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)
Strike Up the Band
Talk Talk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to the lights, I want to see the sound
Of music playing in my head
I never heard a word you said
Oh oh oh
The beats are kicking in
Oh oh oh
Your ears don't hear a thing
Looking for reaction without the crowd
Looking in the doors I get the run around
You never heard a word I said
I've seen this music in my head
Oh oh oh
The beats are kicking in
Oh oh oh
Your ears don't hear a thing
Strike up the band
You never heard a word I said
I've seen this music in my head
Oh oh oh
The beats are kicking in
Oh oh oh
Your ears don't hear a thing
Strike up the band
The lyrics of Talk Talk's "Strike Up The Band" talk about the experience of being in a car, driving around the town, and listening to music. The first two lines suggest that the singer is not focused on the road but on the sounds of the city, wanting to "see the sound." The following lines reveal a personal and intimate experience of music, emphasizing that the beats are so strong that the singer loses the connection with the world outside the car, unable to hear anyone else. This idea is reinforced with the line "looking for reaction without the crowd," which implies that the singer is seeking a personal connection with music, regardless of the public's acceptance.
The line, "You never heard a word I said," repeated throughout the song, echoes the idea that music is a more powerful communication tool than language. The singer implies that they are not heard, not because the other person is not listening, but because the music is so intoxicating that nothing else matters. Finally, the repeated line "Strike up the band" may be interpreted as a call to the musicians of the world to continue playing and creating, as if music is the key to happiness and a better life.
Overall, "Strike Up The Band" is an introspective look at the power of music and the personal experiences it evokes.
Line by Line Meaning
Driving in the back seat around the town
Riding passively through the city streets and taking in the surroundings
Listen to the lights, I want to see the sound
Experiencing synesthesia - perceiving lights as sound
Of music playing in my head
Hearing an internal soundtrack that is not audible to others
I never heard a word you said
Ignoring external input in favor of internal creativity
The beats are kicking in
The inner music is becoming more pronounced and captivating
Your ears don't hear a thing
Tuning out external distractions and focusing on the internal world
Strike up the band
Summoning the inner creative energy and beginning to express it outwardly
Looking for reaction without the crowd
Seeking validation for creative expression even without external recognition
Looking in the doors I get the run around
Encountering obstacles and confusion in the search for validation
You never heard a word I said
Feeling unheard and overlooked by others
I've seen this music in my head
Having a clear vision for the artistic expression that is being pursued
Your ears don't hear a thing
Maintaining focus on the inner world, even in the face of external rejection
Strike up the band
Continuing to create and express without external validation or support
You never heard a word I said
Not receiving the recognition and understanding sought from others
I've seen this music in my head
Maintaining the drive and passion to create despite obstacles and setbacks
The beats are kicking in
The inner creative energy continues to grow and intensify
Your ears don't hear a thing
Remaining focused and determined in the pursuit of artistic expression
Strike up the band
Continuing to express oneself creatively despite opposition or a lack of support
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE HARRIS, MARK DAVID HOLLIS, PAUL DOUGLAS WEBB, SIMON GABRIEL BRENNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind