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)
Wealth
Talk Talk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Create approach upon my breath
Bring me salvation if I fear
Take my freedom
Create upon my breath
Create reflection on my flesh
The wealth of love
Take my freedom
Create upon my flesh
Create a home within my head
Take my freedom for giving me a sacred love
Talk Talk's song "Wealth" is a deep and introspective piece that speaks to the theme of surrender and sacrifice. In this song, the singer is willing to give up their freedom in order to have a sacred love, and they ask for salvation if they fear. The opening line, "Create upon my flesh," suggests the singer is willing to be shaped and molded by someone or something greater than themselves.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of a relational dynamic at play, as much of the imagery is about creating or bearing witness. The singer is not acting alone or seeking something for themselves, but rather asking for another presence to interact with them. The repeated line, "Take my freedom," adds an element of vulnerability and submission, indicating a willingness to relinquish control in exchange for something greater.
The final line, "Take my freedom for giving me a sacred love," is poignant in its message. The singer is essentially saying that love is worth sacrificing for and that the trade-off of freedom for a sacred love is a worthwhile one. Overall, "Wealth" is a powerful exploration of surrender and submission in the pursuit of something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
Create upon my flesh
Please, God, create within me something that can be seen and touched, like a physical experience.
Create approach upon my breath
May God give me the power to articulate my thoughts and communicate with others.
Bring me salvation if I fear
Lord, please save me from any fear or anxiety that may be holding me back from living a fulfilling life.
Take my freedom
If it means gaining the spiritual freedom that comes with trusting in a higher power, I am willing to let go of my physical freedom.
Create upon my breath
Help me to be a clear and effective communicator in all aspects of my life.
Create reflection on my flesh
May the love and kindness I give to others be reflected back onto me, shaping and defining me as a person.
The wealth of love
True wealth comes not from material possessions or financial success, but from love and human connections.
Bear me a witness to the years
Let my life be a testament to the love and compassion I have shown others throughout the years.
Take my freedom
Even if it means sacrificing some of my personal choices and freedoms, I am willing to do what it takes to live a life of compassion and love.
Create upon my flesh
May my actions and my physical presence always reflect the love and kindness that I feel in my heart.
Create a home within my head
Grant me inner peace and tranquility, so that I can always be at peace with myself.
Take my freedom for giving me a sacred love
I am willing to let go of my individuality and ego in exchange for the sacred and unconditional love that comes from connecting with others.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRIESE-GREENE TIMOTHY ALAN, MARK S. HOLLIS, TIMOTHY ALAN FRIESE-GREENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind