The initial line-up for the debut album, entitled The Lilac Time, released in November 1987 was the two Duffys and keyboardist Michael Weston. Subsequent line-ups have revolved around the two brothers and included drummer Michael Giri, bassist Micky Harris, multi-instrumentalist Caroline Radcliffe, pianist Cara Tivey. Nick Duffy briefly left in 1990 and was replaced by guitarist Sagat Guirey. Later members post '91 split include backing vocalist & keyboardist Claire Worrall and pedal steel guitarist Melvin Duffy (no relation!).
The band's activity is intertwined with Stephen's solo career, waxing and waning as his time and attention permit. The longest gap between Lilac Time records was 8 years - 1991's Astronauts to 1999's Looking for a Day in the Night.
Now, Stephen Duffy is perhaps best known as the co-songwriter and producer for Robbie Williams, and after many years of obscurity, a series of reissues now means that the entire Lilac Time back catalogue is available to buy in the UK for the first time ever. His three later solo albums (1993's Music in Colors, 1995's Duffy & 1998's I Love My Friends) have also been reissued with extra tracks.
From 2003 to 2009 the band released records as Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time and has stabilised with the permanent line-up of Stephen Duffy, Nick Duffy and Claire Worrall (who married Stephen Duffy in 2008). Michael Giri, Micky Harris and Melvin Duffy supplement the line-up on rare occasions they play live.
April 2015 sees the return of The Lilac Time name in the form of a new album, entitled No Sad Songs.
I Went To The Dance
The Lilac Time Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let secret lips forget they have met
I really want to sleep, dream with all of you
Sleep with you tonight and throughout your life
I want you
I went to the dance
Cus she said dancing makes your free
And your friend she noticed me
I asked her to ask you
Do you believe in love
Do you believe it's real
Or is it something in between
Understanding how we feel
I asked her to ask you
I want a sort of truth feel so true
And run it through my mind out of time
I found another world here inside
The tape recorder plays the terrace sways
I want you
The Lilac Time's song "I Went To The Dance" is a narrative of a person’s pursuit of love, and the lengths that they are willing to go to attain that feeling of being wanted and loved. The opening lyrics suggest a desire to forget all other past romantic encounters and clear his mind for a fresh start with someone new. The lyrics resound with a sense of longing and a desire for love.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal a situation where he meets someone at a dance and seeks to develop a relationship. The lyrics suggest they are having a conversation where he is trying to know her better and is interested in discovering her beliefs around love. His interest in knowing her belief resonates with the idea that true love and relationships are built upon understanding and mutual beliefs, and that it requires an open dialogue to build that foundation.
The lyrics continue to convey a sense of longing for the person he has met. There is an unambiguous desire to have them close throughout his life, and the imagery used throughout the lyrics helps build this vision of a perfect life with that special someone. The lyrics paint the picture of a warm and affectionate world, where love is the one driving force that dominates over everything else. The tape recorder mentioned in the closing lyrics provides a sense of nostalgia and an indication of the time where this type of social activity was commonplace.
Line by Line Meaning
And now I want to feel real real good
I desire to experience pure happiness and joy.
Let secret lips forget they have met
Let us forget about our past secrets and focus on the present moment.
I really want to sleep, dream with all of you
I wish to share my deepest dreams and desires with you and be a part of your life.
Sleep with you tonight and throughout your life
I want to be intimate with you tonight and forever.
I want you
I desire to be with you and have you as my partner for life.
I went to the dance
I attended a social gathering.
Cus she said dancing makes your free
Because someone suggested that dancing can make one feel liberated.
You were dancing with a friend
You were enjoying the company of a friend while dancing.
And your friend she noticed me
Your friend noticed me being present at the gathering and observing you.
I asked her to ask you
I requested your friend to ask you a question on my behalf.
Do you believe in love
Do you have faith in the existence of love?
Do you believe it's real
Do you think love is genuine or just an illusion?
Or is it something in between
Or is it something that lies in the gray area between real and illusion?
Understanding how we feel
Comprehending and acknowledging our emotions.
I want a sort of truth feel so true
I long for a genuine and authentic sense of truth in my life.
And run it through my mind out of time
And to have this truth constantly on my mind, beyond the reach of time.
I found another world here inside
I have discovered a new dimension within myself.
The tape recorder plays the terrace sways
The tape player is playing music that is making the terrace dance.
I want you
I desire you and wish to be together with you always.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEPHEN DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind