The original core of the band included Langley's brother John on drums, Nick Jacobs on guitar, and multi-instrumentalist Dave Chapman. However, personnel other than Langley has varied, and (on both records and in performances) they have always been augmented by a large cast of semi-regular sidemen. (By the time of their 1991 album, Beatsongs, the Aeroplanes' lineup included guitarist Angelo Bruschini, guitarist Rodney Allen, bassist Andy McCreeth, drummer Paul Mulreany, and guitarist/keyboard player Alex Lee, with another eight musicians listed in the credits.) The group released Bop Art on the Abstract Records label in April 1984, then signed to Fire Records, for which they recorded their second album, Tolerance (October 1986), and their third, Spitting Out Miracles (1987), plus several EPs. Spitting Out Miracles was their first U.S. release, followed by the compilation album Friendloverplane (1988), a double LP on Fire in the U.K. that was reduced to a single LP on Restless in the U.S. The Blue Aeroplanes then signed to the Ensign division of Chrysalis Records and charted in the U.K. with two 1989 singles, "Jacket Hangs" and "...And Stones," as well as their 1990 and 1991 albums, Swagger and Beatsongs.
Soul
The Blue Aeroplanes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tight in black gloves
Skinning it up
As hot as cool
Hit it, boy
It's wild and trackless
Where the cats in black tux
From the shacks
to the front of the street
It's lovingly taken
by small devils
Yeah, the heart of the drama
Come out like grass
In drums
Jumped and jay walked
In New York
Clubbed and cake walked
Till Ladbroke Grove
Can this be me?
Growing up and growing old
To watch my contemporaries
Swallow the cultures whole
Swaying in white tie
Eyes trail from the white life
Swaying in the white tie
pleased to call it
Soul
The lyrics of The Blue Aeroplanes' song "Soul" describe a scene where music is being played, and the crowd is getting involved, especially the "cats in black tux" who are dancing to the music. The song speaks to the power of music to blur social boundaries and create a sense of unity among people from different backgrounds. The singer reflects on growing older and watching his peers assimilate to mainstream culture. The line "Can this be me?" begs the question of how much our own identities can be influenced by the people around us.
The lyrics also speak to the ambiguity of identity and the way that people can adopt different personas depending on the context they are in. The line "Played by white hands/Tight in black gloves" suggests that the person playing the music is making an intentional choice to present themselves in a certain way, emphasizing their skill and talent. The repetition of the phrase "swaying in white tie" could be interpreted as the singer trying on different personas and imagining how it might feel to be a part of a particular social circle.
Overall, the lyrics of "Soul" encourage listeners to embrace their individuality while also recognizing the power of music to bring people together and create moments of joy and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Played by white hands
The music is being played by people of privilege or power.
Tight in black gloves
They are skillfully playing the music with precision and tightness, like an athlete in black gloves.
Skinning it up
They are improvising and adding flair to their playing, as if peeling back layers of skin to reveal something deeper and more raw.
As hot as cool
The music is both passionate and composed, combining the intensity of hotness with the composure of coolness.
Hit it, boy
Encouragement to keep the music going and push it further.
It's wild and trackless
The music is chaotic and unpredictable, with no clear path or direction.
Where the cats in black tux
are stepping
The music is being played in a sophisticated and upscale setting, where the performers are dressed in formal attire.
From the shacks
to the front of the street
The music has transcended its humble origins and is now being played publicly for all to hear.
It's lovingly taken
by small devils
The music has been embraced by those who may be considered outsiders or misfits, who fully appreciate its power and beauty.
Yeah, the heart of the drama
Come out like grass
In drums
The music represents the core of human emotion and experience, constantly growing and flourishing like grass, communicated through drumming.
Jumped and jay walked
In New York
Clubbed and cake walked
Till Ladbroke Grove
The music has been played at various locations in different countries, where people have danced and moved to its beat.
Can this be me?
Growing up and growing old
To watch my contemporaries
Swallow the cultures whole
The artist is reflecting on their own aging process and how their peers have become consumed by mass culture, while they still hold onto their individuality and creative expression through music.
Swaying in white tie
Eyes trail from the white life
Swaying in the white tie
pleased to call it
Soul
The music, represented by the metaphorical 'white tie', is able to break down class and cultural barriers, and the singer is proud to call it 'soul'.
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.