1) The English two-tone ska band The Beat known as The English Beat in North America and The British Beat in Australia.
2) The American power-pop band became known as Paul Collins' Beat in Europe.
1. The Beat are a band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.
The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (1930 – 2017) (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Too Nice to Talk To", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "Hands Off, She's Mine" and "All Out to Get You".[3]
Although the group’s main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country’s college radio.
After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.
Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as “Free Nelson Mandela”. In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.
Ranking Roger’s son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father’s footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys’ single “Boys Will Be Boys”. In 2003, The Beat’s original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).
The Beat’s lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Saxa died on 3 May 2017, Ranking Roger died on 26 March 2019.
2. The Beat (known in Europe as The Paul Collins Beat or Paul Collins' Beat), were an American rock and power pop group from Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1970s. The Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material as Paul Collins' Beat. Frontman Paul Collins has released several projects with his alternative country group The Paul Collins Band, who play Americana music inspired by country rock and folk rock.
Hands Off She's Mine
The Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He told me that he liked you too
But then I saw him kissing you
I could've died when he said
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
I wanted no
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
I knew that this was real although
It usually comes mixed up with fear
I knew that I could wait although
It just might take a thousand years
Said, hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Until the end of time
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
La la la la, la la la la
La la la la, la la la la
Now we're going steady been together several weeks
I check out all the other guys
Who we see on the streets
When I say, hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
It takes up all my time
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off me daughter
I tell ya get your hands off me daughter
C'mon mek me said don't mess around on ya
C'mek mek me tell ya don't want ta get ya
La la la la, la la la la
La la la la, la la la la
Funny how the best things
Never last for every day
I thought she was my girlfriend
Till I heard that someone else was saying
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
Hands off, she's mine
The song "Hands Off She's Mine" by The Beat is a love song which tells a story of a guy who meets a girl he likes and asks his friend to help him get close to her. However, the friend ends up kissing the girl, making the guy jealous and possessive. He claims the girl as his own and tells his friend to keep his hands off her. The guy believes that what he feels for the girl is real, although it comes with fear, and he is willing to wait for her even if it takes a thousand years. The last verse sees the guy announcing to everyone that the girl is his girlfriend and that they have been together for several weeks. He becomes overprotective of her and tells other guys to keep their hands off her.
The song is a simple, catchy, and upbeat tune with an infectious chorus that is easy to sing along to. It's a classic 80s ska hit with a fun and playful vibe, but the lyrics also reveal some darker undertones of jealousy, possessiveness, and insecurity. The singer's possessive behavior towards the girl he likes is not that healthy or admirable, and it reflects a certain toxic masculinity that was prevalent in the 80s music scene. Nevertheless, the song has endured as a nostalgic and fun song that still gets people dancing and singing along to its infectious rhythm and melody.
Line by Line Meaning
I told my friend I'd check for you
I promised my friend that I would see if you were interested in him
He told me that he liked you too
He said that he also had feelings for you
But then I saw him kissing you
However, when I saw him kissing you, it hurt me
I could've died when he said
It felt like a blow when he told me
Hands off, she's mine
He claimed that you belonged to him
I wanted no
I didn't want that for myself
I knew that this was real although
Despite usual mixed feelings this love felt genuine
It usually comes mixed up with fear
Love is often accompanied by fear and uncertainty
I knew that I could wait although
I knew that I could be patient, even if it took a long time
It just might take a thousand years
It could take a very long time for us to be together
Until the end of time
I will hold onto you forever
Now we're going steady been together several weeks
We are now officially dating and have been together for a few weeks
I check out all the other guys
I keep an eye on all the other guys who are interested in you
Who we see on the streets
The people we encounter in public
When I say, hands off, she's mine
I remind others that you are mine and nobody else's
It takes up all my time
My love for you is my main focus and takes up all my time and attention
Hands off me daughter
Don't touch my daughter!
I tell ya get your hands off me daughter
I'm warning you to let go of my daughter
C'mon mek me said don't mess around on ya
I implore you not to mess around with her
C'mek mek me tell ya don't want ta get ya
Just know, you don't want to mess with me
Funny how the best things
It's ironic that the best things
Never last for every day
Rarely do they last for a long time
I thought she was my girlfriend
I believed that she was my girlfriend
Till I heard that someone else was saying
Until I heard from someone else that she was with another person
Hands off, she's mine
I claim her as mine
Hands off, she's mine
She belongs to me
Hands off, she's mine
I won't let anyone else have her
Hands off, she's mine
I will protect our love and relationship
Hands off, she's mine
Don't touch what is mine
Hands off, she's mine
Keep your hands off her
Hands off, she's mine
I will always protect and cherish our love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ROGER CHARLERY, ANDREW COX, ANDY COX, EVERETT MORTON, DAVID STEELE, DAVID WAKELING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@crystalinabacteria3430
Im 51 & I lost a friend who loved The Beat. Passed away with Leukemia at 18. I was 16. Still think of him.to this day. He was like a brother to me😢❤
@philipnorris6542
All good wishes to you, Crystalina.
@bergkamp232
GOD BLESS MATE 🙌 STAY STRONG, That will be his very words for you AKA
@nickridgway5529
The best voices, the best memories. Thank you Ranking Roger & the Beat x
@akishot6735
rip
@dennisriley3899
In this 55 year old body I'm still a rube boy the best days of my life and the best group one race united by good vibes and wicked music .
The beat simple the best
@joemarshall3393
56 here with you there mate...
@karlbensley58
The SOUL dont have an age :) or a Colour, or even a gender !
@sarahcave6130
The good old days, 80,s were the best!!!
@kyachdistent1301
+Sarah Cave Yes and we've been in the shit since the 90s and it just gets worse in the non-music music world but hardly anyone knows it cos the world is generally thick as hell.