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.
Love Action
The Human League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know you're in love
No matter what you try to do
You might as well resign yourself
To what you're going through
If you're a hard man or if you're a child
It still might get to you
Don't kid yourself you've seen it all before
I've had my hard times in the past
I've been a husband and a lover too
I've lain alone and cried at night
Over what love made me do
And the loved ones who let me down
And couldn't share my point of view
But this is Phil talking
I want to tell you
What I've found to be true
I love your love action
Lust's just a distraction
No talking, just looking
Watching your love action
I believe, I believe what the old man said
Though I know that there's no lord above
I believe in me, I believe in you
And you know I believe in love
I believe in truth though I lie a lot
I feel the pain from the push and shove
No matter what you put me through
I'll still believe in love
And I say
I love your love action
Lust's just a distraction
No talking, just looking
Watching your love action
I love your love action
Lust's just a distraction
No talking, just looking
Watching your love action
I love your love action
Lust's just a distraction
No talking - just looking
Watching your love action
The Human League's Love Action expresses the experience of being in love and how it affects individuals irrespective of age, gender, or status. The first two lines reveal that love is something that one cannot control or escape from. No matter what we try to do, we are powerless against its effects. The lines "If you're a hard man or if you're a child, it still might get to you" suggest that love has the power to touch all human hearts, even if they try to resist it.
The next verses express the personal experience and pain of love. The singer has had tough times in the past, been a husband, and a lover. The vulnerable lines "I've lain alone and cried at night over what love made me do" express the pain that love can bring. However, despite the hardships and those who may let one down, the singer affirms their belief in love. They say, "No matter what you put me through, I'll still believe in love."
In the chorus, the singer expresses their love for the love action itself, for just looking at the loved one, without any words being spoken, as it is much more than lust, and is truly meaningful. The final verse affirms the singer's belief in truth, despite the lies they may tell and the pain that push and shove bring.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're in love
Being in love is a unique feeling that you cannot miss.
You know you're in love
You are aware when you have finally found true love.
No matter what you try to do
When you fall in love, there is no escaping it no matter how hard you try.
You might as well resign yourself
It's best to accept and embrace the feelings of love instead of fighting it.
To what you're going through
The process of being in love can be challenging and emotional.
If you're a hard man or if you're a child
Love has the power to affect people of all ages and personalities.
It still might get to you
Even the toughest individuals can be impacted by the emotions of love.
Don't kid yourself you've seen it all before
Love is unique, and no two experiences of it are the same.
A million mouths have said that too
Many people have tried to describe love, but it's impossible to fully capture in words.
I've had my hard times in the past
The artist has gone through difficult experiences in the past.
I've been a husband and a lover too
The singer has experienced different types of romantic relationships.
I've lain alone and cried at night
The artist has felt lonely and emotional about love before.
Over what love made me do
The singer has done things in the name of love that have caused them pain.
And the loved ones who let me down
The singer has been disappointed by those they love before.
And couldn't share my point of view
Those the singer loved did not understand their perspective.
But this is Phil talking
The artist wants to convey their personal belief.
I want to tell you
The artist is eager to share their knowledge with the audience.
What I've found to be true
The singer is about to reveal a personal truth or belief about love.
I love your love action
The singer is expressing their admiration for how the subject of the song expresses their love.
Lust's just a distraction
The artist believes love is more than just physical attraction or desire.
No talking, just looking
Actions speak louder than words and can convey the emotions of love more effectively.
Watching your love action
The artist finds observing the subject's expression of love to be fascinating.
I believe, I believe what the old man said
The singer is referring to advice or wisdom an older person has imparted on them.
Though I know that there's no lord above
Although the artist doesn't believe in a higher power or deity.
I believe in me, I believe in you
The singer has faith in themselves and those they love.
And you know I believe in love
The singer has a strong conviction in the power of love.
I believe in truth though I lie a lot
The singer values honesty and integrity even though they may have not always upheld those values.
I feel the pain from the push and shove
The artist understands the emotional pain and pressure that can come with being in love.
No matter what you put me through
The artist will still believe in love even if it causes them pain and heartache.
I love your love action
The singer continues to express their admiration for the way the subject expresses their love.
Lust's just a distraction
The singer reiterates their belief that love is more than just physical desire.
No talking, just looking
The artist emphasizes the importance of actions over words when it comes to expressing love.
Watching your love action
The artist is still captivated by observing the subject's expression of love.
I love your love action
The artist repeats their admiration for how the subject expresses their love.
Lust's just a distraction
The singer reinforces their belief that love is more than just physical desire.
No talking, just looking
The artist emphasizes again how actions can better convey love than words can.
Watching your love action
The singer is still enthralled by observing the expression of love from the subject.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burden Oakey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@steffibaker6121
The synth sound, the hair, the make-up, the clothes, the dancing. BRING BACK THE 80s!
@joanmarymccormack6877
Best synt band that ever came out ever.never heard anything as good as them .
They are like the marilyn monroe of bands
@user-ye7sj7gm3f
100%
@v-town1980
Can't bring them back. But enjoy it's music.
@v-town1980
Can't bring them back. But enjoy the music.
@MST785
In 1981, this sounded like music from another planet.
@paulwilliams4420
Agreed, 1981 was not quite ready for this stuff lol including me 🤫🤫🤫
@seven0929
Hey guys, what about his style? How did you guys receive his style, specially the hair? I was born in 80 and I'm a lover of the 80's and 90's :)
@allanbaagefeldt2320
Pure simple music from the fantastic 80s !
@aclark903
I would argue that #GaryNuman got there first..