Susanna Hoffs released two solo albums in the 90's (a third album remained unreleased). Vicki Peterson joined the Continental Drifters. Debbie Peterson had a short-lived career with Siobhan Maher as Kindred Spirit, while Michael Steele lived in semi-retirement in California.
The Bangles reconvened in 2000 and recorded a reunion album, released in 2003, on Koch Records called "Doll Revolution". By lucky coincidence(?) their single 'Eternal Flame' had since been covered by, and become a hit record for, Atomic Kitten which helped to rekindle interest in its original artist.
"Sweetheart of the Sun," The Bangles first album of original material since "Doll Revolution" was released September 27, 2011. The Anna Lee (Sweetheart Of The Sun) Songfacts states that the album was recorded in various home studios - those of Vicki Peterson and Susanna Hoffs as well as the Hollywood Hills home studio of singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet, who produced the record.
They continue to play live sporadically. In January 2018, they played their first show since 2016 at Honda Center in Anaheim. It also was their first gig with original bassist Annette Zilinskas since 1983.
Dover Beach
The Bangles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would run away with you
To a perfect world
We'd suspend all that is duty or required.
Late last night you cried
And I couldn't come to you
But on the other side
Yeah, oh woe.
If we could steal away
Like jugglers and thieves
But we could come and go
Oh, and talk of Michaelangelo.
Oh woe.
If we had the time (we had the time)
We had the time.
The day you looked at me
And it was on your mind
The world is no one's dream
We will never ever find the time.
Oh woe.
If we had the time
I would run away with you
To a perfect world
(To a perfect world).
The Bangles' song "Dover Beach" is a poignant reflection on the limitations of time in relationships. The lyrics paint a picture of a couple who long to escape from their daily responsibilities and the pressures of the "real world" to a perfect utopia where time doesn't exist. They dream of being able to steal away like "jugglers and thieves" to a place where they can talk of Michaelangelo and be free to be together without any sense of duty or obligation.
However, the reality is that time is finite and they are unable to make their idealistic dream a reality. The singer laments that even if they had the time, they would never find the perfect world they seek. The couple's love is strong enough to weather the difficult times, but they are aware that they will always be restrained by the ticking clock of time.
The melancholic tone of the song captures the sense of longing and the bittersweet nature of relationships. It speaks to the universal experience of wanting more time with the ones we love, but ultimately coming to terms with the fact that time marches on.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had the time
If there were no responsibilities holding me back
I would run away with you
I would escape reality with you
To a perfect world
A place where everything is flawless
We'd suspend all that is duty or required.
We'd put our obligations and requirements on hold
Late last night you cried
You were upset yesterday at night
And I couldn't come to you
I couldn't be there for you
But on the other side
In a different reality
You and I, inseparable and walking.
We would be together, inseparable and walking together
Yeah, oh woe.
Expressing sadness and regret
If we could steal away
If we could escape secretly
Like jugglers and thieves
Like performers who can trick and deceive
But we could come and go
We could enter and exit freely
Oh, and talk of Michaelangelo.
Appreciate art and culture together
Oh woe.
Expressing sadness and regret
If we had the time (we had the time)
If we weren't so bogged down by daily life
We had the time.
If only we had enough free time
The day you looked at me
The moment you gazed in my direction
And it was on your mind
You were thinking about something
The world is no one's dream
The world isn't perfect for anyone
We will never ever find the time.
It's unlikely that we'll have enough time in the future
Oh woe.
Expressing sadness and regret
If we had the time
If only we had the freedom to do what we want
I would run away with you
I'd love to escape reality with you once in a while
To a perfect world
Somewhere where everything is perfect
(To a perfect world).
Daydreaming about a utopia
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: SUSANNA LEE HOFFS, VICKI PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gladys Maroue
I had the time
I would run away with you
To a perfect world
We'd suspend all that is duty or required.
Late last night you cried
And I couldn't come to you
But on the other side
You and I, inseparable and walking.
Yeah, oh woe.
If we could steal away
Like jugglers and thieves
But we could come and go
Oh, and talk of Michaelangelo.
Oh woe.
If we had the time (we had the time)
We had the time.
The day you looked at me
And it was on your mind
The world is no one's dream
We will never ever find the time.
Oh woe.
If we had the time
I would run away with you
To a perfect world
(To a perfect world).
Lance Ashdown
My favorite Bangles song. Actually, it's the best Bangles song--even above "Hazy Shade of Winter." Love the noisy guitar riffs, and the spine-tingling harmonies.
Lon Payne
Agree.
fundies2
@Lon Payne Yep, agree as well. Awesome sound , vocal and song.
Terry Hoknes Comic Books History Investing
is it the most Beatles-ish Bangles song ?
Jeff Williams
That Rickenbacker, almost Bell Tower guitar chorus is magical
Charles Oliva
This may sound weird - this song brought me comfort when my Dad was stricken with cancer back in 1985. He’d had a tough life - lost his Dad at age 14 and had to become the man of the house for his younger siblings. He was seriously wounded during WWII and had chronic back pain ever since. This song captured my feelings when he was sick and dying - I wanted him to be live longer and be pain free - I wished I’d appreciated him more when he was around and I wished the two of us could go to that perfect world and play golf and watch ballgames together, even for a little while.
Eric Freeman
Not weird at all. It's incredible how music evokes memories of loves ones, childhood, romances, etc.
May God bless your old man a may you continue to have fond memories of him. Thanks for sharing.
big C 73
Whatever.....
Jim Poe
I feel like they anticipated shoegaze with this one. Tell me it doesn't sound like a bit like Ride, or even Interpol. This track melted my mind when I was 16, I had never heard anything like the clanging guitars or the feedback or the bassline. The contrast between the noise and the gorgeous melody & harmonies, and the melancholy lyrics — I wanted to live in the world created by this song. This was my introduction to alternative rock; I was still months away from getting into R.E.M., the Cure, the Jesus & Mary Chain, the Replacements, etc., and this opened me up to all of that. As brilliant and kick-ass as the rest of this album is, this track is so different, it's noisier, slower, and dreamier. I've often wished they'd recorded a whole album of this sound. Who else was making music like this in 1984?
Foxswoop
Love this song, brought the album back when and still think it is their best work. Its raw and lacks the polish of later work which is the beauty of it.