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.
Too Late
The Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To say I'm not a happy man
Is to understate
What I understand
The feel of crushing
Always shared
So I overlooked
What I overheard
I found out when it was too late
I found out too late x2
(Too late x2)
Out of mind is out sight
Someday maybe a friendly call
Did you cry that night?
Do you cry at all?
Another long and painful day
With midnight colours
Blue and black
Would you help me say?
Would you help me pack?
I found out when it was too late
I found out too late x2
(Too late x2)
The Blades' song "Too Late" is a melancholic reflection on a life filled with missed opportunities and regret. The opening line "Misery will be my fate" sets the tone for the entire song, with the singer feeling trapped in their own helplessness. The next line, "To say I'm not a happy man is to understate," further emphasizes the depths of the singer's despair.
The second verse delves into the regrets of the singer's past, with lines such as "The heavy steps I never took" and "So I overlooked what I overheard." The singer is haunted by the decisions they didn't make and the things they didn't do, which ultimately led them to their current state of misery.
In the final verse, the singer ponders the possibility of a friend reaching out to them, wondering if anyone truly cares about their well-being. The reference to "midnight colours" suggests that the singer is stuck in a dark and lonely place, with no hope of escape. The repetition of "I found out when it was too late" throughout the song drives home the central theme of regret and missed opportunity.
Overall, "Too Late" is a poignant and introspective song about the weight of regret and the consequences of missed chances.
Line by Line Meaning
Misery will be my fate
I feel like I'm destined to suffer and be unhappy
To say I'm not a happy man
Even if I deny it or try to hide it, I'm not a happy person
Is to understate
It's an understatement to say I'm not happy
What I understand
I know that I'm not happy and that it's likely to continue
The heavy steps I never took
I missed out on some important opportunities or actions that could have made a difference
The feel of crushing
I feel weighed down and overwhelmed by the burden of my situation
Always shared
Others around me are also struggling or dealing with difficult circumstances
So I overlooked
I ignored or didn't notice an important warning or message that might have helped me
What I overheard
I heard something important or relevant, but didn't realize it at the time
I found out when it was too late
I learned something important or relevant, but unfortunately it was already too late to do anything about it
I found out too late x2
I discovered something that would have changed things, but it was too late to do anything about it – and the regret is doubly painful
(Too late x2)
This phrase emphasizes the finality and irreversibility of the situation
Out of mind is out sight
I'm not thinking about something or someone – so I'm not seeing it or them
Someday maybe a friendly call
At some point in the future, maybe someone will reach out to me and offer support or friendship
Did you cry that night?
I wonder if you were also upset or feeling pain at the same time I was
Do you cry at all?
I'm wondering if you're also struggling and dealing with emotional pain, like I am
Another long and painful day
I'm dealing with a lot of difficulty, and it's been going on for a long time
With midnight colours
With darkness and sadness that seems to be all-encompassing
Blue and black
Colors associated with sadness, depression, or bruising
Would you help me say?
Can I count on you to support me and help me express my feelings?
Would you help me pack?
Can you help me leave this situation behind and move on to something better?
Lyrics © Reekus Music Ireland
Written by: Paul Cleary
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christydonovan851
originaly a duet with ray lynam
great tune