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Rainbow (1992) failed to follow the success of the Butterfly album: its lush, pristine production rendered hopelessly out of date by the emergence of the rave-influenced Madchester scene and the US grunge invasion.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."
Never
The House of Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soul to soul, stay on eye to eye
Maybe God will be good to me
I've never sinned
Maybe I should try
Never, never gonna let you down
Never, never gonna let you down
Your heart is perfect, my love is real
Go to war - what a drag
A love of hate is really not the way
Light a flame or go to sleep
The time is right to celebrate or die
Never, never gonna let you down
Never, never gonna let you down
I'm never gonna beg I'm never gonna steal
Your heart is perfect, my love is real
It's because your heart
Will never lie, never cry, never sigh, never die
It's because your heart
Digs deep, holes tight
Oh yeah
I see the lie
ABC - stick to me
Soul to soul, stay on eye to eye
Well maybe God will be good to me
I've never sinned maybe I should try
Never, never gonna let you down
Never, never gonna let you down
I'm Never gonna beg
I'm Never gonna steal
Your heart is perfect
My love is real
Your heart is perfect
My love is real
My love is real X 12
The song 'Never' by The House of Love presents abstract lyrical meanings obscured behind poignant arrangements of melodies and instruments. With the opening lyrics of "ABC - stick to me," the song presents a parallel between the durability of the alphabet and the lasting bond between two lovers. The phrase "Maybe God will be good to me, I've never sinned, maybe I should try" highlights the moral ambiguity of the singers in their pursuit of love. The song assures that the listeners will never beg or steal their partner's heart and that their love is genuine.
Through the chorus of "Never gonna let you down, I'm never gonna beg, never gonna steal, your heart is perfect, my love is real," the song indicates an honest and pure projection of love. The line "Maybe God will be good to me" suggests that the singer is willing to take a chance in life and try exploring a relationship, even with their uncertainties. The references to God and war in the lyrics hint at the song's allusion to the purity and sacrifice of love.
In conclusion, the lyrics to The House of Love's song 'Never' revolve around a romantic theme and convey a depth of emotion of the singer. Through its abstract yet poignant words, the song highlights the purity of the love that is free from begging and stealing.
Line by Line Meaning
ABC - stick to me
Stick with me and you'll have everything you need.
Soul to soul, stay on eye to eye
We'll connect on a deep level and always see things the same way.
Maybe God will be good to me
If I do the right thing, perhaps fate will favor me.
I've never sinned
I've lived a good life and have never done anything wrong.
Maybe I should try
But perhaps I should take a chance and try something new.
Never, never gonna let you down
I promise to never disappoint you or let you down.
Never gonna beg, never gonna steal
I will never resort to begging or stealing to get what I want.
Your heart is perfect, my love is real
I believe in you completely and my love for you is genuine.
Go to war - what a drag
Fighting causes pain and difficulty for all involved.
A love of hate is really not the way
Hatred is not the solution to any problem.
Light a flame or go to sleep
Either take action to change things or let go of your worries for the night.
The time is right to celebrate or die
We must make the most of our time, no matter what the situation, because we never know when it will end.
It's because your heart
The reason for my faith lies in the goodness of your heart.
Will never lie, never cry, never sigh, never die
Your heart is resilient and true, never faltering or fading.
Digs deep, holes tight
Your heart commits fiercely to whatever it believes in.
Oh yeah
I am certain of my convictions.
My love is real
My affection for you is honest and unwavering.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GUY CHADWICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Acuna
I'm really glad I decided to dive into this band's discography. Absolutely amazing.
Jay Watson
Goosebumps, still, after 30+ years...
Andee Green
Still one of my favourite bands to listen to. I’ve never really played any of their stuff myself [guitar]. There are few bands that I love that I’ve never murdered by doing a cover or two, but THOL is one!
A perfect band. I was so happy when She Paints came out. A long time coming and perfect fodder for us middle agers.
e fg
Fantastic to see these videos Guy! Been a fan of since day 1. Canada loves House of Love!
Konstantinos
Great group ! Very undervalued for its era.
Bill Karver
Amazing band, never fail to please.
tezzasmif
As fresh as the day I bought the House of Love (Butterfly) album as a teenager. The album has never left me. A treat to see them playing it. ❤❤❤
TheRollthedice
One of the best-yes very under rated whatever that means!!
Herbie Shine
Magnificent beyond words.
They look so young!
Space Debris
30 years later: That's still a wicked bridge. Style!