The music of The Blue Nile is built heavily on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation and percussion, although later works have featured acoustic guitar more prominently. Despite the "coldness" often associated with the use of such electronic instruments, The Blue Nile has managed to create music that is deeply emotional, and a lot of this has to do with the plaintive vocals of lead singer Paul Buchanan, whom critics have often compared to Peter Gabriel. The lyrics are often stream-of-consciousness descriptions of feelings and environments, which heighten the drama of the compositions, which are as much soundscapes as they are songs.
The band was formed when friends Buchanan and Paul Joseph Moore met Robert Bell shortly after graduating from the University of Glasgow in the late 1970s. Their debut album A Walk Across the Rooftops was the result of a request from the Linn Company to test a newly built recording studio!
The rare, later albums - which include acclaimed titles like Hats (1989) - have been released by the Scottish high end hifi company Linn and feature exceptional sound and production values.
I Would Never
The Blue Nile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A thousand miles
I have worked
As fast as I can
And I have raised
A precious child
To be a man
Turn my back
On your love
And I have gone
Up and down
Yeah I have wandered
From place to place
And I have raised my weary hand
To my face
But I would never
Turn my back
On your love
Is there anybody there who knows me?
Is there any body there who knows now?
That I will be home soon
And I would never
Turn my back
On your love
When the sun is going down
And there are colours
Against the sky
I have seen my home town
In your eyes
But I would never
Turn my back
Yeah I have learned
To face the fact
No I would never
Turn my back
On your love
Hey yeah yeah
Hey yeah yeah
I would never
Turn my back
On your love
The Blue Nile's song I Would Never is a beautiful tribute to a steadfast love that endures through life's ups and downs. The lyrics express a deep gratitude for the love of a significant other, whose love has remained unwavering even through the singer's long and arduous journey. The first verse speaks of the singer's many accomplishments, including walking a thousand miles and raising a child, but concludes with the acknowledgment that it is the enduring love of the significant other that has provided the motivation and support to achieve these things. The chorus repeats the message that the singer would never turn his back on this love.
The second verse speaks of the many places the singer has traveled in search of his own path, but how no matter where he goes, he never forgets the love that he left behind. The line "Is there anybody there who knows me?" suggests a longing for connection, for someone who truly knows and can appreciate the singer's journey. And yet, the assurance that "I will be home soon" conveys a sense of certainty and hope that the love he craves is waiting for him.
Line by Line Meaning
I have walked
I have completed a long journey
A thousand miles
I have traveled a great distance
I have worked
I have made an effort
As fast as I can
I have exerted myself to the maximum extent
And I have raised
I have nurtured
A precious child
Someone I value dearly
To be a man
To fulfill their potential as a grown adult
But I would never
Under no circumstances would I ever
Turn my back
Abandon, disregard
On your love
The affection and care you show me
And I have gone
I have traveled
Up and down
Between high and low points
Yeah I have wandered
I have roamed aimlessly
From place to place
From one location to another
And I have raised my weary hand
I have shown that I am tired
To my face
I have gestured to my own visage
Is there anybody there who knows me?
Does anyone recognize me?
Is there any body there who knows now?
Does anyone understand me at present?
That I will be home soon
I will return shortly
When the sun is going down
During the sunset
And there are colours
Various shades and hues
Against the sky
Visible in the firmament above
I have seen my home town
I behold the place I grew up in
In your eyes
I observe it reflected in your gaze
Yeah I have learned
I am now aware
To face the fact
To confront reality
No I would never
Under no circumstances would I ever
Turn my back
Abandon, disregard
On your love
The affection and care you show me
Hey yeah yeah
Vocals of agreement and understanding
I would never
Under no circumstances would I ever
Turn my back
Abandon, disregard
On your love
The affection and care you show me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PAUL GERARD BUCHANAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D oo
I have walked
A thousand miles
I have worked
As fast as I can
And I have raised
A precious child
To be a man
But I would never
Turn my back
On your love
And I have gone
Up and down
Yeah I have wandered
From place to place
And I have raised my weary hand
To my face
But I would never
Turn my back
On your love
Is there anybody there who knows me?
Is there any body there who knows now?
That I will be home soon
And I would never
Turn my back
On your love
When the sun is going down
And there are colours
Against…
John Mc Cann
Beautiful voice with such feeling.I was hooked on them from the first record.💚
Lady Packa
Y no dejo de escucharla una y otra vez......
Donna Peace 🧡
Absolutely heartbreakingly full of melody, chords & his wonderfully soothing voice xxxx
Matthew Ingram
Tears in my eyes every time I hear this. A beautiful arrangement of a fabulously simple and moving song.
Antony Boyd
I never used to think this was their strongest album, but with time there are some real classic tracks growing on me.
metzingerwasright
The part that starts "Is there anybody there who knows me?" is so damn amazing, I feel like it should have been repeated at least once later in the song. Other than that, the song is perfection. God bless Paul Buchanan, and everything he did.
Yardner
@Matthew Richards ~ 💕 🎶
Matthew Richards
One secret of a great artists "success" is to leave you wanting more. The Blue Nile are pretty good at that.
Rick Aleborg
This album is underrated, I love all four albums!
Graeme Hogg
Soulful and heartfelt, from a classic album deserving much more recognition