Ted Heath (1902-1969) was the top UK bandleader of the 40s, 50s and early 6… Read Full Bio ↴Ted Heath (1902-1969) was the top UK bandleader of the 40s, 50s and early 60s. Born in Wandsworth, S. London, he started playing trombone at the age of 14 and played with Jack Hylton, Ambrose, Sid Lipton and Geraldo. He brought his own orchestra together in 1944 for the BBC and his career took off, including many hit records, the biggest success being "Swinging Shepherd Blues". During the 1950s his orchestra frequently performed at the Hammersmith Palais de Dance and from 1956 Heath and his orchestra were regular visitors to the United States. He employed many of the big-name British jazz musicians and his vocalists included Denis Lotus, Lita Rosa and the top British vocalists of the early to mid-50s, Dickie Valentine who went on to have a very successful solo career. The orchestra was disbanded in 1964 when Heath's health started faltering.

Obsession
Ted Heath Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh baby, I think you are lost in the seventies.
Oh baby, "The music she ain't what she used to be."
You don't understand what they're saying,
You've given it every chance
Oh baby, all you wanna do is dance.

Well you wish you were back in the good old days,
When tomatoes were cheaper,

And you never heard the words of your favorite songs
Through a three inch speaker.
And you never messed around with dangerous drugs,
You were all getting sick on beer-
And you didn't get any (unless you went steady and made out for a year).

Well you can hide away honey, in your rock and roll dreams,
You can stand by your blue suede shoes-

But the party is over,
And I'm getting tired of waiting for you.

Overall Meaning

In Ted Heath's song "Obsession," the singer sings to a girl who seems lost in the past, particularly the 1970s. He notes that she doesn't understand modern music and has given it a chance without success. However, she's always ready to dance to the classics rather than enjoying new releases. The singer acknowledges that he also wishes he could go back to the good old days, when life was cheaper and music was heard through real, quality speakers. He mentions a time when his friends got sick on beer instead of experimenting with drugs and it took a year of making out before you could expect anything more from a romantic relationship.

Overall, the song is a commentary on the nostalgia people experience for earlier times, and how it can be difficult to embrace new things when you can't let go of the past. The singer has grown tired of waiting for the girl to come around and join him in the present moment.

One possible interpretation of the song is that it's a critique of the way people romanticize the past while ignoring important social issues and the reality of how things were. The nostalgic longing for the "good old days" can make it harder to recognize progress and work towards a better future. Additionally, the focus on the girl's desire to dance could be read as a metaphor for avoiding the challenges of the present day by getting lost in distractions like entertainment.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh baby, I think you are lost in the seventies.
You seem to be stuck in the past and unable to adapt to the present.

Oh baby, "The music she ain't what she used to be."
You find contemporary music lacking in quality compared to what you enjoyed in the past.

You don't understand what they're saying,
You struggle to comprehend the lyrical content of the current music.

You've given it every chance
You have tried to appreciate the newer music but still find it insufficient.

Oh baby, all you wanna do is dance.
Despite your reservations, you still crave the enjoyment that dancing has brought you in the past.

Well you wish you were back in the good old days,
You long for nostalgia and the simpler times of your youth.

When tomatoes were cheaper,
You remember a time when even basic foodstuffs were more affordable.

And you never heard the words of your favorite songs
Music was played through lower quality equipment and nuances in the lyrics were lost.

Through a three inch speaker.
Music was often played through small, low-quality speakers that distorted the sound.

And you never messed around with dangerous drugs,
You recall that the use of drugs today is considered more dangerous and unacceptable than when you were younger.

You were all getting sick on beer-
Heavy drinking of beer was more common in your time and socially acceptable.

And you didn't get any (unless you went steady and made out for a year).
Casual sexual encounters were not as prevalent and easier to come by; relationships and commitment were more expected in this regard.

Well you can hide away honey, in your rock and roll dreams,
You can choose to escape from reality through your fond memories and nostalgia for classic rock.

You can stand by your blue suede shoes-
You can cling to the symbols of your youth and past identity.

But the party is over,
The times have changed and the things you used to cherish may no longer be as relevant or attainable.

And I'm getting tired of waiting for you.
Others, including the artist, may not share or understand your attachment to the past and may grow restless waiting for you to come around to the present.

Contributed by Lincoln S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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