The one permanent fixture amidst the Fall's ever-changing line-up was Mark E. Smith (1957 – 2018). Smith's lyrics are free, unboxed and unpredictable, touching on an extremely wide range of subjects and places, and caring little for being tied down to easily digestible messages.
Smith's singing could put off some people, but others find it a uniquely expressive instrument. Smith was not a conventionally great vocalist, but his keen sense of rhythm, his energy and personality more than made up for this.
The Fall's music changed depending on the line-up at a given time. Always experimental, Mark E. Smith claimed to invent several musical genres, including house music; "we were doing that years ago" and even the internet. "He told me I didn't understand, that we were from the bleak industrial wastes of North England, or something, and that we didn't understand the Internet. I told him Fall fans invented the Internet. They were on there in 1982." One thing that is for sure is that The Fall (and their fans) always pushed the boundaries, and were never afraid to experiment.
The Fall were a favorite group of DJ John Peel, recording 24 sessions for his BBC1 radio program over the years.
The Fall's back catalogue consists of 29 studio albums, and is very fragmented with a seemingly endless number of compilations and semi-official live albums.
In 2006, British music-critic Dave Simpson published an entertaining account of a journalist's attempt to track down all 43 former members of The Fall in the Guardian. Many previous members have been fired, often with little or no notice. Simpson's ongoing effort was subsequently described at greater length in his book "The Fallen" (2008). His effort to track down the final unaccounted stragglers of at least 50 previous members of The Fall - including drummer Karl Burns - continues in his blog. Having decried Simpson's book as a "hatchet job" in the pages of Pseud. Mag., a Fall fan-mag, Mark E. Smith countered in short order with his autobiography "Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith" (Viking, 2008/Penguin 2009).
Mark E. Smith died on 24 January 2018, aged 60.
Key Albums include:
# Live At the Witch Trials (debut)
# Dragnet
# Totale's Turns (It's Now Or Nevr)
# Grotesque (after the Gramme)
# Perverted By Language
# Hex Enduction Hour
# This Nation's Saving Grace
# Middle Class Revolt
# Bend Sinister
# Extricate
# The Infotainment Scan
# Country on the Click aka The Real New Fall LP
# Fall Heads Roll
# Reformation Post TLC (new)
Compilations/Singles/B-Sides:
# 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats
# The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004
# Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 1) and Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 2)
# 458489 A-Sides
# 458489 B-Sides
Ride Away
The Fall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ridin' away don't know what you do when you accuse me
You're talking about yourself
You think you're a giant
You think you're a nothing hey hey
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
You drive them away
Through hill and valley
Ridin', ridin', ridin', ridin'
A-hey-hey
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
You think you're a giant you know you're nothing hey
Nothing to do with me
You're gone ridin', ridin', ridin'
You spread lies and discontent
I wish you could see yourself
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
Drivin'
As you travel through hill and valley
Ridin' away
Ridin' away
A-hey-hey
You drive them away
A-hey-hey
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
Well you accuse me you talk about yourself you think you're a giant but you're nothing
You're talking to yourself
And no one else
A-hey-hey
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
Buster
I wish you could see yourself you drive them away
No matter what I say
Hey hey
As you travel through hill and valley drive them away
That's what I say
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
You think you're a giant you think you're a giant hey
As you travel through hill and valley listen what I say
Nothing to do with me
Just ride away
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
While you're ridin' away you remember everything
That I say
Hey hey
Hear what I say
You drive them away
Hey hey
What I say
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
(You drive them away)
The Fall's song "Ride Away" has a repetitive groove and lyrics that imply a cycle of accusations, lies, and discontent that ultimately drive people away. The singer rides away through hills and valleys, leaving behind someone who accuses and talks about themselves as if they were a giant. However, they are nothing, and they don't realize that they cause their own problems by spreading lies and discontent. The pattern of blaming others and spreading negativity repeats, and it's as if the singer is talking to a wall, someone who listens to no one but themselves. The song is a warning to those who push others away with their self-centeredness and inability to see their own faults.
The lyrics of "Ride Away" reflect The Fall's trademark of social commentary and satirical humor. The song presents a simple and catchy melody that supports the repetitive structure of the song. Mark E. Smith's distinct and often indecipherable vocals, punctuated by his signature grunts, contribute to the song's impact. The smooth bass lines, groovy drum beats, and jangly guitar riffs also stand out in the song's instrumentation. "Ride Away" is an excellent example of The Fall's signature post-punk sound, which often combined elements of rock, jazz, psychedelia, and experimental music.
Line by Line Meaning
As we travel through hill and valley
As we journey through life's ups and downs
Ridin' away don't know what you do when you accuse me
Leaving without knowing why you accused me
You're talking about yourself
Your accusations are really reflections of yourself
You think you're a giant
You believe you're powerful
You think you're a nothing hey hey
You think you're insignificant
(You drive them away)
Your negative behavior causes people to leave you
(You drive them away)
Your negativity pushes people away
You spread lies and discontent I wish you could see yourself
You create false rumors and unhappiness and it's sad that you don't understand the consequences of your actions
Through hill and valley
Through good times and bad
Ridin', ridin', ridin', ridin'
Continuously moving forward
A-hey-hey
Expressing frustration
You think you're a giant you know you're nothing hey
You have a misguided understanding of your power and in reality, you have none
Nothing to do with me
Your issues are not my problems
You're gone ridin', ridin', ridin'
You've left and are still moving forward
Drivin'
Traveling by car
As you travel through hill and valley
As you navigate through life's highs and lows
Well you accuse me you talk about yourself you think you're a giant but you're nothing
You falsely accuse me of your own shortcomings and greatness is out of your reach
You're talking to yourself
Your accusations have no basis in reality
And no one else
Nobody else believes your false claims
Buster
Addressing someone in a slightly aggressive manner
No matter what I say
You refuse to listen to the truth
Hey hey
Expressing annoyance or disapproval
Drive them away
Push people away with your negative behavior
As you travel through hill and valley drive them away
During the ups and downs in life, you aggressively push people away
That's what I say
That's my advice to you
You think you're a giant you think you're a giant hey
You still believe you're powerful despite evidence to the contrary
Listen what I say
Pay attention to my advice
Nothing to do with me
Your problems are your own and not my concern
Just ride away
Simply leave
While you're ridin' away you remember everything
While leaving, remember the lessons you've learned
That I say
The advice I gave you
Hear what I say
Pay attention to my words
You drive them away
Your negative behavior causes people to leave you
Hey hey
Expressing disappointment or frustration
What I say
My advice to you
(You drive them away)
Your negative behavior causes people to leave you
(You drive them away)
Your negativity pushes people away
(You drive them away)
Your behavior continuously causes people to leave you
(You drive them away)
Your negative behavior pushes people away on repeat
Contributed by Jasmine W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@josharchie
awesome stuff guys! keep it up :)
@michaelakratochvil8027
I came here because of you And you were right, they are awesome 😮😍
@michaelakratochvil8027
+Just Me *your tweet
@OppositeTheOtherOfficial
Thanks Joshy ❤️
@alexdomencic
Feeling a strong twenty one pilots and Mumford and sons vibe from this song and I love it!!!
@slxth4076
Same! I love it
@thabisoedwintjatjie5339
Proudly South African. Keep it up guys, I love your music.
@dantedangelo5106
OBSESSED!!!!!!!!! So proud of you guys :)
@wadesimpson6638
Dante!!! ilysm!
@rochelleaugustin3592
because of u im obsessed with this song, omg