Originally, the Australian band was called The Boys Next Door, comprising Cave, Howard, Mick Harvey (guitar, drums, organ, piano), bassist Tracy Pew, and drummer Phill Calvert. After the Door Door album and Hee Haw EP under that name, the band moved to London and switched its name to the deceptively benign Birthday Party. Once they arrived in Britain, their demented, knotty post-punk began to gel. They released their first international album, Prayers On Fire, in 1981, earning critical praise in the U.K. and U.S. While the band was preparing to record the follow-up, Pew was jailed for drunk driving; former Magazine member Barry Adamson, Harry Howard, and Chris Walsh filled in for the absent Pew on 1982's Junkyard.
After the release of Junkyard, Calvert joined Psychedelic Furs and the band moved to Germany, where they began collaborating with such experimental post-punk acts as Lydia Lunch and Einstürzende Neubauten. Harvey left in the summer of 1983. The group briefly continued with drummer Des Heffner, but it soon disbanded after a final concert in Melbourne, Australia. Cave had the most successful solo career, recording a series of albums in the '80s and '90s that maintained his status as a popular cult figure; Harvey joined Cave's band Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Howard joined Crime & The City Solution, which also featured his brother Harry and Harvey. Tracey Pew toured with The Saints before dying of an epileptic seizure in 1986.
--Review from AMG Allmusic Guide
Figure of Fun
The Birthday Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am a figure of fun
Obsessive, dead-pan and moribund
[creantic girl] seasick
I am the figure of fun
[?] I baked in the sun
I have no luck in anything
I am a figure of fun
And I'm impressed by everyone
But I impress no-one
It's irritating
I am a figure of fun
ROCK!
I am a figure of fun
I have money
But money isn't everything to a figure of
Fun fun fun fun fun fun...
I love you baby fun fun fun
The Birthday Party’s “Figure of Fun” is a deep and honest exploration of loneliness and the feeling of not fitting in. The song’s narrator describes himself as a “figure of fun,” someone who is the subject of laughter and ridicule by others. He is unable to connect with others on a deeper level, and feels like an outsider in every situation. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is unsuccessful in love and life, and is constantly searching for acceptance but without success.
The line “obsessive, dead-pan and moribund” is particularly poignant, describing someone who is stuck in their own misery and unable to escape it. The repetition of the phrase “figure of fun” further emphasizes the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of humiliation and ridicule. The chorus, which repeats the phrase “fun fun fun,” is almost sarcastic, as if the singer is mocking the idea of happiness and joy that he is unable to experience.
Overall, “Figure of Fun” is a powerful and introspective song that delves into the darker aspects of the human experience, particularly the feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Wow! uh oh
Exclamatory expression used to introduce the theme or mood of the song
I am a figure of fun
The singer is saying how people are amused by him and find him entertaining or comical
Obsessive, dead-pan and moribund
The singer is describing their demeanor as being intense, dull and gloomy
[creantic girl] seasick
The meaning is unclear, may refer to someone feeling ill or distressed
I am the figure of fun
Repeating the same phrase, indicating the central theme of the song
[?] I baked in the sun
Unclear meaning, but may refer to feeling exhausted or worn out
I have no luck in love
The singer is expressing their lack of success in romantic relationships
I have no luck in anything
The singer feels as though they never have good fortune, no matter what they do
And I'm impressed by everyone
The singer finds others to be impressive and noteworthy
But I impress no-one
Despite admiration for others, the singer feels unnoticed and not respected by others
It's irritating
The situation of being unimpressive and unnoticed is bothersome and unpleasant
I am a figure of fun
Repeating the same phrase, indicating the central theme of the song
ROCK!
Possible interjection to introduce a change in musical style or tone (rock music)
I am a figure of fun
Repeating the same phrase, indicating the central theme of the song
I have money
The singer has material wealth, but it does not provide happiness or fulfillment
But money isn't everything to a figure of fun fun fun fun fun fun...
Despite having wealth, the singer values amusement and entertainment over material things
I love you baby fun fun fun
Possible expression of affection for someone or for fun itself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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emile235
once again Nick's literary/Shakespearian powers of observation transmute the rock n roll genre into something higher
Neil Aspinall
This song is life changing even today, such insane intensity that can only be produced by men in their 20's. Genius! "I am impressed by everyone but I impress no one"
batbitten
such clean entertainment. great guitars.
Elizabeth Hann
batbitten: I meant to say, DIRTINESS is next to antigodliness. I think Nick Cave said that. I'll let you respond to my comments if I can respond to yours. I said that. I think that you're SO right about the guitars; they really are great. Thank god (or the devil, ha ha ha!) for Rowland S. Howard, and for Tracy Pew. They really held this band together.
Elizabeth Hann
batbitten: you got a funny idea of clean. But uncleanliness is next to antigodliness, don'tcha know?
Mejnour777
This is definitely the song of my (past?) life.
Herve Mahieux
Bravo Nick Cave pour cet album.
Luke Kelly
I love how this is preceded by an ad for the utterly dickless I Am Kloot
cocoaqueen16
So good, it's scary.
radio astronot
it's a swing but also punk