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/
Taking the Long Way Home
The Fixx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Satellite beams, trusting your instincts
Miles down the road, trees grow in place
Our roots now download, not face to face
Not face to face
Mm-hmm
The prison of rules can mess with your head
Ghosts in your life have now run their course
You'll find that the peace comes without force
Without force
I feel like taking the long way home tonight
Maybe I'll turn left or then again, right
Keeping my eyes on that distant harbor light
The seas may be rough but the stars shine bright
Are you dead as you live? Please come alive
Show me the pearl buried deep inside
Step off the clock, come for a ride
It's more fun to seek than it is to hide
Than it is to hide
I feel like taking the long way home tonight
Maybe I'll turn left or then again, right
Keeping my eyes on that distant harbor light, oh
The seas may be rough but the stars shine bright
There's a warning sign on the harbor lights
Straight to the heart, don't wrong your right
There'll be no more left
There'll be no more rights
Keeping my eye on the harbor lights
Taking the long way home
I feel like taking the long way home tonight
There'll be no more left
There'll be no more rights tonight
It's not where you are, it's what you think
Satellite beams, trusting your instincts
I feel like taking the long way home tonight
Taking the long, taking the long way home, ooh
Taking the long, taking the long way home
Are you dead as you live? Please come alive
Show me the pearl buried deep inside
Don't you feel like taking the long way home tonight?
We can only taking the long way home tonight
The song "Taking the Long Way Home" by The Fixx talks about finding your own way in life instead of following the usual path that society tells you to take. The lyrics suggest that it's not where you are physically, but it's what you think and how you feel that truly matters. The song encourages listeners to trust their instincts and to enjoy the journey, rather than just focusing on the end goal.
The first verse describes how technology has changed our way of communicating with each other. While we used to rely on face-to-face conversations and relationships, now we can connect with anyone through satellite beams. The second verse warns against following strict rules and instead encourages listeners to look for the magic in life. The line "Ghosts in your life have now run their course" suggests that it's time to let go of the past and move forward.
In the chorus, the singer feels like taking the long way home tonight and maybe turning left or right instead of following the usual route. The distant harbor light represents a goal or destination, but the lyrics acknowledge that the journey might not always be smooth sailing. The final verse alludes to making choices and following your instincts instead of blindly following what others tell you to do. The last line of the song reminds listeners that we can only take the long way home tonight, emphasizing the temporary nature of life and the opportunities we have to make our own path.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not where you are, it's what you think
Your perspective is more important than your location
Satellite beams, trusting your instincts
Technology can guide you, but your intuition is also valuable
Miles down the road, trees grow in place
Time marches on, but nature remains consistent
Our roots now download, not face to face
We communicate through technology more than in person
The prison of rules can mess with your head
Rigid structures can be damaging to mental health
Enjoy your time, look for the magic instead
Focus on positive experiences and let go of restrictions
Ghosts in your life have now run their course
Negative past experiences no longer have power over you
You'll find that the peace comes without force
Inner calm comes naturally, without forcing it
I feel like taking the long way home tonight
I want to take a scenic route and enjoy the journey
Maybe I'll turn left or then again, right
I'm open to new possibilities and unplanned experiences
Keeping my eyes on that distant harbor light
Staying focused on my ultimate goal, despite obstacles
The seas may be rough but the stars shine bright
Challenges may arise, but there is beauty in the struggle
Are you dead as you live? Please come alive
Don't live life on autopilot, be present and engaged
Show me the pearl buried deep inside
Reveal your true self and inner beauty
Step off the clock, come for a ride
Take a break from routine and enjoy the moment
It's more fun to seek than it is to hide
Exploring and discovering new things is more fulfilling than staying in your comfort zone
There'll be no more left, there'll be no more rights
Don't limit yourself with binary choices and established norms
Keeping my eye on the harbor lights
Staying focused on your ultimate goal
Taking the long way home
Enjoying the journey, not just the destination
Don't you feel like taking the long way home tonight?
Encouraging others to embrace adventure and spontaneity
We can only taking the long way home tonight
Let's enjoy the journey together
Contributed by Bailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
progtoeternity
I am now rediscovering the later material of this very popular band of the 80s. What a nice evolution they had ! They reinvented their sound, noticing that their vocals are not as lost in echo as heard on their (but excellent) previous albums. Although it is making them sound a bit different from their original iconic sound, the quality of the music and lyrics is still at the rendez-vous. Great, great band. Always very creative with their new material. Original line-up of musicians, I hear, despite the years that have gone by. I will go buy all of their great records. Just because this music is simply a treat for the ears, all genuine, clever, thoughtful, artful and uplifting. They know how to "fixx" your soul.