The Hawks were a post-punk/new wave band from Birmingham, UK formed in 1979… Read Full Bio ↴The Hawks were a post-punk/new wave band from Birmingham, UK formed in 1979 and featured the combined talents of Paul Adams, Simon Colley, Dave Twist, Dave Kusworth and Stephen Duffy.

History tells us that every once in a while, a group of people can come together with one dream and do beautiful things with it, burning brightly but too briefly before sputtering out. But just because history throws up a cloud of white noise, that dream doesn’t necessarily have to die. We know that Stephen Duffy had been a founder of Duran Duran, one of a number of bands to emerge on Birmingham’s fertile, exciting and often confusing post-punk scene. When TV Eye, the Second City’s Stooges-inspired garage punk band split, Dave Twist (drums) and Kusworth (guitar) and Paul Adams (guitar) approached Duffy (vocals/guitar/piano) and Simon Colley (bass) from that first Duran line-up to join their new project. So began Obviously Five Believers, who in turn became The Subterranean Hawks, before settling on The Hawks.

Adored by most who saw them, they recorded constantly, spawning one highly collectable single, ‘Words Of Hope’. They lasted from 1979 until Christmas 1981 “falling apart in a myriad of acrimony,” as Duffy wrote in 1984. “Success makes the best excuses and the Subterranean Hawks had none... They proved that it was impossible and implausible to be a rock'n'roll band in the eighties.” Impossible, perhaps, in a city that never developed the support networks, the label entrepreneurs, of a Manchester, Liverpool or Sheffield – but The Hawks undoubtably had most of the signifiers already in place for the ‘Scene In Between’ that would emerge later that decade.Years passed with the various members each finding degrees of success: Duffy solo, and later with The Lilac Time; Kusworth with Nikki Sudden and numerous other bands, often alongside current Black Bomber Twist. In 2019, when Duffy and Kusworth last met, Duffy, as custodian of The Hawks’ ‘tape archive’, promised that the recordings would one day be released. Sadly this was not soon enough for Kusworth who tragically passed away suddenly in September 2020. Duffy has remained as good as his word, however, in bringing these ten songs to release, in honour of his friend. Having languished on cassette for 40 years, they’re now set free, sounding the best they’ve done since the day they were recorded, thanks to the judicious mastering of Grammy-winning engineer John Paterno. The album was finally released in September 2021.

Let Me In
The Hawks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, all those stars drip down like butter
And promises are sweet
We hold out our pans, lift our hands to catch them
We eat them up, drink them up, up, up, up

Hey, let me in
Hey, let me in

I only wish that I could hear you whisper down
Mister Fisherman, to a less peculiar ground
He gathered up his loved ones and he brought them all around
To say goodbye, nice try

Hey, let me in, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey, let me in, let me in

I had a mind to try to stop you, let me in, let me in
And I've got tar on my feet and I can't see
All the birds look down and laugh at me
Clumsy, crawling out of my skin

Hey, let me in, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey, let me in

Hey, let me in, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey, let me in

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Hawks' song "Let Me In" depict a sense of longing and yearning for acceptance and connection. The opening lines, "Yeah, all those stars drip down like butter, and promises are sweet," suggest a metaphorical representation of desirable and attractive opportunities or experiences that are within reach. The mention of holding out pans and lifting hands to catch them signifies the eager anticipation and willingness to seize these opportunities.

The repeated refrain of "Hey, let me in" emphasizes a plea for inclusion and acceptance. It expresses the deep desire to be acknowledged and allowed into a particular space or relationship, possibly hinting at a sense of being excluded or isolated. This could be interpreted not only in a literal sense but also as a metaphor for emotional and psychological barriers that the singer wishes to overcome.

The verse that follows speaks of a "Mister Fisherman" who is mentioned in a somewhat enigmatic manner. This figure gathers loved ones around and bids farewell before attempting to leave for a "less peculiar ground." The lyrics acknowledge the challenges and difficulties in finding a sense of belonging or understanding in a world that can often feel strange or unfamiliar. The juxtaposition of "nice try" after bidding farewell suggests a sense of resignation or acceptance that efforts to escape or find solace may not always be successful.

As the song progresses, the singer expresses a desire to intervene or interrupt someone's journey as they say "let me in." The mention of tar on feet and the inability to see symbolizes feelings of being stuck or hindered, unable to fully grasp opportunities or move forward in life. The image of birds looking down and laughing conveys a sense of ridicule or mockery from external forces, further emphasizing the singer's feelings of clumsiness and vulnerability.

The song concludes with a repetition of the refrain, emphasizing the plea to be included and welcomed. It reinforces the idea that the desire for connection and acceptance remains strong, urging the listener to reflect on the universal human need for belonging and understanding. Overall, the lyrics of "Let Me In" evoke emotions of longing, vulnerability, and the quest for acceptance and connection in a world that often feels distant and indifferent.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, all those stars drip down like butter
The beauty and allure of success and fame are as tempting as a delicious and irresistible treat.

And promises are sweet
The commitments and assurances made to us are captivating and pleasing.

We hold out our pans, lift our hands to catch them
We eagerly reach out and strive to seize those promises, hoping to benefit from them.

We eat them up, drink them up, up, up, up
We consume and absorb those promises, fueling our desires and aspirations.

Hey, let me in
I yearn for inclusion and acceptance, pleading to be part of something.

I only wish that I could hear you whisper down
I long to hear your soft and comforting voice guiding me.

Mister Fisherman, to a less peculiar ground
I hope for the Fisherman, a symbol of wisdom and guidance, to lead me to a more familiar and relatable place.

He gathered up his loved ones and he brought them all around
He gathers his cherished companions and unites them to express their farewells and admiration.

To say goodbye, nice try
Their farewell is a way of acknowledging their departure and accepting their fate, while also acknowledging the attempt made.

I had a mind to try to stop you, let me in, let me in
I had the intention to prevent you from leaving, begging for a chance to be included and allowed to participate.

And I've got tar on my feet and I can't see
I feel stuck and unable to move forward, hindered by the consequences of my previous actions.

All the birds look down and laugh at me
Others observe my struggles and find amusement and amusement in my misfortune.

Clumsy, crawling out of my skin
I feel awkward and uncomfortable in my own self, attempting to free myself from the confines of my own existence.

Hey, let me in, yeah, yeah, yeah
Once again, I plead to be acknowledged and allowed entry, desiring recognition and inclusion.

Hey, let me in
Reiterating my persistent plea for acceptance and the opportunity to participate.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COREY L. EVANS, LASANA SMITH, MARK BRIAN SEYMOUR, MAURICE YOUNG, THEODORE R. LUCAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS