One of the more popular and enduring groups of a short-lived trend, The Beat released three albums: "I Just Can't Stop It" (1980), "Wha'ppen" (1981) and "Special Beat Service" (1982), and a string of excellent singles including "Mirror in the Bathroom", the politically-charged "Stand Down Margaret" (which refers to controversial British PM Margaret Thatcher), "Save It For Later" and "I Confess".
Although the group's main fan-base was in the UK, they were also popular in Australia thanks to regular exposure on the government-owned rock radio station Triple J and the nationally-broadcast TV pop show Countdown. They had a sizeable following in the U.S., and a strong presence on that country's college radio.
After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, lead vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass guitar) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.
Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed together on tracks such as "Free Nelson Mandela". In the early 1990s, Roger joined members of The Specials to form the new band The Special Beat, which released two live albums.
Ranking Roger's son, Ranking Junior, has followed in his father's footsteps. In 2005, he appeared on The Ordinary Boys' single "Boys Will Be Boys". In 2003, The Beat's original line-up, minus Cox and Steele but with the addition of Junior, played a sold-out one-off gig at the Royal Festival Hall. As of 2005, The Beat has reformed, counting Roger, Blockhead and Morton of the original line-up, with Ranking Junior also on vocals. The band is said to have the blessing of Cox, Steele and Saxa (of Desmond Dekker fame).
The Beat's lead singer Dave Wakeling also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he has done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
Official Website: www.davewakeling.com
Walk Away
The English Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"If you ever try to lean on me too heavily
I'll step aside and watch you fall
We'll make each other look so small
Or bang our heads into the wall and walkaway
Do you have to get this close before it hits?
You've always known just how much
People are a part of why we've now not got the heart to say
I'll leave it, if you will, let's walkaway"
Thought it was different
But it all turned out the same so so
Promised myself I'd never go through it again
Now that every love song bears the same familiar strain of
Walkaway before I
Do something stupid
Walkaway before these threats turn into
One of us could do it
Walkaway before I say
"It's getting too much"
Walkaway, walkaway
Before one of us cracks up
Did you have to get that close before it hit?
You'd always known just how much
People are a part of why we've now not got the heart to say
I'll leave it if you will, let's walkaway
Thought it was different
But it all turned out the same so so
Promised myself I'd never go through it again
Now that every love song bears the same familiar strain of
Walkaway before I
Do something stupid
Walkaway before these threats turn into
One of us could do it
Walkaway before I say
"It's getting too much"
Walkaway, walkaway
Before both of us crack up
Walkaway before I
Do something stupid
Walkaway before these threats turn into
One of us could do it
Walkaway before I say
"It's getting too much"
Walkaway, walkaway
Before both of us crack up
Walkaway before I
Do something stupid
Walkaway before these threats turn into
One of us could do it
Walkaway before I say
"It's getting too much"
Walkaway, walkaway
Before both of us crack up
Walkaway before I
Do something stupid
Walkaway before these threats turn into
One of us could do it
Walkaway before I say
"It's getting too much"
The English Beat's song "Walk Away" is a poignant and introspective ballad about a relationship that has grown too difficult to sustain. The lyrics tell the story of two people who are on the brink of breaking up but are hesitant to do so because of their history and the fear of the unknown. The woman in the relationship warns her partner that if he leans on her too heavily, she will step aside and watch him fall. The singer acknowledges that they have always known how much other people are a part of their problems and how it's contributing to their inability to end things. They recognize that they may need to either find a different way forward or just walk away.
The lyrics are full of emotion and self-reflection as the singer grapples with the pain of letting go. The repetition of the phrase "Walkaway before" underscores the importance of leaving before it's too late. The singer seems to realize that they can't keep going on the same path and expect things to change. The song's melodious and catchy tune contrasted with the weight of the lyrics creates a bittersweet feeling. Overall, the message of the song is about taking control of one's own life and relationships, even when it's hard.
Line by Line Meaning
Then she said
The singer is recounting a conversation with someone.
"If you ever try to lean on me too heavily
The singer warns the other person not to depend on them too much.
I'll step aside and watch you fall
If the other person relies too much on the singer, the singer will let them fail.
We'll make each other look so small
Both the artist and the other person will diminish each other.
Let's either find another way
The artist proposes finding an alternative to their current situation.
Or bang our heads into the wall and walkaway
If there is no alternative, the singer suggests ending the relationship.
Do you have to get this close before it hits?
The singer questions why the other person has to be so close before they realize things aren't working out.
You've always known just how much
The artist thinks the other person is aware of the situation.
People are a part of why we've now not got the heart to say
The artist blames others for their own inability to be upfront with the other person.
I'll leave it, if you will, let's walkaway"
The artist suggests they both end things amicably.
Thought it was different
The singer had higher hopes for the relationship.
But it all turned out the same so so
In reality, it did not work out the way the artist had hoped.
Promised myself I'd never go through it again
The singer made a vow to avoid such a situation in the future.
Now that every love song bears the same familiar strain of
The singer feels as if love songs echo their own experience.
Walkaway before I
The singer advises to end things before they reach a breaking point.
Do something stupid
The artist fears they may act irrationally if they prolong the relationship.
Walkaway before these threats turn into
The artist wants to prevent the situation from escalating to threats of harm.
One of us could do it
The singer is concerned that one of them might act on their threats.
Walkaway before I say
The singer thinks it's best to cut things off before they verbalize something hurtful.
"It's getting too much"
The artist fears the relationship is becoming overwhelming or unsustainable.
Walkaway, walkaway
The artist emphasizes the need to end things.
Before one of us cracks up
The artist wants to avoid mental or emotional breakdowns for either of them.
Before both of us crack up
The singer fears that both of them will suffer if things continue as they are.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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