As uncompromising as they were gifted as pop songwriters, the original line-up released two seven inch singles: Hot For You and Ghost of a Chance, the latter of which they performed on The Late Late Show in 1981.
The Blades began in the summer of 1977 when five friends got together to play a gig in the Catholic Young Mens Society hall in Ringsend.
The lineup was whittled down to three: Paul Cleary (born 9 September 1959) on bass and vocals, his brother Lar (born 2 June 1957 - died in March 2018) on guitar and friend Pat Larkin (born 25 November 1956) on drums.
Even from that early stage, the band's unashamed working-class origins and integrity marked them out from the more elliptical art rock being pioneered by U2 and The Atrix.
The band regularly played in Dublin's infamous venues like The Magnet on Pearse Street, McGonagle's on South Anne Street and The Baggot Inn on Lower Baggot Street, where they did a six-week residency with U2. Many in the crowd left after The Blades set and it was The Blades rather than U2 who were tipped for stardom.
Their first single Hot For You was released on Energy Records in 1980, followed by Ghost Of A Chance in 1981 which they played on The Late Late Show. The legendary producer John Porter produced their first album Last Man in Europe but due to personnel changes at the record company never got released in England.
Pat left the band in March 1981, to be replaced by Jake Reilly on drums, the new lineup of Paul, Larry and Jake Played first gig in The Magnet on Pearse Street on 18 July 1981, later that summer Paul switched to guitar bringing in bassist Brian Foley (ex. The Vipers) and added a brass section including Frank Duff( ex.
The band signed to Irish label Reekus, and a double A-sided single, 'The Bride Wore White'/'Animation' was released in March 1982. In the Hotpress National Poll, 'The Bride Wore White' was voted best single while The Blades were voted 'the most promising act in Ireland' and Paul Cleary beat Van Morrison and Bono to the 'best Irish songwriter'
In 1985, Reekus released the album 'The Last Man In Europe'.
One of their last gestures was to shun Self Aid, a 'backslapping' concert "to highlight the chronic unemployment problem in Ireland at the time" and instead played the socialist 'Rock the System' Concert in Liberty Hall in 1986.
In 2001, Reekus records released a Double CD Boxset "Those were the Days", which includes both Albums: "The Last Man in Europe" and "Raytown Revisited".
Paul Cleary continued with a band The Partisans and later led an eight-piece pub rock band called The Cajun Kings. He also released solo material. In 2001, Paul released his first new material in 15 years, the 11-track album 'Crooked Town.
Pat Larkin was later with The Peridots, and Brian Foley with (The Mountain Climbers, The Harvest Ministers).
The Blades reformed in 2013 to play two sold out reunion gigs in Dublin's Olympia Theatre on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December. Leading up to their reunion gigs they performed on The Late Late Show in November 2013.
In addition to their reunion gigs in 2013, The Blades performed at The Electric Picnic in 2014 [7] and at The Olympia Theatre on 5 December 2014. In November 2014 Paul Cleary released a brand new solo single 'I Still Believe.'
Following their reunion onstage, the band began working on new material in the studio on the strength of new songwriting from Cleary. In November 2015, they released their first new music as The Blades since 1985 with a 4-track EP entitled Smalltime. The first single, "Harder Times" was released on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show on Today FM on 14 October 2015 and the EP has received widespread critical acclaim from the Irish media.
Pride
The Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But something prevents me
That something can only be
When you know you're giving way
Hopeless!
And you want somewhere to run
Need somewhere to hide
If you never cried
Whisper!
I'd like to break down and say that I'm lonely
But something prevents me
That something can only be
So when bitterness comes 'round
No one is exempt
Try and look your best
A vain attempt!
After all is said and done
Someone else's name
Coming from her lips
Screaming!
The lyrics of The Blades's song "Pride" convey feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, and desperation. The singer of the song is reluctant to admit that they're lonely, even though they're struggling internally. The line "When you know you're giving way" suggests that the singer is aware of their emotional distress, but they're still trying to hold on to their pride and resist the urge to break down.
The weight of the singer's emotions is heavy and overwhelming, and there is a sense of endless waiting for things to get better. The line "If you never cried, whisper" implies that the singer is trying to conceal their emotions and keep them hidden from others. They want to find a place to run and hide, but they feel like there's nowhere to go.
As the song progresses, there is a shift towards bitterness and a sense of resignation. The singer acknowledges that everyone is susceptible to feeling bitter and that looking your best is a vain attempt to hide your emotions. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is hearing someone else's name being screamed, which could be interpreted as a symbol of heartbreak or betrayal.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pride" are dense and emotional, exploring themes of loneliness, desperation, and heartbreak. The singer is struggling to come to terms with their emotions and find a way to cope with their pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I’d like to break down and say that I’m lonely
I feel lonely, and I want to express it, but something is holding me back from doing so.
But something prevents me
An unknown force within me is stopping me from speaking up about my loneliness.
That something can only be
The thing that's blocking me can only be described as a feeling of vulnerability or weakness.
When you know you’re giving way
I am aware that I am emotionally breaking down and becoming more vulnerable.
Heavy is the weight, endless is the wait
The burden of loneliness is suffocating and seems like it will never go away.
Hopeless!
I feel like there is no hope for me and my situation.
And you want somewhere to run
I desire to escape from my loneliness and find a safe haven.
Need somewhere to hide
I crave a place where I can conceal myself and find peace from my overwhelming feelings of isolation.
If you never cried
If you have never experienced loneliness, you may not understand the immense pain associated with it.
Whisper!
I can only express my feelings in a soft and muted tone, as they are too painful to fully voice.
So when bitterness comes ’round
If I encounter hardship or heartbreak, my loneliness may intensify and be harder to bear.
No one is exempt
Loneliness can affect anyone, regardless of their status or achievements.
Try and look your best
Even if I feel miserable, I attempt to appear put-together and composed for the sake of appearances.
A vain attempt!
Despite my efforts to seem okay, my pain and loneliness are still present and cannot be hidden entirely.
After all is said and done
When everything is over and done with, and I am left with my thoughts, my loneliness remains.
Someone else’s name
Hearing someone say someone else's name reminds me of my own loneliness and isolation, making the feelings even more intense.
Coming from her lips
Hearing this name from someone I care about's lips causes even more emotional distress and loneliness.
Screaming!
I feel like screaming out my pain and isolation, but I am unable to do so.
Lyrics © Reekus Music Ireland
Written by: Paul Cleary
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind