That single has been included in numerous multi-artist compilation albums and continues to receive major airplay to this day. Other hits include "Red Skies" (also known as "Red Skies (at Night)"), "Stand or Fall", "Saved by Zero", and "Are We Ourselves?". Interestingly, the group is one of the few British artists to have enjoyed significant success outside their country of origin while remaining mostly unknown in their home land, a trait which the Fixx shares with fellow new wave rockers The Outfield and Naked Eyes.
The Fixx regularly tour the U.S., they and recently celebrated a solid twenty-five years of making music together. Curnin, West-Oram, Greenall and Woods are now joined by bassist Gary Tibbs (formerly of Roxy Music, The Vibrators, Adam & The Ants). Cy Curnin can often be found on stage with a glass of wine in his right hand and an egg shaker in the left.
England's the Fixx has always been heralded as one of the most innovative and unique bands to come out of the MTV era. The group's lyrics and melodies are artistic statements of darkness and light, painting aural soundscapes that are cerebral, yet touch the heart. The Fixx's themes are complex, often introspective and thought-provoking, and yet the band's musical legacy has appealed to the masses with three No. 1 hits, five Top-5 hits, a dozen Top-10 hits, millions of albums sold worldwide, and countless sold-out tours.
The Fixx's sound is instantly recognizable. Songs like "One Thing Leads to Another" and "Red Skies (at Night)" remain staples, not just with classic rock radio stations, but on modern-rock formats that have helped break new wave-inspired acts a quarter of a century later.
It is rare for audiences to experience a band that has been together for 25 years. The Fixx were - and still are - Cy Curnin on lead vocals, guitarist Jamie West-Oram, keyboardist Rupert Greenall and drummer Adam Woods, and they bring this unique experience and perspective into the studio and on the road as the Fixx continue making innovative music.
OFFICIAL MYSPACE PRESS RELEASE: http://www.myspace.com/thefixx
The band has retained their original lineup since first signing with MCA Records in 1981 and releasing their debut album, Shuttered Room, a few months later. It was the first of five MCA albums containing some of the most original and defining music of the decade. The LP produced two huge hits, "Red Skies" and "Stand Or Fall." Audiences connected with a band that had both style AND substance. The album spent an entire year on the Billboard Hot 100, earning the band their first Gold record.
In 1983, the band released Reach The Beach, their ground-breaking, double-platinum album which included the smash hits "One Thing Leads To Another" and "Saved by Zero." An extensive North American tour opening for The Police earned the Fixx critical acclaim and lifelong fans for their captivating performances.
The band continued with a string of top-selling albums. Phantoms, in 1984, included the hit song "Are We Ourselves," and in 1986, Walkabout produced the hit single "Secret Separation." Another hit on Billboard Magazine's Hot Club Play chart was "Deeper and Deeper" from the soundtrack to the Walter Hill film Streets of Fire.
In 1987 the band departed MCA for RCA Records and Calm Animals, showcased their second No. 1 rock track, "Driven Out," which became Billboard's ..4 Most Played Rock Track of the Year.
At the end of the decade, MCA released a greatest hits package titled One Thing Leads To Another, which has sold more than two million copies.
The '90s represented a turning point in music, and in the Fixx. Ink, released in 1991, showcased themes of struggle, and the song "How Much is Enough?" climbed to No. 10 on the Modern Rock chart. But other melodic and introspective ballads failed to find a place in the then-burgeoning grunge scene.
The band members spent some time apart, to raise families, pursue other interests, and to let the musical world decide where it was going. But there was never any thought of retirement. After the band's hiatus, The Ultimate Fixx Collection was released, showcasing the trademark FIXX sound - ethereal keyboards, an inventive rhythm section, passionate vocals and shattering guitar work - a sound that has produced a variety of memorable hits which remain significant today.
The band returned to the studio for CMC International Records. Elemental, released in 1998, marked a new, contemporary evolution in the group's history, blending the familiar FIXX sound with a fresh, modern feel. It showcased the band's signature rock sound with songs such as "Two Different Views" and "We Once Held Hands." With Elemental, the Fixx reclaimed their place in pop culture. Their creative energy and spirit renewed, the recording sessions yielded too many songs for just one CD, and later a second collection was released entitled Happy Landings and Lost Tracks, including "Mayfly" and "Freeman."
The wonderful acoustic 1011 Woodland, from 1999, was the other CMC release, and featured many of the band's favorite tunes, including "Woman on a Train" and "Cameras in Paris."
The group's unstoppable creative drive bore the 2003 release Want That Life on Rainman Records. Produced by their late collaborator and motivator Martin Rex, and with bassist Gary Tibbs, completing the line-up, it became The Fixx's eighth studio album and featured the haunting and thought-provoking "Touch" and "Are You Satisfied?"
It is the band's unmistakable sound and relevant, accessible songs that keep the Fixx unique among the thousands of artists that fill the airwaves. In concert, the band delivers that same sonic authenticity because they are the genuine article, the real deal. Concert-goers, whether Fixxtures (longtime fans) or those experiencing the Fixx for the first time, are thrilled by the band's dynamic stage presence and trademark sound.
Having celebrated their 25th anniversary with a DVD made by fans, and the imminent release of new songs, the band once again proves that they are constantly evolving, seeking new heights. In March of this year, the band reconvened in London with bassist Dan K. Brown, much to the delight of long-time Fixxtures.
The Fixx, with their combination of classic hits and innovative new music, continues to excite and inspire - both live and on record.
See: http://www.thefixx.com/
Going Without
The Fixx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lose control of the situation
I go spinning 'round this helpless universe
Why, why, why? I cry
Will I ever understand
This complicated web of lies
Designed to shield my sense of pride?
Will I have the strength to face
Another stupid, silly scene?
Can't you tell me what it means?
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
I've been without for so long
Deep, deep, deep desire to fly away
Can't get much higher than a falling stone
That's been thrown from a bridge
Scream, scream, scream about
The lack of purpose in my life
That seems to magnify a scary sense of doubt
And tomorrow, when it breaks
Will I have the strength to face
Another stupid, silly scene?
Can't you tell me what it means?
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
I've been without for so long
All the feelings I scorned
All the bridges I burned
You'd think a grown man would have learned
To shield his eyes from the light
Face his demons in the night
And be sane again by morning light
Sweet morning light
Sweet morning light
Yeah
Yeah
I'd like to pride myself on being a man who gets by in the end
When all I'm left is circumstance and a chance to make amends
Just a little self respect because the smile makes the man, you know
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
Chance to make amends
'Cause the smile makes the man, you know
The Fixx's song "Going Without" depicts a sense of helplessness stemming from losing control of situations and not being able to comprehend the complicated reality of life. The repetition of "time" and "why" in the beginning reflects the feeling of being trapped in a cyclical pattern of not being able to find solutions to personal struggles. Within the lyrics, there is an indication of deep-seated insecurity, a lack of purpose, and a scary sense of doubt of finding understanding. The lines "Can't you tell me what it means?" and "All the feelings I scorned, All the bridges I burned" hint at the struggle to find meaning and establish healthy relationships. The song's tone is that of a plea, a desperate call for help.
The chorus line, "I've been without for so long, I've been without and you get me wrong," is quite significant. It shows that the singer has been misunderstood and that they feel depleted and vulnerable for not being able to articulate their thoughts and emotions, leading to confusion in their relationships. The lines about flying away, which cannot get much higher than a falling stone thrown from a bridge, are expressing a desire to escape, a metaphor for their mental anguish. The strong-yet-vulnerable voice of the vocalist, Cy Curnin, delivers the lines with an emotive punch that emphasizes the overall message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Time, time, time again
Repeatedly, I lose control of the situation and time seems to move slowly.
I lose control of the situation
I feel powerless in a situation and cannot control it.
I go spinning 'round this helpless universe
I feel helpless and lost as if I am spinning in circles in this vast universe.
Why, why, why? I cry
I am confused and cry out for an answer.
Will I ever understand
I wonder if I will ever comprehend what is happening around me.
This complicated web of lies
I am caught in a complex trap of deceit and falsehoods to protect my pride.
Designed to shield my sense of pride?
Is this web of lies crafted to protect my ego and self-respect?
And tomorrow, when it breaks
When things fall apart tomorrow
Will I have the strength to face
Do I have the courage to confront and handle challenges?
Another stupid, silly scene?
Another foolish situation that appears pointless
Can't you tell me what it means?
I am asking for someone to explain and make sense of the situation happening around me.
I've been without for so long
I have been deprived and lacking of something important for a considerable period.
Deep, deep, deep desire to fly away
I have an intense longing to escape and break free.
Can't get much higher than a falling stone
I feel as if I cannot rise higher even if I am falling rapidly.
That's been thrown from a bridge
A reference to a person having lost everything and hitting rock bottom.
Scream, scream, scream about
I shout out loudly repeatedly about something that bothers me.
The lack of purpose in my life
I feel that I do not have a clear direction or plan that drives my life.
That seems to magnify a scary sense of doubt
This feeling of purposelessness and uncertainty fuels my doubts and fears.
All the feelings I scorned
I refused to acknowledge or confront my emotions in the past.
All the bridges I burned
I ruined or destroyed many relationships and connections I once had.
You'd think a grown man would have learned
One would expect that an adult man would possess some level of wisdom and experience.
To shield his eyes from the light
To protect himself from the truth and avoid facing reality.
Face his demons in the night
Confront and deal with the issues and challenges he battles within himself during moments of darkness.
And be sane again by morning light
Recover and regain emotional stability, mental clarity, and peace of mind by dawn.
Sweet morning light
A sense of relief, optimism or hope associated with the new day.
I'd like to pride myself on being a man who gets by in the end
I want to be someone who overcomes challenges and achieves success in the long run.
When all I'm left is circumstance and a chance to make amends
When I am presented with a situation with limited options and an opportunity to fix past mistakes.
Just a little self respect because the smile makes the man, you know
I value self-respect because it is a key to feeling confident and presentable to others, which can influence one's life positively.
Contributed by Dylan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Snickers' Doodles
Words can't express how much I love this song in particular. The chord changes are so crazy cool I love it!
Mike Grant
Quite possibly most underated band and cd!
progtoeternity
I keep stumbling upon one good song after another. Never mind trying to fix The Fixx. There are condemned to only write great songs !
MCSMeister
Why does this video only show half of the lyrics? For anyone who needs them, here are the full lyrics from the lyrics booklet:
Time, time, time again
I lose control of the situation
I go spinning 'round this helpless universe
Why, why, why? I cry
Will I ever understand
This complicated web of lies
Designed to shield my sense of pride?
And tomorrow, when it breaks
Will I have the strength to face
Another stupid, silly scene?
Can't you tell me what it means?
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
I've been without for so long
Deep, deep, deep desire to fly away
Can't get much higher than a falling stone
That's been thrown from a bridge
Scream, scream, scream about
The lack of purpose in my life
That seems to magnify a scary sense of doubt
And tomorrow, when it breaks
Will I have the strength to face
Another stupid, silly scene?
Can't you tell me what it means?
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
I've been without for so long
All the feelings I scorned
All the bridges I burned
You'd think a grown man would have learned
To shield his eyes from the light
Face his demons in the night
And be sane again by morning light
Sweet morning light
Sweet morning light
Yeah
Yeah
I'd like to pride myself on being a man who gets by in the end
When all I'm left is circumstance and a chance to make amends
Just a little self respect because the smile makes the man, you know
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
I've been without for so long
I've been without and you get me wrong
Chance to make amends
'Cause the smile makes the man, you know