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Rainbow (1992) failed to follow the success of the Butterfly album: its lush, pristine production rendered hopelessly out of date by the emergence of the rave-influenced Madchester scene and the US grunge invasion.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."
Touch Me
The House of Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me gently where I stand
Put all hostility aside
Touch me, me
Touch me, me
I thought I felt you slip
In the darkness where I lay
Touch me, me
Touch me, me
Touch me, me
Touch me, me
It'll be right in a little while
When the night gets warmer
And the fingers searching
with the eyes of a little child
She treats me cold
So cruel and violent
And I cry
Why do you say that God
Takes the world upon his hands
And leads us through obscurity alone
Oh touch me, me
Touch me, me
Touch me
Oh touch me
Me
Me
Me
The House of Love's "Touch Me" is a hauntingly beautiful song about longing, vulnerability, and the need for human touch. The opening lines, "Lightly hold my hand, tell me gently where I stand, put all hostility aside," convey a sense of uncertainty and the desire for reassurance. The singer is seeking emotional and physical connection, and is willing to put aside any animosity or tension to achieve it. There is a sense of urgency in the repetition of the phrase "Touch me, me," as if the singer is pleading for intimacy to fill a void.
The second verse suggests that the singer has experienced some kind of loss or separation, and is struggling to feel secure in the darkness. The line "Erasing my securities I cry" is a poignant expression of vulnerability and fear. However, the chorus ("Touch me, me") remains a constant refrain, a plea for affection and healing.
The bridge of the song introduces a sense of hopefulness, with the idea that "It'll be right in a little while when the night gets warmer / And the fingers searching with the eyes of a little child." However, this is quickly followed by a darker section of the song: "She treats me cold / So cruel and violent / And I cry." The implication is that the singer's desire for intimacy is not easily fulfilled, and that they have experienced rejection or abuse.
The final repetition of "Touch me, me" is a plea for understanding and empathy. The song is a powerful reflection on the human need for touch, and the emotional importance of physical intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Lightly hold my hand
Gently grip my hand and make me feel safe and secure.
Tell me gently where I stand
Explain my place in your life with kindness and tenderness.
Put all hostility aside
Forget about any negative feelings and focus on our intimacy.
Touch me, me
Reach out and physically connect with me.
I thought I felt you slip
I sensed that you were moving away from me.
In the darkness where I lay
I was alone and unsure, unable to see the path ahead.
Erasing my securities I cry
My fears and doubts overwhelm me, causing me to weep.
Touch me, me
Please, I need you to touch me and comfort me.
It'll be right in a little while
Things will get better soon.
When the night gets warmer
As we become more intimate and our passion heats up.
And the fingers searching
Exploring each other's bodies with desire.
with the eyes of a little child
With the innocence and wonder of someone experiencing something new and exciting.
She treats me cold
She is distant and unfeeling.
So cruel and violent
She is harsh and aggressive in her emotional detachment.
And I cry
Her rejection hurts me deeply and brings me to tears.
Why do you say that God
Questioning why someone would believe that a higher power controls our fate.
Takes the world upon his hands
Holds the destiny of humanity in their divine control.
And leads us through obscurity alone
Guides us through the unknown and uncertain future without any companionship.
Oh touch me, me
Despite my doubts and fears, I need your touch and affection.
Touch me, me
I long for the physical and emotional closeness that only you can provide.
Touch me
One more plea for intimacy and connection.
Oh touch me
An intensified request to bridge the emotional gap between us.
Me
A final plea for attention and affection.
Contributed by Bella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J.
1:30 - 2:10 is the finest 40 seconds of recorded music.
Jesper Larsson
It’s pure magic.
cordellscott
At times it was for me. Especially when my head was a rocket full of gin about 30 years ago
Xythantiops
Maybe a bit of an exaggeration-but its f-in great- Weirdly this version sounds much better than my CD version-it always sounded like it got turned down halfway through the lead break on the version I have on the CD-It was a great record but a really bad production job IMO
TheEarlHaight
Masterpiece
cordellscott
This song makes it good to be alone...
shotkider
That fuckin guitar solo, Bickers you legend
10TenStrip
God bless you.
Unwound
This song is sooooo sick.
Collapsible Chair
Terry Bickers on here was the equal of Tom Verlaine