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.
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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/
We Once Held Hands
The Fixx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Salt, has it's worth
Salt, three kings, a birth
Sweet earth! What's it worth?
Mine, well it's all for me
Mine, I'll dig it for free
With slavery, wait and see
We had no plans.
Oil, the blood that spoils
Oil, the hand that toils
Oil, the gun that recoils wheres the oil?
Mine, well it's all for me
Mine, I'll pump it free
Mine, with slavery
Dead sea, wait and see.
This common land
We had no plans.
Blood, running red
Blood, I want his head
Blood, alive or dead, rage is fed.
Crime, humanity
Crime, hostility
Crime, religiously
Impose your will, blood will spill.
We once held mands
This common land
We had no plans,
Salt, it will preserve
Salt, deep in the earth
Salt, deep in the earth
What's it worth?
Mine, well it's all for me
Mine, can I have it for free?
Mine, with slavery, dead sea wait and see.
"We Once Held Hands" by The Fixx is a commentary on the exploitation and destruction of the earth's resources and the human cost of these actions. Salt, seen as a valuable commodity, represents the earth's resources that are being stripped away for personal gain, at the cost of human life and dignity. The use of "three kings" suggests the power dynamic at play, with some benefiting from the exploitation of resources at the expense of others. The repetition of "what's it worth?" highlights the emptiness of valuing material gain over the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.
The second verse is a critique of the oil industry, which is referred to as "the blood that spoils." The use of the word "blood" also suggests the violence and conflict that have arisen from the pursuit of oil, as financial gain and power struggles drive nations and individuals to harm one another. The chorus repeats that "we had no plans" for this common land, highlighting the short-sightedness and greed of those who exploit the earth and the lack of consideration for future generations.
The last verse highlights the human cost of these actions, as people are killed and oppressed in the pursuit of resources. The repetition of "crime" highlights the moral failings at the heart of these actions, which violate both human rights and religious values. The repetition of "blood" creates a vivid image of the violence and suffering caused by our greed and exploitation. The chorus repeats, emphasizing that the failure to plan for the common good will inevitably lead to destruction and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Salt, deep in the earth
Salt, a mineral deep in the earth
Salt, has its worth
Salt has value
Salt, three kings, a birth
Reference to three wise men bringing gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh
Sweet earth! What's it worth?
The value of the earth
Mine, well it's all for me
The resources of the earth are for the artist's personal gain
Mine, I'll dig it for free
No monetary cost to the singer to extract resources from the earth
With slavery, wait and see
The singer will use slave labor to extract resources
This common land
A reference to the earth as a shared resource
We had no plans.
No plan to equally distribute or sustainably use shared resources
Oil, the blood that spoils
Oil has negative impacts on the environment and humanity
Oil, the hand that toils
Reference to the labor required to extract oil
Oil, the gun that recoils wheres the oil?
Violence in areas where oil is valuable
Dead sea, wait and see.
Negative environmental impacts of oil extraction on the Dead Sea
Blood, running red
Reference to violence
Blood, I want his head
Desire for revenge
Blood, alive or dead, rage is fed.
Continued anger fueled by violence
Crime, humanity
Humanity commits crimes
Crime, hostility
Hostility leading to violent crimes
Crime, religiously
Religious differences leading to violent crimes
Impose your will, blood will spill.
When one imposes their will, violence can result.
Salt, it will preserve
Salt is a preserving agent
Mine, can I have it for free?
The artist asking for free access
Dead sea, wait and see.
Negative environmental impacts of salt mining on the Dead Sea
Contributed by Elena W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.