Their first three singles all made the Top 40 in the Britain, and their eponymously-titled 1987 debut album entered the UK album chart at number 2, and eventually sold over a million copies. The highest placed single from this album was "Ideal World", which reached number 14 in the UK singles chart.
In 1988 they released a cover of the Isley Brothers' "Harvest For The World", with all proceeds going to charity. The video for the track was an animation, created by four leading animation companies, including Aardman of Wallace and Gromit fame. The video won several awards, and the single reached number 8 in the charts.
1989 saw another charity single success, this time as performers on a version of Ferry 'Cross The Mersey, released in aid of those affected by the Hillsborough disaster, which stayed at number one for several weeks.
Their second album, Colour released in 1990, reached number one in the UK album chart, and in 1992 the follow-up, Happy in Hell charted at number 18. But none of their following singles reached the top 20.
The early 1990s saw the band continuing to tour, but declining in popularity. A "Greatest Hits" album, The Best of the Christians was released in 1993 and peaked at number 22.
Garry Christian moved to Paris in 1995 to record a solo album, effectively breaking up the band, although no formal announcement was made and the door was open to future reformation. Four years later they began to perform together again in an "unplugged" acoustic format. In 1999 they carried out a thirty six date tour of the UK, with a similar tour undertaken in 2000.
By 2001 The Christians began to write songs for a 'comeback' album, Prodigal Sons, which was released in 2003. This was also supported by a UK tour in October 2003 and further promotion in France, Spain and UK throughout 2004.
In 2005 Russell Christian decided he no longer wished to tour, and a decision was made to return to a full band format, rather than the 4-man “unplugged” line-up that had been touring since 1999.
This new 'band' (comprising Garry Christian /vocals, Henry Priestman/keys,accordion, Neil Griffiths/acoustic guitar/backing vocals, Stewart Boyle/electric guitar, Bobby Kewley/bass, and Craig Connet/drums) was unveiled on the autumn 2005 tour. The same version of the original band is currently preparing for their next tour in 2006.
One More Baby In Black
The Christians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He once had a mind of his own,
So they took it away,
And quickly the damage is done.
Yes the heart disappears,
And gives way to despair,
They've got schemes and ideas,
But no loving and care.
Well so much for your schemes,
So much for the things that you say,
While you're out chasing votes,
He's out chasing dragons all day.
So another child dies,
One more baby in black,
and the mother she cries,
As she's starting to crack,
And she can't take much more, no she can't take much more.
How many more times, must they shatter our trust,
Do we sit in silence,or stand up and scream in disgust.
I still have a dream,
I still have a mind of my own,
They won't take it away,
Because I see the damages they've done.
I see one more boy dies,
One more baby in black,
hear a mother who cries,
But that don't bring him back.
How many times must we stand for their lies,
As the crocodile tears fill their eyes,
The suffering and hardship is not going to fall,
Try to call them again,
Because I can't take much more,
It's worth fighting for,
And we need love much more...
The Christians' song One More Baby In Black speaks about the loss of innocence and the corrupting effect of power on people's lives. The song laments the loss of a dream and one's personality, simply because someone with power wants it to be something else. The lyrics state that this action causes great damage to the individual, leading to despair, among other negative emotions, and a lack of love and care.
The song also talks about the futility of chasing votes and how chasing false dreams, such as power and fame, can lead to wasted life opportunities. The end result is often a tragic one that affects the innocent, such as the death of a child, symbolized by "one more baby in black." At this point, even the mother who is starting to crack cannot take it anymore.
The song implies that people must refuse to accept the manipulations and lies of those in positions of power. People need to use their individuality and stand up to protect the innocent and fight for the greater good. The song emphasizes the idea that the pain and suffering caused by those in power must not be allowed to continue. Rather, people must fight for love and care, and in doing so, individual lives can be saved, and the world can be a more loving and fair place.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the boy had a dream,
The boy had aspirations and ambitions for his future.
He once had a mind of his own,
He had independent thoughts and ideas.
So they took it away,
His thoughts and aspirations were suppressed or taken from him.
And quickly the damage is done.
It had an immediate and negative impact on him.
Yes the heart disappears,
His passion and drive diminishes.
And gives way to despair,
He becomes hopeless and discouraged.
They've got schemes and ideas,
Those in power have plans and strategies.
But no loving and care.
But they lack empathy and concern for the people affected by their decisions.
And it needs that much more, needs it much more.
The situation requires more love and care to mend it.
Well so much for your schemes,
The schemes and plans of those in power have failed.
So much for the things that you say,
Their words and promises are empty and meaningless.
While you're out chasing votes,
Politicians are focused on gaining votes and maintaining their power.
He's out chasing dragons all day.
The common people have to contend with formidable challenges and struggles.
So another child dies,
Another child has passed away due to neglect or unfavorable circumstances.
One more baby in black,
Another mourning family has lost a child.
and the mother she cries,
The mother is in emotional distress.
As she's starting to crack,
She is close to breaking down emotionally.
And she can't take much more, no she can't take much more.
The mother cannot handle any more tragedy and hardship.
How many more times, must they shatter our trust,
How many more times will those in power deceive and disappoint us?
Do we sit in silence,or stand up and scream in disgust.
Should we passively accept the situation or vocally express our outrage and dissent?
I still have a dream,
The artist still has ambition and hope for the future.
I still have a mind of my own,
The artist maintains independent thoughts and ideas.
They won't take it away,
They will not succeed in suppressing the singer's aspirations.
Because I see the damages they've done.
The artist recognizes the negative consequences of those in power's actions.
I see one more boy dies,
The singer witnesses another tragedy in which a boy has lost his life.
One more baby in black,
Another family is in mourning after losing their child.
hear a mother who cries,
The singer hears the grief of a mourning mother.
But that don't bring him back.
However, lamenting the lost life does not revive the child.
How many times must we stand for their lies,
How many more times will we tolerate the dishonesty of those in power?
As the crocodile tears fill their eyes,
As those in power weep insincere tears in a facade of empathy.
The suffering and hardship is not going to fall,
The burdens and struggles of the common people will not disappear.
Try to call them again,
The artist asks us to reach out to those in power once more.
Because I can't take much more,
The situation has become unbearable to the artist.
It's worth fighting for,
It is worth taking action and fighting for a better future.
And we need love much more...
What is essential is a greater amount of love and compassion for one another.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY PRIESTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DeniseFactor
No one will ever know just how powerful this song was to me back in December1993/January 94. I very nearly destroyed myself and this song was there with me, staying very close by my side throughout those incredibly tough times, and beyond well into 1994.
@Stiffd1
'The difficult second album' but luckily it and you pulled through : >
@leewilliams2763
Now it's extremely relevant to tyre Nichols who just died in police custody in the USA
@welsh1kev
forgot how much i love this great track from a great band, thanks for uploading
@janetgriffiths339
What a tune great memory's thanks the christians❤❤❤
@maiteargaluza5541
ONCE UPON A TIME, I met this band in Bilbao,Spain, at Getxo Festivals, and they used to be one of my favourite musicians.
I had conversations with Garry Christian after the concert, about their brand next new album, callled FATHER...
I was very inloved with him....
@maiteargaluza5541
HOW ARE YOU GARY
HOW IS YOUR BROTHER AND THE BAND?
We once met at a concert in Bilbao, Basque Country. About 20 years ago?
CHEERS
@jamiegrieve5875
Maite Argaluza i also met him at Chester zoo! with his son called sonny!
@wimvandebilt4305
Prachtig