A British indie rock band associated with twee pop, who formed in the eighties. Several members later became Heavenly. Ultimately a major influence on early riot grrrl and countless indie-pop groups.
Avatars of the British twee-pop movement, Talulah Gosh formed in late 1986 when economics student Amelia Fletcher and struggling artist Elizabeth Price met at an Oxford area club; both were wearing Pastels badges, and their common love for indie rock prompted them to immediately found their own group. Originally intending to form a post-punk variation on 1960s-era girl groups, neither of the aspiring vocalists had the time or energy to find compatible female musicians, so they instead recruited Fletcher's 15-year-old brother Mathew on drums, her record-store clerk boyfriend Peter Momtchiloff on guitar, and Chris Scott on bass; Rob Pursey, who rounded out the initial Talulah Gosh roster, exited after only three shows.
The band bowed in March 1986, opening for the Razorcuts; their introductory song was "Pastels Badge," a celebration of their origins. Soon Talulah Gosh made their recording debut with "I Told You So," one side of a split flexi-disc with the Razorcuts issued on the tiny Sha-La-La label (whose owner, Matt Haynes, went on to co-found the highly influential Sarah Records imprint). A session for the BBC Radio One's Janice Long show followed before they signed to the Edinburgh label 53rd and 3rd, releasing their debut EP Steaming Train in 1987; the group's jangly, winsome songs and cotton-candy vocals won them a fervent cult following, and placed Talulah Gosh at the forefront of what the U.K. press dubbed the "shambling" scene.
Prior to the release of Steaming Train, Price left the band, having grown tired of their haphazard, out-of-tune live shows -- guitars broke, amplifiers shorted out and cymbals crashed over, forcing the group to attempt to repair their instruments between songs. With Eithne Farry sharing vocal duties, the band's image and sound hardened; their songs sped up and the group increasingly discarded their "cute" conceits, having expressed in numerous interviews that they felt misunderstood by fans and the press. Talulah Gosh returned to the studio in 1987 to record their second EP, Where's the Cougar Matey; a single, "Testcard Girl," followed, but after a final John Peel session, the group splintered in February 1988 to allow its members to continue their university careers. The Fletcher siblings and Momtchiloff later reunited in Heavenly, which also featured original Gosh bassist Rob Pursey.
Don't Go Away
Talulah Gosh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's a ticket to my door
Please be sure to come around
Do you wonder
Do you wonder if it′s true
That you're still on the ground
At what we do and say?
What's so wrong with carrying on
Don′t go away
Don′t go away
Don't go away
Don′t go away!
Here's a number
Here′s a number you can phone
Just to tell me you're alone
Doеs your heart beat
Does your heart beat faster when
You think of me again?
You and me were meant to be
We scream and shout each day
What′s so wrong with carrying on
Don't go away
Don't go away
Don′t go away
Don′t go away!
Will you still be there
When I'm up to something else
Will you wait for my heart?
Are you on your own?
Is that so bad?
At least you′ve got me from the start
I never wanted anything to do with you
But now it's too late and I don′t know what I'd do
You went away
So don′t go away
So don't go away
Oh don't go away
In the song "Don't Go Away" by Talulah Gosh, the lyrics convey a strong sense of longing and fear of abandonment. The singer opens the song by offering a ticket to their door, urging the listener to come around. They express uncertainty, wondering if the person still cares about them or if they are still grounded in reality. The lyrics then pose a question: Will the listener be there when others judge and criticize their relationship? The singer believes there is nothing wrong with continuing their connection and pleads for the person not to leave.
The second verse introduces the idea of communication through a phone number. The singer asks if the listener's heart beats faster when they think about them, suggesting a mutual attraction or emotional connection. They assert that they are meant to be together and that their love story is filled with daily excitement and intensity. Again, the singer questions the need for them to part ways, emphasizing that there is nothing wrong with continuing their relationship.
The bridge provides a mixture of uncertainty and reassurance. The singer wonders if the person will still be there when they are occupied with something else, their attention diverted. They inquire if the person will wait for their heart and express that being alone shouldn't be seen as a negative thing. The singer acknowledges that they initially didn't want anything to do with the person, but it's now too late as they have become invested and can't imagine a life without them. The song concludes with a plea for the person not to go away, as the singer fears being abandoned.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's a ticket
I am extending an invitation
Here's a ticket to my door
Come to my place
Please be sure to come around
Make sure you visit
Do you wonder
Do you question
Do you wonder if it's true
Doubt if it is real
That you're still on the ground
That you haven't changed
Will you be there when people stare
Will you support me in public
At what we do and say?
In our actions and words
What's so wrong with carrying on
Why is it bad to continue
Don't go away
Stay with me
Don't go away
Please don't leave
Don't go away
Don't disappear
Don't go away!
Stay here!
Here's a number
I'll give you a phone number
Here's a number you can phone
Call me anytime
Just to tell me you're alone
Just to let me know you're by yourself
Does your heart beat
Does your heart race
Does your heart beat faster when
Does it accelerate when
You think of me again?
You remember me?
You and me were meant to be
We were destined for each other
We scream and shout each day
We express ourselves loudly and passionately every day
What's so wrong with carrying on
Why is it bad to continue
Don't go away
Stay with me
Don't go away
Please don't leave
Don't go away
Don't disappear
Don't go away!
Stay here!
Will you still be there
Will you remain present
When I'm up to something else
When I'm occupied with something different
Will you wait for my heart?
Will you have patience for my emotions?
Are you on your own?
Are you alone?
Is that so bad?
Is it truly negative?
At least you've got me from the start
You've had me since the beginning
I never wanted anything to do with you
I initially had no interest in you
But now it's too late and I don't know what I'd do
But now I realize I can't live without you
You went away
You left
So don't go away
Therefore, please don't leave
So don't go away
So, please stay
Oh don't go away
Oh, don't disappear
Writer(s): Noel Gallagher
Contributed by Jack J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.