The band initially released three studio albums in the 1980s, to solid critical acclaim. After their third release, Strange Times, in 1987 they abruptly disbanded following the sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher. The Chameleons were, for all practical purposes, extinct for well over a decade before releasing - to the delight and even disbelief of its ardently loyal fan base - a final studio album in 2001, entitled Why Call It Anything. The band quickly dissolved once again in 2003 due to personal differences, after a successful reunion tour which took them across Europe and the United States. Though having never attained the level of commercial success or fame enjoyed by their contemporaries (e.g. U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division), The Chameleons' early impact can still be felt throughout much of popular music today.
Dave Fielding went on to form The Reegs who released a couple of ep's . Then in 2003 formed Coconut Dogfuck a trance techno dance act with Ralph on percussion, Paul Didge on didge and Dave playing guitar and dulcimer . They released an ep and played festivals and gigs around the uk . Andy Clegg Keyboards with the Chameleons also joind Mark and Andy Whittikar to form Sun and the Moon. Both Andys also played with Manchester Band B.F.G.
Perfume Garden
The Chameleons Lyrics
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You can seal your lips
I can't make that trip
And all life's fears
Can invade my ears
I can handle it
I can laugh with a friend
And remember the faces
Making the madness
And solitary sadness
A friendly fool
I thought of stories
They told us long ago
Of how the world was a perfume garden
I haven't yet learned to tame the creature there
And that at least I think is something good
All across the town
And across the street
You could feel the heat
Let me tell you friend
They could hardly wait
To mark your sheet
It was maximum joy
For the men they employed
To hold you down
Well I hope now you know
That this isn't the bliss
That you thought you found
Endless emptiness
An endless ringing bell
I couldn't show you
But I hope to one day
Pretty promises to teach the tender child
To welcome madness every Monday
Beck and call
It didn't seem to matter at all
Beck and call
You told us how to conquer it all
Beck and call
These children have nothing at all
Listening hard
For the voice of the child
I thought I heard
An alarm bell ringing
Pulled from my sleep
By invisible hands
The distant sound of a lady singing
The Chameleons UK's song Perfume Garden explores themes of individuality, social pressure, and mental health. The lyrics of the song suggest that despite the pressure to conform and the invasion of life's fears, the singer remains true to themselves. The opening lines, "You can shake your hips / You can seal your lips / I can't make that trip," suggest that the pressure to conform is not something the singer can overcome. Despite this, the singer can handle life's fears and can laugh with friends, even when remembering the difficulties of their schooldays. The singer references stories they were told long ago about the world being a perfume garden, and how they have not yet learned to tame the creature there. This suggests that the singer's individuality is still intact, and they see it as something good.
The latter half of the song delves into the effects of social pressure and the dangers of conforming to societal expectations. The lyrics suggest that people can hardly wait to mark one's sheet - a reference to exams, but perhaps also implying the desire to judge and categorize people. The men employed to hold people down are a clear metaphor for the societal pressures that hold people back. The singer concludes by suggesting that the promises made to welcome madness every Monday are pretty, but ultimately hollow. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is awoken from their sleep by an alarm bell and a distant lady singing, perhaps implying a struggle with mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
You can shake your hips
You can express yourself and enjoy life
You can seal your lips
You can keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself
I can't make that trip
I'm not ready or able to join you in your way of life
And all life's fears
The anxieties and concerns we face in life
Can invade my ears
Can overwhelm or consume my thoughts
I can handle it
I am capable of dealing with it
I can laugh with a friend
I can find joy and happiness with those I care about
And remember the faces
Recalling the past and the people who were there with you
We wore at school
The masks we put on to fit in and belong
Making the madness
Embracing the chaos and unpredictability of life
And solitary sadness
Feeling lonely and disconnected
A friendly fool
Choosing to be naive and optimistic despite the challenges
I thought of stories
Remembering the tales we were told
They told us long ago
Stories from a distant past
Of how the world was a perfume garden
A description of life as something beautiful and fragrant
I haven't yet learned to tame the creature there
I haven't figured out how to control or navigate this beautiful but dangerous world
And that at least I think is something good
Despite not having all the answers, I am content with what I have learned
All across the town
Everywhere you look
And across the street
Even in your immediate surroundings
You could feel the heat
The pressure and intensity of society's expectations and demands
Let me tell you friend
Listen to what I have to say
They could hardly wait
Eagerly anticipating
To mark your sheet
To judge and categorize you
It was maximum joy
They found pleasure in exerting this power over others
For the men they employed
For those in charge, who used this system to their advantage
To hold you down
To suppress or limit your potential
Well I hope now you know
I hope you understand
That this isn't the bliss
That this isn't the ideal or perfect situation
That you thought you found
That you believed would bring you happiness
Endless emptiness
A sense of meaningless and pointlessness
An endless ringing bell
A constant reminder or annoyance that won't go away
I couldn't show you
I couldn't explain or demonstrate
But I hope to one day
But I hope to in the future
Pretty promises to teach the tender child
Falsely offering easy solutions to those who are impressionable
To welcome madness every Monday
Encouraging people to embrace chaos and instability in their lives
Beck and call
At someone's constant disposal
It didn't seem to matter at all
It didn't appear to make a difference or impact
You told us how to conquer it all
You gave us advice on how to succeed in life
These children have nothing at all
The vulnerable and powerless have been left with nothing
Listening hard
Concentrating and paying close attention
For the voice of the child
The innocent and pure voice among the noise
I thought I heard
I believe I perceived
An alarm bell ringing
A warning of impending danger
Pulled from my sleep
Awakened suddenly and abruptly
By invisible hands
As if an unseen force was controlling me
The distant sound of a lady singing
A calming voice amidst the chaos
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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