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.
The Push
The Escape Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind is calling
Now and forever tonight
Tonight, tonight
She lies and waits for morning
Now her days are habit forming
Tranquilized and tied to lies
With modern children, oh, no
Pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Sending me higher
They keep pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Into the fire
Don't look down
Oh, for fear of falling
Now and forever tonight
Tonight, tonight
She lies and dreams of lovers
So relies, believes in others
Days for days in rooms with views
And dreams of falling, oh, no
Pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Sending me higher
They keep Pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Into the fire
She lies and waits for morning
Now her days are habit forming
Wasted days in rooms with views
And fear of falling, oh, no
Pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Sending me higher
They keep Pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Into the fire
Oh, pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
They keep Pushing me, pushing me, push
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
The Escape Club's song The Push is about the pressure that comes with living in a high-rise society. The first verse describes a woman lying in wait for morning, but her days have become habit-forming due to the monotony of living in the high-rise. She is tranquilized and tied to lies, with modern children around her. The chorus describes how she is being pushed higher and higher into the fire, with a sense of being out of control.
The second verse describes the same woman dreaming of lovers and believing in others, relying on them to get through her days. She is afraid of falling, but cannot look down as the fear is overwhelming. The chorus repeats, in a sense emphasizing how she is being pushed to the point of no return. In the final verse, her wasted days are described once again, and the fear of falling has become ever more present.
Overall, The Push is a cautionary tale about the dangers of living in a society that puts pressure on individuals to constantly strive for more, even if it means putting themselves in danger. The lyrics capture a sense of desperation and being out of control, reflecting the complex emotions that come with living in a world where success is often measured by how high up you can climb.
Line by Line Meaning
High rise
The story takes place in a tall building.
The wind is calling
The singer feels the wind's force, beckoning them towards an action.
Now and forever tonight
The action is happening tonight and will continue into the future.
Tonight, tonight
Reinforcement of the time of the action.
She lies and waits for morning
There is a female character passively waiting for the next day.
Now her days are habit forming
She is now in a routine due to her inactivity.
Tranquilized and tied to lies
She is sedated and unable to escape her situation due to her beliefs.
With modern children, oh, no
The singer disapproves of the negative effect modern society has had on today's youth.
Pushing me, pushing me, push
The artist feels pressure from unidentified pushers.
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
Reinforcement of the pressure felt by the artist.
Sending me higher
The pushers are causing the singer to move upwards.
Into the fire
The artist is moving towards danger or a detrimental outcome.
Don't look down
The singer is warned against looking down, likely to prevent fear or panic.
Oh, for fear of falling
The singer is scared of the potential outcome of falling from great heights.
She lies and dreams of lovers
The female character feels unfulfilled and dreams of romantic relationships.
So relies, believes in others
Her beliefs lie solely in others rather than her own capabilities.
Days for days in rooms with views
The female character has remained in one place for days on end, likely with a window view.
And dreams of falling, oh, no
In her restless state, she dreams of her fears of falling.
Wasted days in rooms with views
The singer emphasizes the direness of the female's situation, that her time is being wasted.
And fear of falling, oh, no
The female character is still trapped in her fears.
Oh, pushing me, pushing me, push
The artist is still feeling extreme pressure.
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
The pressure remains the same.
They keep Pushing me, pushing me, push
The pushers have not let up and continue their forceful actions.
Pushing me, pushing me, yeah
The pressure being felt is emphasized.
Contributed by Levi T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.