The original line-up consisted of Indian born lead singer and principal songwriter Bid (real name Ganesh Seshadri), Canadian guitarist Lester Square (real name Thomas W.B. Hardy), drummer John D. Haney, and bassist Charlie Harper. The band went through several bassists in the next few years, including Jeremy Harrington, and Andy Warren of the Ants, a childhood friend of Bid.
Experimental filmmaker Tony Potts began collaborating with the band in 1979, designing lighting and stage sets with film projections for their live appearances. The band's early persona was defined by the shadowy, uncertain stage images created by the films to such an extent he is often described as being the band's "fifth member."
They released several singles for the Rough Trade label before recording their debut album, "Strange Boutique", produced by Bob Sargeant, for Virgin Records' imprint DinDisc in 1980, as well as their follow-up effort, Love Zombies, produced by Alvin Clark and the band later that same year. John Haney left the band in 1981 and was replaced by Lexington Crane.
In 1982, the band switched labels to Cherry Red to release their third full-length album, Eligible Bachelors, produced by Tim Hart. Lester Square and Lexington Crane left soon afterwards, and were replaced by keyboardist Carrie Booth and drummer Nicholas Weslowski. This line-up recorded 1982 single Cast a Long Shadow, for Cherry Red before Booth was in turn replaced by new lead guitarist James 'Foz' Foster.
In 1983, Cherry Red released Volume, Contrast, Brilliance... sessions & singles vol. 1, a retrospective of the band's early Rough Trade singles, BBC and Capital Radio sessions, and other unreleased early sessions.
In 1985, with the same line-up as on Cast a Long Shadow, The Monochrome Set recorded the relatively mainstream album The Lost Weekend for major label Warner Bros. Records. The Lost Weekend failed commercially, and after a few singles, the band officially broke up, though they served as Jessica Griffin's backing band on the first album by the Would-Be-Goods, The Camera Loves Me.
In early 1990, Bid, Lester Square and Andy Warren reformed the band, with the addition of keyboardist Orson Presence and drummer Mike Slocombe (who was quickly replaced by Trevor Ready). The new band toured extensively--especially in Japan, where Bid had become a major star.
The band released several low-key albums for Cherry Red Records during the 1990s, and went on hiatus from 1998 to 2008 though during that off time Bid recorded a number of albums with another band, Scarlet's Well.
The band reunited on 8 October 2008 for a one-off performance at Cherry Red's 30th Anniversary party at Dingwalls, London. It also marked the 30th year of The Monochrome Set. Bid, Andy Warren and Lester Square were joined by Jennifer Denitto (drums) and Sian Dada (keyboards) of Scarlet's Well, and performed 13 songs.
Band reformed in 2010.
Wallflower
The Monochrome Set Lyrics
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When you say hello, they all say goodbye
Hey little girl, don't you ever learn
When you walk in they all seem to turn
When you walk in they seem to turn
They turn their heads away
Hey little girl, don't you know you're too plain
Hey little girl, don't you know it's skin deep
Just when you wake up they all go to sleep
When you wake up they go to sleep
They're all just counting sheep
[Chorus]
You never listen to me
You're lust a flower on the wall
You never listen to me
You lust don't pay attention at all
Hey little girl, isn't it lust a shame
The dress rings a bell, but I can't quite place the name
Hey little girl, no, you're not of their kind
When you've got to go they don't seem to mind
When you go they don't seem to mind
They think you're such a bind
[Chorus]
Your conversation runs dry
When you smile you just cry deep inside
Your inexperience shows
Which your fashionable clothes just can't hide
[Chorus]
Hey little girl don't you know you're too plain
When you say once more they say not again
No, no, no, not again, no, no, not again
The Monochrome Set's song "Wallflower" delivers a powerful message about the isolation and loneliness experienced by those who are deemed "too shy" or "not of their kind" by society. The lyrics speak directly to a young girl who is constantly rejected and belittled by her peers, despite her attempts to fit in. The song's chorus offers a harsh criticism of her behavior, claiming that she "never listens" and is "just a flower on the wall" - effectively invisible to those around her.
Throughout the song, The Monochrome Set highlights the emotional toll that this rejection has taken on the girl, with lines such as "When you smile you just cry deep inside" and "Your inexperience shows / which your fashionable clothes just can't hide." These lyrics juxtapose the girl's external appearance with the profound insecurity and despair she feels on the inside. Ultimately, "Wallflower" is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the devastating effects of social ostracism and the importance of empathy and kindness towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little girl, don't you know you're too shy
You're too hesitant and introverted, which prevents you from making friends
When you say hello, they all say goodbye
Your shyness makes it difficult for you to connect with people and make lasting relationships
Hey little girl, don't you ever learn
You continue to repeat the same mistakes, even though they lead to negative outcomes
When you walk in they all seem to turn
People don't pay attention to you or engage with you when you enter a room
They turn their heads away
People avoid eye contact and ignore you when you're around
Hey little girl, don't you know you're too plain
You're not physically attractive or stylish, which makes you stand out in a negative way
When you say ‘once more’ they say ‘not again’
Your behavior or mannerisms are unappealing or irritating to others
Hey little girl, don't you know it's skin deep
Physical beauty is only superficial and doesn't define a person's worth
Just when you wake up they all go to sleep
You're on a different schedule or frequency than most people, which makes it difficult to connect with them
When you wake up they go to sleep
Your interests and priorities are different from those around you
They're all just counting sheep
Others are disinterested in your activities or unaware of your existence
[Chorus] You never listen to me You're lust a flower on the wall You never listen to me You lust don't pay attention at all
Others feel like you're uninterested in their opinions or feelings, and that you're just physically present without engaging in the social context
Hey little girl, isn't it lust a shame The dress rings a bell, but I can't quite place the name
You're forgettable and unremarkable, which makes it difficult for others to remember much about you
Hey little girl, no, you're not of their kind
You don't fit in with the social group, and may be ostracized or excluded because of it
When you've got to go they don't seem to mind
People are indifferent or apathetic to your presence or absence
When you go they don't seem to mind
Others aren't affected by your presence or interactions
They think you're such a bind
You're seen as a burden or inconvenience to others
[Chorus] Your conversation runs dry When you smile you just cry deep inside Your inexperience shows Which your fashionable clothes just can't hide
You struggle to hold meaningful conversations or express emotion, and despite efforts to look fashionable, your lack of experience and self-confidence is apparent
Hey little girl don't you know you're too plain When you say once more they say not again No, no, no, not again, no, no, not again
You're aware of your shortcomings, but keep repeating them without making changes, leading to frustration from others
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GANESH SESHADRI, JOHN HANEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind