The Blue Orchids were formed in 1979 in Manchester, England by Martin… Read Full Bio ↴1.
The Blue Orchids were formed in 1979 in Manchester, England by Martin Bramah and Una Baines, both formerly of The Fall. They were joined by Rick Goldstraw, guitar, Steve Toyne on bass and Joe Kin on drums. With this line up, they recorded the singles "The Flood" and "Work" for rough trade records.
The group underwent a series of personnel changes before the release of their album "The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain" (1981), which faetured Bramah, Baines (keyboards), Goldstraw (now on bass) and Toby Toman on drums. This line up also released an ep, "Agents of Change" in 1982.
The group split up at the end of 1982 but Bramah and Baines reunited briefly in 1985 to record a single "Sleepy Town" before splitting again.
It wasn't until 1991 that Bramah relaunched a new version of the Blue Orchids which included ex Smiths musician, Craig Gannon on guitar. This group recorded an unreleased album before splitting in 1995.
In 2002, a compilation album called "A Darker Bloom" was released and in 2003, the band releaesed its back-catalog, including the unreleased 1993 album, now titled "The Sleeper".
In 2004, Bramah recorded a brand new Blue Orchids album "Mystic Bud" and in 2005, Goldstraw rejoined the group for the mini album "Slum-Cavern-Jest".
A live album "Blue Orchids Bomb Manchester" was released in 2007.
Martin Bramah is currently pursuing a solo career.
2.
For the English girl group, see The Orchids.
Wörk
The Blue Orchids Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only just one time
Then be happy with the consequence
With whatever's gonna happen tonight
Don't think we're not serious
When's it ever not
The love we make is give and it's take
i'm game to play along
All I can say I should say
Can we take a ride?
Get out of this place while we still have time
the best DJs are saving their slowest song for last
When the dance is through it's me and you
Come on, would it really be so bad
The things we think may be the same
But I won't fight for more
Its just not me to wear it on my sleeve
Count on that for sure
All I can say I should have said
Can we take a ride?
Get out of this place while we still have time
you want to take a ride?
Get out of this place while we still have time
we still have time
Can't say I was never wrong
But some blame rests on you
Work and play they're never okay to mix
the way we do
All I can say I should have said
Can we take a ride?
Get out of this place while we still have time
you want to take a ride?
Get out of this place while we still have time
we still have time
The Blue Orchids' song "Work" is about the tension between work and play, and the desire to escape that tension for a moment of indulgence with someone else. The lyrics imply a romantic encounter, but the subtext is larger than that. The singer is asking for one night of reckless abandon, where they can forget about the consequences of their actions and just enjoy the moment. The chorus repeats the request to "take a ride" and escape their current situation before it's too late.
The lines "The love we make is give and it's take / I'm game to play along" suggest that this is not a one-sided desire and that the singer is willing to reciprocate. The second verse references DJs playing their slowest song for last, creating a moment of intimacy before the end of the night. This imagery reinforces the idea that the singer wants to share a brief moment of intimacy with the other person before returning to the struggles of daily life.
The final verse acknowledges that both parties share some blame for their situation, but ultimately concludes with the same request to "take a ride" and escape. The song ends on the hopeful note that "we still have time" to enjoy life, despite the pressures of work and responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
If you only once would let me
I want to try being with you just one time
Only just one time
I only want to be with you once
Then be happy with the consequence
Whatever happens after, let's both be content
With whatever's gonna happen tonight
Let's see what happens tonight
Don't think we're not serious
We are serious about each other
When's it ever not
Can't remember a time when we weren't
The love we make is give and it's take
We both contribute and receive in our love
I'm game to play along
I'm ready to take the chances that come with being together
All I can say I should say
I need to speak my mind
Can we take a ride?
Let's go somewhere together
Get out of this place while we still have time
Let's leave before we run out of opportunities
The best DJs are saving their slowest song for last
The most meaningful moments come at the end
When the dance is through it's me and you
When everything else ends, it's just us
Come on, would it really be so bad
Why not take a chance?
The things we think may be the same
We might have similar thoughts
But I won't fight for more
I won't push for something that's not there
Its just not me to wear it on my sleeve
I don't show my emotions openly
Count on that for sure
That's something you can rely on
Can't say I was never wrong
I've made mistakes before
But some blame rests on you
You also played a role in what went wrong
Work and play they're never okay to mix
We shouldn't let our emotions affect our responsibilities
The way we do
That's what we've been doing
You want to take a ride?
Do you want to come with me?
We still have time
We have an opportunity to do this
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES CHRISTOPHER ADKINS, RICHARD E BURCH, THOMAS DARRELL LINTON, ZACHARY MICHEL LIND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Searchandpreserve
This song and "Disney Boys" saved my life back in 1981. Two of the most powerful and convincing songs ever recorded!
Mark Crawshaw
A classic... I saw them perform a brilliant, reworked version of "Hanging Man", on UK television, in the late 80's/early 90's (Possibly on SNUB TV). I've searched high & low for that footage, without joy. :(. Thanks for posting!
digitalvelvet
Heard it on Peel, bought it as a 17 year old It just does it.....still!
Searchandpreserve
That's how it feels when you have to swim against the current! Peel literally saved my life intruducing work to me when I went through the darkest phase of my life as a 17-year-old
☆ RAVE GHETTO BLASTER ☆
Nice one!
HairyMcHero
Hoots!
Michael Sandford
memorys of the john peel show