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.
The Limits We Set
The Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
what can we get away with?
in that at least we're the same
the only way we find of hiding the hurt we feel
is more unnecessary pain
each time you
draw in like a breath
it comes out like a knife
tonight
on what a fight
the little you can expect to get
to get from anyone else
makes you look after number one
the only helping hand
you'll ever be offered
is the one at the end of your own arm
draw in like a breath
it goes tight like a wire
you're trying to shout
but your lungs are on fire
draw in like a breath
it comes out like a knife
you feel like offering yourself
shoplifting my little brother
shoplifting my little sister
said all you got to do is
just a forward through the door
but when they come fe check you out
you no come back for more
shoplifting my little brederen
shoplifting my little sister
tell me which one would you prefer
one hundred pound fine
or three months in prison
me old cock sparra?
shoplifting shoplifting
shoplifting, but a shoplifting
The Beat's song 'The Limits We Set' explores the idea of self-imposed limitations and the subsequent pain that stems from them. The lyrics hint at the idea of people inflicting unnecessary harm upon themselves as a means of hiding their inner pain. The line 'the only way we find of hiding the hurt we feel, is more unnecessary pain' speaks to the idea that people often choose to hurt themselves as a way of distracting from the deeper pain they're experiencing.
The song also touches on the concept of self-sufficiency and how the only person you can truly rely on is yourself. The line 'the only helping hand you'll ever be offered is the one at the end of your own arm' reinforces the idea that people need to be self-sufficient and look after their own needs because, ultimately, they can't rely on anyone else to do it for them.
Musically, the song features the distinctive ska sound that The Beat is known for. The fast-paced rhythmic guitar and bass create a lively and upbeat melody that almost contradicts the somberness of the lyrics.
Overall, 'The Limits We Set' is a commentary on the human condition and how we often create our own limitations and pain. It encourages listeners to look within themselves and question the limitations they have set for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
The only limits we set
We are the sole creators of our own limitations
what can we get away with?
What are the boundaries we can cross without negative consequences?
in that at least we're the same
We share the common tendency to cover our pain with more pain
the only way we find of hiding the hurt we feel
The solution we resort to for masking our emotional pain
is more unnecessary pain
Is to inflict even more pain on ourselves
each time you
Whenever you
draw in like a breath
Take a deep breath
it comes out like a knife
Your words turn out to be sharp and hurtful
you feel like offering yourself out
You feel like fighting someone to release your frustration
tonight
This evening
on what a fight
What a brawl it will be
the little you can expect to get
The minimum you can anticipate receiving
to get from anyone else
From other individuals
makes you look after number one
Forces you to prioritize your own interests
the only helping hand
The singular support
you'll ever be offered
That you will ever receive
is the one at the end of your own arm
Is your own hand
it goes tight like a wire
You feel suffocated and stressed
you're trying to shout
You want to vocalize
but your lungs are on fire
But your respiratory system is in pain
shoplifting my little brother
My younger sibling who stole items from a store
shoplifting my little sister
My younger sister who shoplifted
said all you got to do is
He/she claimed that all it takes
just a forward through the door
Is to step through the entrance
but when they come fe check you out
But when they come to verify your behavior
you no come back for more
You won't try to steal from the same store again
tell me which one would you prefer
Inform me which one you would choose
one hundred pound fine
A penalty of one hundred pounds
or three months in prison
Or a three-month jail sentence
me old cock sparra?
A slang expression used to refer to a man
shoplifting shoplifting
Stealing merchandise from a store
shoplifting, but a shoplifting
Stealing, specifically from a store
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROGER CHARLERY, ANDREW COX, ANDY COX, EVERETT MORTON, DAVID STEELE, DAVID WAKELING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nelson Milesi
Música maravilhosa. Iluminou minhas noites adolescentes dos anos 80.
Que banda extraordinária.
Anthony Wright
What a great song!
Marco Snelle
the first few seconds of the song still catch me!!! great song! cheers from vienna!
Jim Tackett
Thanks for posting. Great song!
Douglas Lowe
Damn This was a great slow lovemaking song. Well, still is.
Jon Helmstadter
Google thought I said " Lim sweet fat" LOL