reasoning, I'd pay to lose', suggests that the singer doesn't understand why they feel this way and would rather not experience the emotion. This idea is echoed in the following line, 'One half won't do', which suggests that the singer may feel incomplete or unsatisfied.
The chorus of the song, 'It's my life, don't you forget', reiterates the idea that the singer is in control of their own life and decisions. The repetition of the phrase 'it never ends' adds a sense of permanence and finality to this message. The singer is urging themselves and others to remember this fact, and not become caught up in the expectations or opinions of others ('Caught in the crowd').
The second verse of the song continues this theme of self-doubt and questioning. The line 'Funny how I blind myself, I never knew' suggests that the singer may have been unaware of their own feelings or motivations. The following line, 'If I was sometimes played upon, afraid to lose', hints at a fear of vulnerability or risk-taking. However, the singer ultimately asserts their agency, stating 'It's my life, don't you forget'.
Overall, the lyrics of 'It's My Life' are a passionate and empowering call to take control of one's own life and decisions. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes this message and makes it clear that the singer is determined to live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny how I find myself in love with you
It's ironic how I fell in love with you when it wasn't something I planned or understood
If I could buy my reasoning, I'd pay to lose
If reasoning could be bought, I would rather lose it than have it keep me from being with you
One half won't do
I can't settle for less than a complete commitment from you
I've asked myself, how much do you
Commit yourself?
I've questioned how much you're willing to dedicate to our relationship
It's my life, don't you forget
It's my life, it never ends (it never ends)
I have control over my own life and I won't let others forget it - it's something I have until the end of time
Funny how I blind myself, I never knew
If I was sometimes played upon, afraid to lose
I was naive and blinded to some of the games being played, fearing that if I didn't follow along, I would lose you
I'd tell myself, what good you do
Convince myself
I'd remind myself of the good you brought to my life and convince myself to ignore any doubts or concerns
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
Feeling trapped and overwhelmed by societal pressures, which seem to never end
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mark David Hollis, Timothy Alan Friese-Greene
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gonzaloortegacasado2234
0:01 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
0:06 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
0:11 Ghost Crab Ocypode genus
0:14 White-tailded Gnu Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus
0:16 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
0:20 Tadpoles, probably of toad
0:27 Reticulated Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
0:31 Masai Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
0:36 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
0:43 Tiliqua rugosa
0:45 Leopard Panthera pardus
0:47 Grant's Zebra Equus quagga boehmi
0:51 Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides
0:55 Indian Elephant Elephas maximus indicus and Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis
1:02 Long-toed lapwing Vanellus crassirostris and Diceros bicornis
1:10 Gemsbuck Oryx gazella
1:23 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
1:27 Sea Lion Otariidae family
1:29 Manatee Trichechus genus
1:32 Sea Lion Otariidae family
1:45 Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
1:50 Squid...
1:52 North American Beaver Castor canadensis
1:57 Cuttlefish...
2:04 Ostrich Struthio camelus
2:17 Reticulated Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
2:18 Grant's Zebra Equus quagga boehmi
2:21 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
2:22 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
2:23 Leafcutter Ants Atta genus
2:25 Mountain Gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei
2:26 Phoenicopterus minor
2:30 Spitting Cobra Naja genus
2:34 Probably a Right Whale Eubalaena genus
2:49 Common Stingray Dasyatis pastinaca
2:57 Flying Squirrel Pteromyini tribe
3:00 Polar Bear Ursus maritimus
3:05 Barbary Sheep Ammotragus lervia
3:11 Spitting Cobra Naja genus
3:12 Brown Bear Ursus arctos and Seagul Laridae family
3:13 Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus
3:16 Southern Tamandua Tamandua tetradactyla
3:18 Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus
3:18 Tiliqua rugosa
3:19 African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus
3:22 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
3:25 Pongo pygmaeus
3:29 American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
3:36 Hippopotamus amphibius
3:37 African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana
3:39 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
3:41 Kangaroo, probably Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus
@DJAshTheBash4321
For those not in the know:
Mark Hollis was a Co Founder of the band Talk Talk, he was a lead singer, song writer, Guitarist, played the Piano too, born in Tottenham North London U.K.
Died February 2019 of Cancer.
A sad loss.
Thank you Mark for the great lyrics created…great music and for the fond memories you made and gave too.
❤It!
@geoffpayne8986
Funny how I find myself in love with you
If I could buy my reasoning, I'd pay to lose
One half won't do
I've asked myself, how much do you
Commit yourself?
It's my life, don't you forget
It's my life, it never ends (it never ends)
Funny how I blind myself, I never knew
If I was sometimes played upon, afraid to lose
I'd tell myself, what good you do
Convince myself
It's my life, don't you forget
It's my life, it never ends (it never ends)
I've asked myself, how much do you
Commit yourself?
It's my life, don't you forget
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
It's my life, don't you forget
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
It's my life, don't you forget
Caught in the crowd, it never ends
@callmewheels4806
I’m grateful that I grew up in the 80’s. This is such good music.
@Cookie-Taylor
Me too. The 80's was fun, bold and filled with healthy banter that the woke brigade would crush. I'm so glad I had my teenage years back then.
@deejaypat1
The best years in music !!!
@Veritas.0
The neon decade. Source for today's cyberpunk revival.
@kevinbouchard3906
@@Cookie-Taylor the woke brigade embraced it cause it was inclusive...duh!
@Buopp2
Old people
@gonzaloortegacasado2234
0:01 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
0:06 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
0:11 Ghost Crab Ocypode genus
0:14 White-tailded Gnu Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus
0:16 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
0:20 Tadpoles, probably of toad
0:27 Reticulated Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
0:31 Masai Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi
0:36 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
0:43 Tiliqua rugosa
0:45 Leopard Panthera pardus
0:47 Grant's Zebra Equus quagga boehmi
0:51 Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides
0:55 Indian Elephant Elephas maximus indicus and Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis
1:02 Long-toed lapwing Vanellus crassirostris and Diceros bicornis
1:10 Gemsbuck Oryx gazella
1:23 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
1:27 Sea Lion Otariidae family
1:29 Manatee Trichechus genus
1:32 Sea Lion Otariidae family
1:45 Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
1:50 Squid...
1:52 North American Beaver Castor canadensis
1:57 Cuttlefish...
2:04 Ostrich Struthio camelus
2:17 Reticulated Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
2:18 Grant's Zebra Equus quagga boehmi
2:21 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
2:22 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
2:23 Leafcutter Ants Atta genus
2:25 Mountain Gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei
2:26 Phoenicopterus minor
2:30 Spitting Cobra Naja genus
2:34 Probably a Right Whale Eubalaena genus
2:49 Common Stingray Dasyatis pastinaca
2:57 Flying Squirrel Pteromyini tribe
3:00 Polar Bear Ursus maritimus
3:05 Barbary Sheep Ammotragus lervia
3:11 Spitting Cobra Naja genus
3:12 Brown Bear Ursus arctos and Seagul Laridae family
3:13 Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus
3:16 Southern Tamandua Tamandua tetradactyla
3:18 Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus
3:18 Tiliqua rugosa
3:19 African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus
3:22 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
3:25 Pongo pygmaeus
3:29 American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
3:36 Hippopotamus amphibius
3:37 African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana
3:39 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
3:41 Kangaroo, probably Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus
@Nathanieltan100
O_O You really know all of the animal species?!
You're damn good at it! 👍
@BunterandtheVibes
In fact, 1:23, Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) :)
@gonzaloortegacasado2234
@@Nathanieltan100 Wow! Thank you for your comment, friend 😊