In 1986, the band signed with EMI, and they subsequently recorded their first album, White Fields. which was released in 1987. Later in 1987, the group moved to Atlantic Records, frustrated with their energetic mix of hook-filled pop rock with dance music failing to break into the mainstream. Their next album, Wild Wild West, was released by Atlantic Records in the summer of 1988.
The first single, "Wild Wild West" (also known as "Wild,Wild West"), climbed to the number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's distinctive video also received a lot of MTV airplay. According to the Wild Wild West Songfacts, the song distinguished the Escape Club as being the only British group to have charted number one in the U.S. while never charting at all in the U.K.
In 1989, the group released two further singles from Wild Wild West: "Shake For The Sheik", which climbed to number 28, and "Walking Through Walls", which peaked at number 81. Hitting their stride, the Escape Club also had a cover single of The Doors' hard rock track "20th Century Fox" on the multi-artist collection 'The Wonder Years: Music From the Emmy Award-Winning Show & Its Era', which, in addition, meant long airplay on MTV. The band's official website reports that the song was produced by former Doors member Ray Manzarek.
In 1990, the band returned to the studio to record their what would be their final album, Dollars & Sex, which saw a March 1991 release. The first single, "Call It Poison", failed to crack the U.S. Top 40, which did not bode well for the quartet. Just when it seemed they would be considered a one-hit-wonder, Atlantic Records next released the slow ballad "I'll Be There". The group said the song was heavily influenced by the 1990 box office hit movie Ghost. "I'll Be There" reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The group then called it quits in 1992. Frontman Trevor Steel has since worked as a solo singer-songwriter as well as a producer and television commentator.
Only The Rain
The Escape Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the Bright Lights
Shine On to My Wall
And in a Distant Bar
Someone's Blowing
A Blue Serenade
But Only the Rain
Will Stay With Me Tonight
And Only the Rain
Will Keep Me Company Now
Since You Went Forever
I've Been Around
And Around All the Bad Times
That You Cried in My Arms
That Night You Never Came
Out On the Old Lines
Thought I Head Your Train
Now Only the Rain
Will Play Its Song For Me
Only the Rain
Will Keep Me Company Now
Till I Get My Feet Back
On the Ground
The Escape Club's song Only The Rain tells the story of a soul who is trying to cope with the pains of a lost love. As the night unfolds, the shining stars on the bright sky are nothing but a mere distraction to the character. They stand there, beautifully reflecting on his wall, but they only remind him of his solitude. He hears the distant tunes of someone playing the blue serenade in a bar nearby, but his thoughts are consumed with memories of his past love. He is trapped in loneliness and can find no comfort outside the rainfall.
The singer of this song continues to reminisce about the times he shared with his departed love, particularly the bad times when he was there to offer a shoulder to cry on. He remembers the fateful night when the love of his life never showed up, even though he was waiting for her on the old lines, and he thought he heard her train. Now, he is left with nothing but the rain to play its song for him and keep him company.
This song is a powerful portrayal of loss and the struggle to find strength and solace in times of difficulty. The haunting melody and the emotive lyrics come together to create a poignant narrative that resonates with anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
It's Midnight and the Stars
It's the middle of the night and the stars are out
And the Bright Lights
There are bright lights shining on my wall
Shine On to My Wall
The bright lights are shining onto my wall
And in a Distant Bar
There is someone playing music in a bar far away
Someone's Blowing
Someone is playing an instrument like a trumpet
A Blue Serenade
The music being played is a sad and slow song
But Only the Rain
Despite all of this, only the rain will be with me tonight
Will Stay With Me Tonight
The rain will stay with me throughout the night
Only the Rain
The only thing that will be with me is the rain
And Only the Rain
There will be nothing else but the rain
Will Keep Me Company Now
The rain will keep me company in this moment
Since You Went Forever
Since you left me permanently
I've Been Around
I've been through a lot
And Around All the Bad Times
I've been through all of the difficult times
That You Cried in My Arms
I was there with you when you were sad and crying
That Night You Never Came
The night that you didn't show up
Out On the Old Lines
I thought I heard your train arriving
Thought I Head Your Train
I mistakenly believed that your train had arrived
Now Only the Rain
But now, only the rain is present
Will Play Its Song For Me
The rain will create its own music for me
Till I Get My Feet Back
Until I can stand on my own again
On the Ground
Until I feel stable and secure once more
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.