Bickers left in 1989 and was replaced by Simon Walker, who in turn was replaced by Simon Mawby in 1992. Andrea Heukamp left the band in 1988, returning briefly in 1991.
From the same genus as Echo and the Bunnymen, My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain, The House of Love arrived on the scene in the late 1980s with a psychedelic, textural rock sound. Songwriter Guy Chadwick provided personal, romantic musings over lush layers of 80s studio bliss, enhanced by Terry Bickers' guitar-playing.
The band formed in Camberwell, London, England in 1986, and released a series of singles, leading to their debut untitled album on Creation Records in 1988. They then signed to Fontana in a whirl of publicity and money. Things went off the rails at first as their next two singles flopped and work on their new album progressed slowly. Tensions grew between Chadwick and Bickers, exacerbated by drug use, leading to Bickers's departure in 1989. But the resulting album (again officially untitled but usually referred to as the 'Butterfly' album after its cover design) went top 10; and a remake of their early single Shine On caught the retro guitar-pop fashion in the wake of the Stone Roses and was a moderate hit. Later in 1991 a compilation of B-sides and outtakes was released, usually referred to as A Spy In The House Of Love as a paperback of the Anaïs Nin novel of the same title appears in the cover photo.
The following album Babe Rainbow (1992) failed to follow the success of the Butterfly album: its lush, pristine production rendered hopelessly out of date by the emergence of the rave-influenced Madchester scene and the US grunge invasion. Their final album, Audience With the Mind (1993) barely charted and the group disbanded.
Considering the previous animosity between Guy Chadwick and Terry Bickers, there was some surprise when in 2005 the two reformed The House of Love. Pete Evans returned on drums and Matt Jury handled bass duties. They went on to tour the U.K. and Ireland and release an album Days Run Away to some praise.
In March 2008 House Of Love played in Lima, Peru, for their first South American performance ever. Almost the entire concert is to be seen on YouTube. The gig featured two new songs bringing hope to fans that the band is still working on new material. In September 2008 Guy played solo at the South Pop festival in Isla Cristina, Spain.
After another long hiatus, Guy Chadwick reformed the group with an all-new lineup, and in 2022 released the album "A State of Grace."
Call Me
The House of Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're in danger
When you're alone
Won't you say you want me
Won't you say you need me
Then we will crawl through the storm
And all that is damned
That is written here in print
And the story of the byrds
When they ruled our burning skies
You can call me through the smog
And I'll serenade you with my smile
Call me with your song
When you're in danger
When you're alone
Won't you say you want me, need me, touch me, hold me now
Call me
Won't you call me, I want you to call me, won't you call me...
Won't you just call.
The House of Love's "Call Me" is a wonderfully poetic and heartfelt track that expresses a powerful sentiment of love and support. The lyrics are simple and direct, but they carry deep emotional resonance that pulls at the heartstrings. The song begins with an invitation to the listener to call the singer whenever they are in danger or alone, and to express their need for him. The lyrics suggest the singer is ready to be there for the listener in the toughest of times, to help them weather the storms of life's challenges.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more evocative, painting vivid images of a world fraught with turmoil and conflict, of history written in print, and of the story of the birds ruling the burning skies. The singer promises to be there no matter what, a beacon of light shining through even the densest of smogs. The final verse reiterates the opening invitation and begs the listener to call and touch him, hold him now.
Overall, "Call Me" is a beautiful expression of the deep bond that can exist between lovers, friends, or family members. It highlights the importance of being there for each other through thick and thin, of providing a steady hand and a constant source of emotional support. The song is a reminder that we all need someone we can call, someone to hold onto in times of trouble, and someone who will always be there for us when we need them most.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me with your song
Reach out to me with your music, expressing your feelings and emotions through your melody and lyrics.
When you're in danger
When you're in trouble or facing a difficult situation where you need someone to help you.
When you're alone
When you feel lonely and need someone to talk to or accompany you.
Won't you say you want me
Express your desire for my presence in your life, to have me by your side and share your experiences with me.
Won't you say you need me
Acknowledge that you rely on me for emotional support and that you value our relationship.
Then we will crawl through the storm
Together, we will overcome the difficulties and struggles that come our way.
And all that is damned
We will face the consequences of our actions, even if they are negative or bring us pain.
And the history of the world
The entire record of human civilization and its impact on the planet and its inhabitants.
That is written here in print
The knowledge and understanding of the past that is documented and preserved in written form.
And the story of the byrds
The narrative of the birds that soar and fly above us, representing freedom and possibility.
When they ruled our burning skies
In a time when we were free to pursue our passions and ambitions, without inhibition or fear.
You can call me through the smog
Even when the world around us is full of pollution and obscured by darkness, you can still reach out to me and find comfort in my presence.
And I'll serenade you with my smile
I will express my happiness and joy at being with you, through my physical and emotional presence.
Won't you say you want me, need me, touch me, hold me now
Repeat your desire for me, to be close to me physically and emotionally, and to share your affection with me.
Call me
Reach out to me, connect with me, and express your feelings to me.
Won't you call me, I want you to call me, won't you call me...
Reiterate your desire for me to contact you and show that you care about our relationship, and that you value our emotional connection.
Won't you just call.
Please, take a chance and reach out to me, even if you're unsure or hesitant. I am here for you and want to be a part of your life.
Contributed by Benjamin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Daniel Saxer
on You Don't Understand
Lyrics correction: (according to my ears;-)
Drown (not down) the soul and through the ages
How money's cooked, inside us all