Talulah Gosh was an indie pop/twee pop group which formed in Oxford, Englan… Read Full Bio ↴Talulah Gosh was an indie pop/twee pop group which formed in Oxford, England in 1986. The band originally consisted of Elizabeth Price (vocals), Amelia Fletcher (guitar, vocals), Peter Momtchiloff (guitar), Rob Pursey (bass) and Matthew Fletcher (drums). Pursey left in early 1986 and was replaced by Chris Scott. Price left in 1987 and was replaced by Eithne Farry. The band split in 1988, with the Fletchers, Momtchiloff and Pursey forming the seminal twee pop act Heavenly in 1989.

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.

Just A Dream
Talulah Gosh Lyrics

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I saw a falling star
Although I tried to reach that far
It always seemed a million miles away

Down by the water’s edge
Collecting shells and holding your hand
I still remember walking in the sand

’Cause I remember days building castles in the air
Nights flying kites to the moon

Or was it just a dream?
Just a dream
Just a dream
Or just a falling star

Just like the days before
I followed footprints to the shore
Until the sea washed every trace away

But once the tide turns round
The past will not be found again
I know it’s just another lonely day

But I remember days building castles in the air
Nights flying kites to the moon

Or was it just a dream?
Just a dream
Just a dream
Or just a falling star

Don’t want to think about tomorrow
Don’t care, I only want to follow
Your footprints far beyond the silver strand

’Cause I remember days building castles in the air
Nights flying kites to the moon

Or was it just a dream?
Just a dream

Just a dream
Or just a falling star

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Talulah Gosh's song "Just a Dream" reflect on a nostalgic time when life was simpler and free of worries. The first verse talks about seeing a falling star in the sky, which represents a distant dream that seems impossible to reach. Despite trying to reach it, the star always remains out of reach, symbolic of how some things in life may never be attainable. The second verse talks about collecting shells and walking on the beach while holding hands, which represents a time in the past when things were more innocent and carefree. The singer remembers building castles in the air and flying kites at night, which suggests a time of imagination and youthfulness.

Despite the happy memories, there's also a realization that these moments were fleeting and may have just been a dream. As time passes, the memories fade away and the past can never be found again. The singer doesn't want to think about tomorrow and only wants to follow the footprints of the past, which is both comforting yet sad. The chorus repeats "just a dream" or "just a falling star," emphasizing the idea that perhaps these happy moments were never real and only exist in one's mind.

Overall, the lyrics of "Just a Dream" convey a sense of longing for a time when life was less complicated and carefree. It's a reminder to cherish the happy moments in life and to hold onto memories, even if they may only be a dream.

Line by Line Meaning

I saw a falling star
I witnessed an astronomical phenomenon

Although I tried to reach that far
Despite attempting to approach it

It always seemed a million miles away
It remained distant and unreachable

Down by the water’s edge
Near the shoreline

Collecting shells and holding your hand
Gathering sea shells and interlocking fingers

I still remember walking in the sand
Recalling strolls on the beach

’Cause I remember days building castles in the air
Because I recall creating fanciful dreams and schemes

Nights flying kites to the moon
Evening activities involving celestial objects

Or was it just a dream?
Or perhaps it was an imagined scenario?

Just a dream
Only a fantasy

Just a dream
Just an illusion