There were two bands named The Beat, both active at the same time in the la… Read Full Bio ↴There were two bands named The Beat, both active at the same time in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Both bands mutually decided to use different names while operating different parts of the world:

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.

Over and Over
The Beat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel, I know
That there's something real, just let it show
Why is it only me who's trying?
Can't you see I've been crying
It's so hard but I'm already scarred
The voices in my head, tell me it's over
But the words that you said, pull me closer
I don't wanna have to, go on without you

This could be true love if we make it through
There's one thing you need to explain why is this so hard for you again
I've being doing all the work my friends are telling me that you're a jerk
For you I've been fighting but you're leaving me alone
Maybe it'll be better if I face this on my own
The voices in my head, tell me it's over
But the words that you said, pull me closer
I don't wanna have to, go on without you
This could be true love, if we make it through

The voices in my head, tell me it's over
But the words that you said, pull me closer

Overall Meaning

The Beat's song Over and Over is an emotional plea from the singer to a reluctant lover to open up to the possibility of a true, lasting relationship. The singer is aware of the depth of their feelings and sees something real in the relationship, but is frustrated and hurt by the reluctance on the part of the lover to commit fully. There is a sense of desperation and resignation in the tone of the lyrics, as the singer acknowledges that they have been trying too hard and that their friends may be right in warning them about the lover's behavior.

The opening lines "I feel, I know / That there's something real, just let it show" express the singer's confidence in the potential of the relationship and their desire for the lover to acknowledge and reciprocate those feelings. The repetition of the chorus "The voices in my head, tell me it's over / But the words that you said, pull me closer" highlights the internal conflict and confusion that the singer feels, torn between the reality of the situation and their stubborn hope that the lover will come around.

The lyrics reveal a sense of vulnerability and pain, as the singer is aware of the toll that the relationship is taking on them. The lines "Can't you see I've been crying / It's so hard but I'm already scarred" suggest that the singer has invested a lot of emotional energy and is now at a breaking point. However, there is also a sense of determination and hope, as the singer clings to the idea of "true love" and is willing to fight for it.

Line by Line Meaning

I feel, I know
I have a strong sense that there is something real between us

That there's something real, just let it show
There is something meaningful and genuine between us, we should let it come out

Why is it only me who's trying?
I feel like I'm the only one putting effort into this relationship

Can't you see I've been crying
I'm hurting and upset, can't you see how much this is affecting me?

It's so hard but I'm already scarred
Dealing with this is incredibly difficult, and I'm already emotionally wounded from it

The voices in my head, tell me it's over
I'm hearing negative thoughts and doubts, making me feel like this relationship is doomed

But the words that you said, pull me closer
Despite feeling negative, what you've said to me has made me feel like there's still hope

I don't wanna have to, go on without you
I can't imagine moving on and living my life without you

This could be true love if we make it through
If we can work through our issues, this could be a real and lasting love

There's one thing you need to explain why is this so hard for you again
I need you to help me understand why this is such a struggle for us, again

I've being doing all the work my friends are telling me that you're a jerk
I feel like I'm doing all the heavy lifting in this relationship, and my friends are telling me you're not putting in any effort

For you I've been fighting but you're leaving me alone
I've been putting in effort and trying to make things work, but you're not doing the same

Maybe it'll be better if I face this on my own
Perhaps it would be easier for me to deal with this by myself

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Bastien Javaux

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS