After playing countless hometown shows, the Futureheads took the show on the road with a massive helping hand from Slampt Records' Milky Wimpshake. A tour of Squats and Youth Centres in Central Europe came in summer 2001, due to which the band switched out drummers. In place of Peter Brewis ambled a young pretender, Mr David Hyde (Drums, Vocals).
Several singles followed - the first, Nul Book Standard, can now be seen casually hanging out on eBay from time to time. A relationship with the lovely people at Fantastic Plastic briefly followed. 'The Futureheads' was released in summer 2004, on 679 Recordings, and then the band hit the road. Some highlights of 2005 include playing Glastonbury Festival on Baz's birthday, Hounds Of Love going Top Ten, meeting Dennis Hopper on Jimmy Kimmel's US TV Show, and getting that most infamous of Albatrosses, The Second Album under their belts.
‘News and Tributes’ was released in May 2006. It reached 11 in the album chart, and saw the band touring the world and continuing to win fans and supporters with their exhilarating live shows.
Fast forward to 2008, and The Futureheads are back, bolder and better than ever, exploding back onto the scene with their new album ‘This Is Not The World’. Embracing the punk-rock ethic like never before, Barry, Ross, Jaff and Dave are releasing their third album independently and taking control of their own destiny. It’s going to feel like the first time, all over again…
Annoyed and frustrated too many times by the bureaucratic nightmare that music had become, the band split with former label 679 in late 2006. A silently busy year followed which saw the band writing and recording, and launching their own label Nul Records, solely to release music by The Futureheads. Free of major label shackles, the band are taking back control and relishing being their own bosses.
‘This Is Not The World’ was recorded in 3 weeks in the summer with super-producer Youth at his studio ‘Space Mountain’ in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalusia. About as far away atmospherically as you can get from the bleak Scarborough farm in which they recorded ‘News And Tributes’, the band couldn’t help but be influenced by Youth’s enthusiasm, and describe the album as one of ‘defiance, optimism and joy.’
Keen to share the joy with fans, the band released 2 tracks as free downloads and played intimate shows in London and Sunderland at the end of 2007. They begin 2008 with a tour of uni venues and kick off the year with storming new single ‘The Beginning Of The Twist’, released March 10th.
Hounds of Love
The Futureheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Running in the night
I was afraid of what might be
Hiding in the dark
And hiding on the street for
And of what was following me
The hounds of love are calling (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And I don't know what's good for me
Well, here I go
It's coming at me through the trees
Help me, someone, help me, please!
Take your shoes off
And I will throw them in the lake
And I will be, two steps on the water
I found a fox, who was caught by dogs
He let me take him in my hands
His little heart, it beat so fast
That I am ashamed to be running away
From nothing real, I just can't deal with this
I feel ashamed to be there
Among your hounds of loving (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And feel your arms surround me (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
I've always been a coward (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
And I don't know what's good for me (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Well, here I go, don't let me go, hold me down
It's coming at me through the trees
Help me, someone, help me, please!
Take my shoes off
And I will throw them in the lake, and I will be
Two steps on the water
Do you know what I need, do you know what I need?
I need yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh!
Take my shoes off, and throw them in the lake
And I will be, two steps on the water (water, water, water)
I don't know what's good for me
I don't know what's good for me
Do you know what I need?
Do you know what I need?
I need yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of “Hounds of Love” by The Futureheads is about someone who is reminiscing about childhood fears and being chased by something as they run through the streets at night. The mention of “hounds of love” in the chorus could refer to the idea of being chased by love or perhaps lust. The person singing seems to have been a coward throughout their life and has always struggled to make the right decisions. Consequently, they do not know what is good for them.
The second verse emphasizes the theme of being chased, as the singer finds a fox that was caught by dogs. The fox’s heart is beating so fast out of fear, and the singer feels ashamed for running away from something that was not even real. These lyrics suggest that the singer has been running away from their fears their whole life and is now uncertain about what they need to find happiness or satisfaction in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a child
Reflecting on childhood memories
Running in the night
Feeling fear while running in the dark
I was afraid of what might be
Feeling scared of the unknown
Hiding in the dark
Trying to avoid what may be lurking in the shadows
And hiding on the street for
Avoiding potential danger in the streets
And of what was following me
Feeling pursued and chased by something unknown
The hounds of love are calling (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Being drawn towards love, even though it may be scary
I've always been a coward (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Feeling afraid and hesitant
And I don't know what's good for me
Lacking knowledge about what is truly best
Well, here I go
Taking a leap of faith
It's coming at me through the trees
Seeing something coming towards you, possibly from nature
Help me, someone, help me, please!
Calling out for assistance and support
Take your shoes off
Being encouraged to let go and relax
And I will throw them in the lake
Getting rid of physical baggage
And I will be, two steps on the water
Achieving something impossible
I found a fox, who was caught by dogs
Discovering a victim of aggression
He let me take him in my hands
Rescuing someone in need of help
His little heart, it beat so fast
The rescued creature is scared and anxious
That I am ashamed to be running away
Feeling guilty for wanting to escape and avoid danger
From nothing real, I just can't deal with this
Struggling to come to terms with something that may not even exist
I feel ashamed to be there
Feeling guilty for being in a place of vulnerability
Among your hounds of loving (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Feeling surrounded by love, even though it may be scary
And feel your arms surround me (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Being comforted and embraced by love
Well, here I go, don't let me go, hold me down
Asking for comfort and support
Do you know what I need?
Requesting assistance and guidance
I need yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing a need for help and support
Take my shoes off, and throw them in the lake
Letting go of the past
And I will be, two steps on the water (water, water, water)
Achieving the impossible
I don't know what's good for me
Feeling unsure and uncertain
Do you know what I need?
Seeking guidance and direction
I need yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing a need for help and support
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kate Bush
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ashleymonday298
One of the best covers ever. Manages to evoke a slightly different feeling than the original, which allows it to stand on its own. I say this with Kate Bush being my favorite artist.
@davidhill3595
Kate Bush liked the cover. She phoned them up in their studio to tell them she like it. But they missed the call and she left a message on the answer machine
@Nathanfx2006
I honestly never knew this was a cover, just blew my mind.
@tomogganwright7681
I bet half of the people watching this have visceral memories of being in a sweaty indie club sometime between 2005 and 2009 and hearing the end of a heavy track fade into the intro of this one as it began to echo around the dancefloor, and it gradually getting louder as everyone on the dancefloor began to join in. Can of red stripe or some equally pissy lager in hand. A classic.
@marioskyriacou4445
This is such a spot on nostalgic comment. Kudos.
@user-ig9eu5pj3q
'Propaganda' - Wednesday night Indie night at Syndicate in Bristol.
@glenncarpenter7853
The Venue, Malia 2007. What amazing memories!
@VEHICLEFAN5500
The track explores themes of fear, vulnerability, and self-discovery. The lyrics depict the narrator's childhood experiences, feeling afraid of what may be lurking in the dark and following them. The "hounds of love" symbolize these fears, representing the things that haunt them and hold them back.
The line "I've always been a coward" suggests that the narrator has a tendency to shy away from confronting their fears and making difficult choices. They have a lack of self-assurance and struggle to identify what is truly good for them.
As the song progresses, the narrator finds solace in the idea of facing their fears head-on. The mention of throwing shoes in the lake and being "two steps on the water" could symbolize shedding the burden of their fears and finding a sense of freedom by defying expectations and limitations.
The discovery of the fox caught by dogs represents a shared vulnerability. The narrator realizes that they are not alone in their fear and inability to cope with certain challenges. However, they feel a sense of shame for running away from things that are not necessarily real or substantial.
Ultimately, the song expresses a desire for support and guidance in navigating through fear. The repeated plea for someone to help, to hold them down, and to know what they truly need suggests a longing for understanding and reassurance. The final exclamation of "yeah" signifies a release, a hopeful affirmation that there is a way to overcome their fears and find what is genuinely beneficial for them.
Overall, "Hounds of Love" delves into the complex emotions surrounding fear and the struggle to determine what is truly good for oneself. It emphasizes the importance of facing fears and seeking support in order to attain personal growth and liberation.
@curlyfm
Absolutely love this song. I understand it’s a cover, but it really stands on its own. I’m not even a big fan of this type of music, but this really resonates with me.
@angelariley.9963
This is just fabulous. To cover Kate Bush is brave but to cover it so well that it gives me goosebumps. I just love it.