Formed in 1992 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the original Kaisers were Matt Armstrong (guitar), John Gibbs (bass), Johnny Maben (drums), and George Miller (lead guitar), the latter two of which were the only constant members of the group. The Kaisers were influenced by lesser known beat groups such as Bern Elliott & The Fenmen, The Big Three, and The Undertakers, among others. The Kaisers quickly gained a sizable fan following owing to their raucous, energetic live act, all the while fully developing their sound and building an ever-growing library of original compositions. Eventually, they were signed to the London label No Hit Records.
The Kaisers recorded their first album, Squarehead Stomp! (1993), at Toe Rag Studios, a now-legendary recording facility in Hackney, London, also used by fellow garage rock revivalists such as The Bishops, The Datsuns, and The Ettes. The original pressings of a majority of Kaisers albums were released on the No Hit imprint Imperial Wireless, which dealt exclusively in Kaisers records. To promote their first album, as well as the Alligator Twist EP released concurrently, The Kaisers appeared on an edition of BBC Scotland radio show The Usual Suspects; here, Miller stated that "...We're not The Beatles, we're not Gerry & The Pacemakers, we're The Kaisers."
It was after the release of their second album, In Step with The Kaisers (1994), that the first of many line-up changes occurred; bassist Gibbs was replaced by Matt Curtis (informally known as Kaiser Matt 2 to avoid confusion with Armstrong). With the release of Beat It Up! (1995), likely their most popular and well-regarded album, they further enhanced their burgeoning popularity, enabling them to depart on their first ever U.S. tour, where they played legendary punk venue CBGB. Upon their return to the UK, founding member Armstrong -- whose particular style of playing was essential to their sound -- left on sabbatical, leading them to hire Keith Warwick just before leaving for a tour of The Netherlands. Curtis also quit the band shortly thereafter, to be replaced by Mark Ferrie.
This cemented The Kaisers' line-up for the better part of four years, when Warwick was replaced by Angus McIntyre in 1999, whose tenure was short-lived; later that same year he was replaced by a returning Matt Armstrong, however briefly. The sixth and final line-up included Dean Micetich and a returning Ferrie. Although the band had been exceedingly productive in their early days--having once recorded three full-length albums, two EPs, and a single within the span of three years--from 1996 on, their level of productivity slowed considerably, releasing only two studio albums in the span of six years.
One of these albums, however, was Wishing Street (1997), their most critically lauded album. It included only two cover songs and instead favored originals; this was done intentionally in response to media criticism that their earlier records contained a perceived over-abundance of covers, despite the fact that said albums had contained a progressively increased number for each new record (a majority of which had been composed by Miller). Wishing Street was also recorded in higher fidelity than previous installments, as the group had become wary of contemporary acts recording at lo-fi as a way to disguise mistakes.
The Kaisers never officially disbanded; after the conclusion of the recording sessions for what turned out to be their last studio album, Shake Me! (2001) -- their focus having shifted to other musical projects, or due to real-life reasons -- The Kaisers quietly parted ways in 2002, and have not worked together under that name since.
Sites: Facebook.
What'd I Say
The Kaisers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That it can't be shortened
To fit on a badge
I wish that I could be God
Try to deliver a soundbite
But it is the catch
I can't say what I mean
Everybody applauds her
From the lord to the hordes
And the nation is swept
By a one-to-one conversation
In adult education
I would tell her except
I can't say what I mean
I can't say what I mean
I can't say what I mean
Do you know
When you go
I get all tongue tied
I'm the same
All the game
Oh and you were right
Can't say you're unattractive
But I'm out of practice
In this sort of thing
It's not like I'm talking Italian
Or I wear a medallion
And a sovereign ring
I can't say what I mean
I can't say what I mean
I can't say what I mean
Do you know
When you go
I get all tongue tied
I'm the same
All the game
Oh and you were right
What a face
What a face
Can you blame me for pulling a face
What a waste
What a face
Great things can be expressed
In fifteen words or less
And bring that to your heart
Words just don't do it justice
The world and its crust
Is still drifting apart
I can't say what I mean
I can't say what I mean
I can't say what I mean
Do you know
When you go
I get all tongue tied
I'm the same
All the game
Oh and you were right
Do you know
When you go
I get all tongue tied
I'm the same
All the game
Oh and you were right
What a face
What a face
Can you blame me for pulling a face
What a waste
What a face
The Kaisers' song "What'd I Say" is about the struggle to communicate effectively, especially in the age of soundbites and abbreviated language. The lyrics express frustration with the pressure to condense complex ideas into short, catchy phrases in order to be heard and understood. The singer longs for the ability to express himself clearly and comprehensively, but feels constrained by the limitations of language and the expectations of society.
The chorus, "I can't say what I mean," is a catchy and plaintive refrain, highlighting the central theme of the song - the difficulty of expressing oneself in a way that accurately conveys one's thoughts and emotions. The verses describe a situation where the singer is struggling to communicate with a woman he likes. He feels tongue-tied and unable to express his feelings for her, even though he wishes he could. The bridge suggests that even when we are able to express ourselves in words, there are still limitations to language and its ability to convey the full complexity of our experience.
Overall, "What'd I Say" is a thoughtful and introspective song that touches on themes of communication, language, and human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, nothing I said's so important
That it can't be shortened
To fit on a badge
I wish that I could be God
Try to deliver a soundbite
But it is the catch
My thoughts and opinions are not significant enough to require lengthy explanations, and I wish I had the power to convey them effectively with concise soundbites.
Everybody applauds her
From the lord to the hordes
And the nation is swept
By a one-to-one conversation
In adult education
I would tell her except
Everyone praises this person, and the whole country is caught up in their one-on-one discussions in adult education classes. I have something to say to her, but I can't seem to express it properly.
Can't say you're unattractive
But I'm out of practice
In this sort of thing
It's not like I'm talking Italian
Or I wear a medallion
And a sovereign ring
I can't bring myself to insult your looks, but I'm not used to this kind of interaction. I don't have the confidence to talk like I'm fluent in Italian, or to flaunt flashy jewelry.
Great things can be expressed
In fifteen words or less
And bring that to your heart
Words just don't do it justice
The world and its crust
Is still drifting apart
Profound feelings can be conveyed with brevity, but the world and its surface are still becoming increasingly distant from each other. Words cannot fully capture the magnitude of matters concerning the heart.
Do you know
When you go
I get all tongue tied
I'm the same
All the game
Oh and you were right
Whenever you leave, I become speechless and can't express myself. I'm always playing the same game, and you were correct.
What a face
What a face
Can you blame me for pulling a face
What a waste
What a face
Your face is unforgettable, and I can't help but react to it. It's a shame that our conversation can't do your beauty justice.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ROBERT WHITE, CHARLES RICHARD WILSON, JAMES RIX, NICHOLAS BAINES, NICHOLAS HODGSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind