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.

Sugar and Stress
The Beat Lyrics

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I've always been crazy and the trouble that it's put me through

Been busted for things that I did and I didn't do

I can't say I'm proud of all of the things that I've done

But I can say I've never intentionally hurt anyone

I've always been different with one foot over the line

Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind

It ain't been so easy but I guess I shouldn't complain

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane

Beautiful lady, are you sure that you understand

The chances you're taking, loving a free living man?

Are you really sure, you really want what you see?

Be careful of something that's just what you want it to be

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane

Nobody knows if it's something to bless or to blame

So far I ain't found a rhyme or a reason to change

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in The Beat's song Sugar & Stress reflect the life of someone who has always been different and struggled with the consequences that come with being "crazy." The singer admits to having been in trouble for things they did and didn't do, but maintains that they have never intentionally hurt anyone. They express a sense of pride in their individuality, even though it has made life difficult at times. The chorus repeats the phrase "I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane," suggesting that embracing one's quirks and idiosyncrasies can serve as a form of self-preservation.

The second half of the song shifts to address a "beautiful lady" who is taking a chance on loving the singer, who they describe as a "free living man." The tone is cautionary, suggesting that the woman should be careful not to idealize the singer or project unrealistic expectations onto their relationship. The song ends with the repeated refrain of "I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane," bringing the focus back to the singer's embrace of their own unconventional tendencies.

Line by Line Meaning

I've always been crazy and the trouble that it's put me through
I've always lived my life recklessly and it has caused me many problems.

Been busted for things that I did and I didn't do
I have been caught and punished for both things that I was guilty of and things I was completely innocent of.

I can't say I'm proud of all of the things that I've done
I'm not ashamed of who I am as a person, but I can't say that I'm completely proud of everything I've done either.

But I can say I've never intentionally hurt anyone
While my actions may have hurt people in the past, I never intended for anyone to be hurt by them.

I've always been different with one foot over the line
My personality and actions tend to push boundaries and sometimes even cross them.

Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind
As a result of my tendency to be different, I often find myself either ahead of or behind others in life.

It ain't been so easy but I guess I shouldn't complain
Despite the difficulties I've faced, I don't think I have a right to complain since I have brought these troubles on myself.

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane
My crazy behavior may have caused me problems, but it has also kept me sane in some way.

Beautiful lady, are you sure that you understand
I'm warning this woman that loving someone like me may come with its own set of problems.

The chances you're taking, loving a free living man?
I'm asking this woman if she truly understands the risks associated with loving someone who lives their life as I do.

Are you really sure, you really want what you see?
I want to make sure that she knows what she's getting herself into before she decides to be with me.

Be careful of something that's just what you want it to be
I'm warning her to be cautious of something that seems too good to be true.

Nobody knows if it's something to bless or to blame
There's no way to know if my personality and behavior is a blessing or a curse in the grand scheme of things.

So far I ain't found a rhyme or a reason to change
Despite my problems, I have not yet found a compelling reason to change who I am as a person.

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane
My crazy behavior may have caused me problems, but it has also kept me sane in some way.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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