Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were both working as computer programmers in 1977, and combined a love of pop music (such as glam rock and Tamla Motown) with avant garde electronic music. They acquired a Roland System 100 synthesizer and began to create music in their own rehearsal facility. Initially they formed a group called The Dead Daughters, which then became The Future with Adi Newton on vocals. Newton was soon dismissed and left to form the outfit Clock DVA. Ware and Marsh searched for a vocalist, but their first choice, Glenn Gregory (who would be the lead singer of their later band, Heaven 17), was unavailable. Ware instead decided to invite Philip Oakey, an old school friend, and a hospital porter at the time to join the band, "apparently by leaving a note stuck to his door". Oakey accepted the invitation, despite never having been in a band before. Shortly after, they decided to call themselves The Human League. A collection of demos from this period was released on CD in 2002, titled The Golden Hour of The Future, compiled by Richard X.
The original lineup of The Human League debuted in 1978 with the single "Being Boiled", a dark synth track that would later become extremely influential on later industrial musicians (namely Trent Reznor of the Nine Inch Nails). This single and it's follow-up "Empire State Human" were modest sucesses, however the group's albums - 1979's "Reproduction" and 1980's "Travelogue" - did not sell. This caused a rift in the band, and in 1980, Ian Marsh and Martyn Ware left the group.
Following the split of the original line-up, Phillip Adrian Wright (their live slide projectionist) fully joined the group and Oakey & himself released another flop single, "Boys and Girls". In order to fulfil their European tour commitments, they recruited bass player Ian Burden, and fronted the band with two singers, Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall, schoolgirls whom they had met in a Sheffield nightclub, and managed to complete the tour.
In 1981, Virgin Records paired them with former Stranglers producer Martin Rushent, and the first result was the single "The Sound of the Crowd", which saw them at last achieve success in the singles chart. Guitarist Jo Callis (formerly of The Rezillos) was now recruited to the band, and with Rushent at the helm, The Human League recorded their most successful album to date, "Dare!". It achieved huge success, fuelled by its further hit singles, "Open Your Heart", "Love Action" and most famously "Don't You Want Me", which reached number one in the UK charts during the Christmas of 1981 and was one of the biggest selling singles of that year, and it also charted at number one in the US during the summer of 1982. These three releases were accompanied by striking promo videos ("Love Action" based on the movie The Graduate). During their Dare! phase, the Human League were often associated with the New Romantic movement.
The band also had a number of other hits but their success faded towards the mid-1980s. Arguably, one problem was the length of time the band took to make a record. Dare! was followed by the six-song EP Fascination! (featuring hit singles "Mirror Man" and "Fascination") as a stopgap, and it took three years to release a full-length follow-up album, "Hysteria".
In 1985, outside of the Human League, Oakey scored a huge hit single in collaboration with one of his idols, synth pioneer Giorgio Moroder, with the single "Together in Electric Dreams", taken from the film soundtrack to Electric Dreams. The pair proceeded to record an entire album for Virgin, Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder, but this met with rather less success.
In 1986, the group found themselves in creative stagnation, struggling to record material to follow up on their previous success. Key songwriter Jo Callis departed, replaced by drummer Jim Russell, and Virgin paired the League up with cutting-edge American R&B producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The result was the "Crash" album. The album featured much material written by Jam and Lewis' team, and showcased their distinctive DX7-led sound, making it quite a departure from previous Human League material. It did provide an American number one single, "Human", but other singles made smaller chart impact.
The following tour saw keyboardist Neil Sutton join the line-up and also keyboardist/guitarist Russell Dennett. Since 1990, their resident engineer on and off stage has been David Beevers. Following Dennett's departure in 1996, Nic Burke has been his replacement for live work since 2001.
The Human League released a new album, Credo in March 2011.
Life On Your Own
The Human League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's snow upon the ground
It's good of you to visit me
I'm glad you came around
I don't know how you found me
I didn't let you know
I only moved to this address
About a week ago
But that's not true
Other people settle down
I never do
I always have to move on
Just have to go
I've often wondered why that is
I'd like to say but I just don't know
I guess you always wanted
Life on your own
I guess you always wanted
Life on your own
Up here the summer's shorter
And winter's very cold
I'm looking forward to the peace
My lonely life will hold
I'm really glad you came here
Thank you for the talk
It's funny how my problem stopped
When we went for a walk
Standing here together
Means so much
I won't forget your confidence
I won't forget your touch
You know I'll come to see you
Passing through
We'll always be a world apart
I'll travel on but I will be true
I guess you always wanted
Life on your own
I guess you always wanted
Life on your own
I guess you always wanted
Life on your own
I guess you always wanted
Life on your own
The lyrics of The Human League's song Life on Your Own appears to describe a protagonist who has moved to a new address and wishes to be left alone, free from the entanglements of others. The song's opening line sets the mood for the rest of the verses, indicating a sense of isolation and detachment from the world. The singer expresses an unwillingness to settle down and a need to keep moving on, unlike other people who prefer to stay put. There is a sense of resignation to the singer's words, as if they have accepted their fate and do not know why they are the way they are.
The chorus repeats "I guess you always wanted life on your own," as if to suggest that this need for isolation is inherent in the singer's character. However, the singer's meeting with a friend changes their outlook. They are grateful for the visit and the conversation they have, admitting that it has helped them deal with their problems. The friend's touch and confidence have a deep impact on them, and they promise to come and visit when passing through.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the desire for solitude and the longing for connection. It suggests that while we may crave isolation, we also need others to help us deal with the challenges of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Winter is approaching
The season is changing, it is getting colder
There's snow upon the ground
The weather has changed and snow has fallen
It's good of you to visit me
It is appreciated that you came to see me
I'm glad you came around
I am happy that you came to see me
I don't know how you found me
I am not sure how you discovered my location
I didn't let you know
I did not inform you of my new address
I only moved to this address
I recently relocated to this location
About a week ago
It has only been a short time since I moved here
I guess you think I ran out
You may believe that I departed suddenly
But that's not true
That is not the case
Other people settle down
Others are able to remain in one place for a longer time
I never do
I am always on the move
I always have to move on
I feel compelled to constantly transition to new locations
Just have to go
I must depart
I've often wondered why that is
I am curious as to why I am this way
I'd like to say but I just don't know
I would like to explain, but I am uncertain of the reason behind my behavior
I guess you always wanted
I suppose you have always dreamed of
Life on your own
Living independently
Up here the summer's shorter
The summers are brief in this area
And winter's very cold
The winters are frigid
I'm looking forward to the peace
I am anticipating a sense of tranquility
My lonely life will hold
This solitary existence will remain
Thank you for the talk
I appreciate our conversation
It's funny how my problem stopped
It is amusing how my issue dissipated
When we went for a walk
During our stroll together
Standing here together
Being present with you here and now
Means so much
Holding great value
I won't forget your confidence
I will remember your reassurance
I won't forget your touch
I will recall your physical contact
You know I'll come to see you
I will visit you in the future
Passing through
Traveling by
We'll always be a world apart
We will always be very different
I'll travel on but I will be true
I will continue to journey but maintain my sincerity
I guess you always wanted
It seems that you have always desired
Life on your own
Independence and self-reliance
I guess you always wanted
It appears that you have always longed for
Life on your own
Living without dependence on others
I guess you always wanted
I suppose you have always wished for
Life on your own
Complete self-sufficiency
I guess you always wanted
I imagine you have always dreamed of
Life on your own
Autonomy and freedom
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind