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.
Sky
The Human League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At last the breeze began to play
I drained my glass and turned to see
Her face she smiled she spoke to me
I told her my name I asked her the same
She said they call me sky
Sky
Said she is in danger maybe a stranger
And she talked and she smoked little more than a job
All the cares of my life went away on that day
In that room coming out of the gloom
And the gift that she gave follow me to the grave from on
Life goes on
Now you gone
Life goes on after sky
Life goes on after sky
So much can change without a sign
A twist of fate two worlds alight
The words get spoken all worlds were broken
The wind began to sign
The heat of daybreak the precious keepsake
Too soon the last goodbye
And the death in her eyes come enraged of the skies
For the day of my birth was the last day on earth
Like a boat in the night gets a moment of light
I could see what I've done what must be from now on
Life goes on
Now you're gone
Life goes on after sky
Life goes on after sky
Ahhh sky
Ahhh sky
Life goes on
Now you're gone
Life goes on after sky
Life goes on after sky
Sky
Sky
The Human League's 'Sky' is a song about a brief encounter with a woman named Sky. The song is told from the point of view of the singer, who meets Sky after a "blazing day," and they strike up a conversation. Sky mentions that she is in danger and needs a place to stay, which the singer offers to help with. As they talk, the worries and stress of the singer's life fade away, and he feels a gift from Sky that will stay with him until the end of his life. However, it seems that their time together is limited, and the wind begins to sigh as they say their goodbyes.
The song is bittersweet in its portrayal of a fleeting moment of connection with another person. The lyrics are tinged with a sense of sadness and loss, as the singer realizes that life goes on even after this meaningful encounter. The lyric "the day of my birth was the last day on earth" suggests that this encounter was a major turning point in the singer's life, one that he will never forget.
Line by Line Meaning
And after such a blazing day
After experiencing a hot and intense day,
At last the breeze began to play
The wind started blowing and bringing a sense of relief.
I drained my glass and turned to see
After finishing a drink, the singer took notice of their surroundings.
Her face she smiled she spoke to me
The woman in question smiled and initiated conversation with the artist.
I told her my name I asked her the same
The artist introduced themselves and asked for the woman's name.
She said they call me sky
The woman revealed that her name is 'Sky'.
Sky
The woman's name.
Said she is in danger maybe a stranger
Sky mentioned that she might be in danger and wondered if anyone nearby could help.
Might know a place near by
Sky may know of a safe place nearby.
And she talked and she smoked little more than a job
Sky engaged in conversation and smoked, seemingly carefree.
All the cares of my life went away on that day
The singer's problems seemed to disappear in that moment with Sky.
In that room coming out of the gloom
The artist was in a dimly lit room and emerged from the darkness.
And the gift that she gave follow me to the grave from on
Something valuable that Sky gave the singer will stay with them forever, even after death.
Life goes on
Things keep moving forward.
Now you gone
Sky is now gone.
Life goes on after sky
Continuing without Sky is difficult, but life keeps going.
So much can change without a sign
Things can drastically change without warning.
A twist of fate two worlds alight
A chance occurrence brought two people together.
The words get spoken all worlds were broken
Words were spoken and everything else seemed to cease in importance.
The wind began to sign
The wind started to make noise.
The heat of daybreak the precious keepsake
The heat of daybreak and something of significance were in opposition.
Too soon the last goodbye
Saying goodbye happened sooner than expected.
And the death in her eyes come enraged of the skies
Sky's eyes held a sense of a painful ending.
For the day of my birth was the last day on earth
The artist believes their birth is linked to the moment when they lost Sky.
Like a boat in the night gets a moment of light
A small moment of hope or happiness can be found even in the darkest of times.
I could see what I've done what must be from now on
In hindsight, the singer realizes what they should do from that moment forward.
Ahhh sky
An emotional moment reliving the lost connection with Sky.
Life goes on after sky
Even though Sky is gone, life continues to move forward.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PHILIP OAKEY, N BARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben
This is brilliant. Sounds just like their early stuff! What a return to form!
Rebecca Hughes
Love this song!! saw The Human League with my dad in Belfast in March! finally got to see my idols!! ive been a fan since i was 6! owe it all to my dad! Thank you guys for the wonderful music! Yolur Amazing Phil :) xxxx
Nygel Miller
To deedilly speedily. Glad you got to achieve your ambition, and see the League! In my book, then, that makes you a "Leaguer" !
Al Bradford
The Human League. Mentors of life and unbelievable as it seems, they've helped to save me from the very bottom of my time at the bottom of the barrel. Thanks from me and my kids, one of which is now 18 and is a big fan. We love you. :D
Andy Edge
Instantly recognisable voice!! The man, the mysterious Phil Oakey ❤️
Nygel Miller
As a mega Human League fan , I LOVE this song- it's one of their GREATS!
Marc L. Lyndon
Okay, there has been brilliant popmusic ever since then, but this one makes my neurons shoot in a way only The Human League can.
Hernan Echeverria
Every day me surprise with new song and new version ,never stop Human League !!!
frank tienhoven
This is really a great song what deserves to have much success
peter hopkinson
great new album from the human league, good to hear the,yve still got what it takes to make good songs from the early days of being boiled . great album,love it loads.