They began recording during the mid-80s, picking up the name 'Baseball Boys' as a reference from a gang of hooligans from the cult film 'The Warriors'. Changing things around to 'The Outfield', perhaps a hint of their later American success due to their affinity for U.S. culture, they released their first album, titled 'Play Deep', in 1985 through Columbia Records. Picking up critical acclaim for their melodic rock sound, the album reached #9 on the Billboard 200 list and ended up reaching triple platinum status in America. As remarked by an Allmusic reviewer, the band had a knack for making "a harmonious chorus that is overly smooth and rock savvy." Their single "Your Love" reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #7 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and it soon became their 'signature song. It has went on to be featured in a number of 80s-themed compilation albums, and over a thousand covers and remixes by other artists have been released physically and/or online. Other singles "Say It Isn't So" and "Everytime You Cry" also made it into the top 20 on Mainstream Rock chart.
Though possibly peaking too early, the band continued to record and tour through the 80s and then into the early 90s as the Anglo-American pop rock and power pop scenes evolved. While their second album, titled 'Bangin'', hit the top 20 on the Billboard 200 list had both singles hit the top 40 on the Mainstream Rock chart, the group began losing their popular audience by their third album, 'Voices of Babylon', came out in 1989. Though receiving critical acclaim, the rock mainstream seemed to have shifted considerably underneath them. Drummer Alan Jackman left, and, now as a duo, they recorded 'Diamond Days' in 1991. After the disappointing response to their 1992 album 'Rockeye', which represented a shift towards progressive rock and arena rock, the group essentially disbanded for much of the 90s.
They resumed touring in 1998, and thereafter the band released two live albums via their website. The group's comeback album, 'Any Time Now', was released by Sidewinder Records in March 2006 and constituted a comeback to their traditional pop rock sound. In mid-2009, the Outfield entered a London studio to begin recording their seventh studio album. Titled 'Replay', it saw a June 28, 2011 release, with the band's cult following enjoying deliberately retro sounding songs such as "California Sun". Their music popping up in various places (from Katy Perry recording a Outfield cover titled "Use Your Love" to the 'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' video game using their music), the guys had somewhat of a resurgence of interest at the tail end of their career. Although popular interest in the band waxed and waned since their 80s musical heyday, their group maintained a devoted fan base among followers of the power pop genre for many years.
Guitarist and songwriter John Spinks died in July 2014, succumbing to liver cancer after a long and tough battle. He was 60. The group released a statement saying: “We are relieved that his passing was peaceful and painless.” After taking a few years off from music, lead singer/bassist Tony Lewis released a solo album in 2018 but died on 19 October 2020 in his house near London.
Girl of Mine
The Outfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I? m gonna tell you that I want you
I? m gonna hold you in my arms tonight
Ain? t no body gonna take this girl of mine
I? m gonna squeeze you little darling
I? m gonna tell you everything's alright
Ain? t nobody gonna take this girl of mine
I saw you yesterday
Standing outside my room
Didn't know what to say
Baby I felt such a fool
Hoping that one day
You might think it? s cool
Look at me another way
Please don't see the fool
I'm gonna tell you that I want you
I'm gonna hold you in my arms tonight
Ain't no body gonna take this girl of mine
I'm gonna squeeze you little darling
I'm gonna tell you everything's alright
Ain't nobody gonna take this girl of mine
I'm thinking that someday
I've gotta next to you
It's driving me crazy
I'm wondering what to do
All I know is that one day
This might be complete
Things are going my way
Down on sadness street
This might heaven tonight but I'm too lost to know
If I'm not in heaven tonight then I? m sure it? s the right place to go
If you didn't need me
What would I say to you
Please believe me
Girl my heart beats too
All I'm hoping is one day
My dreams will all come true
But I wish it was yesterday
Girl it couldn't be too soon
(repeat chorus)
The lyrics to The Outfield’s “Girl of Mine” are a declaration of the singer’s love for a girl he desires. He confesses that he wants her and dreams of holding her in his arms, and he’s not going to let anyone else have her. The first verse emphasizes the singer’s devotion to the girl, while the chorus repeats this sentiment more emphatically.
The second verse reflects on the uncertainty and hesitation the singer feels around this girl. He saw her outside his room, but he felt like a fool for not knowing what to say. Nonetheless, he hopes she’ll see him in a better light eventually. The pre-chorus similarly details the singer’s anxiety about the relationship not going his way, but at the end of the day, he’s optimistic that things will work out.
The bridge of “Girl of Mine” takes a somewhat different turn by questioning whether the singer is in heaven tonight since he’s so lost in his love for this girl. However, even if he’s not in heaven, he’s sure that being with her must be the right place for him to be. The last verse loops back to the beginning with the singer begging the girl to believe his love for her is true. He longs for the past when they could have been together already, but he hopes their future will be full of fulfilled dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I? m gonna tell you that I want you
I am going to express my interest in you
I? m gonna hold you in my arms tonight
I want to have physical intimacy with you
Ain? t no body gonna take this girl of mine
I am possessive of you and don't want anyone else to have you
I? m gonna squeeze you little darling
I want to tightly embrace you
I? m gonna tell you everything's alright
I want to reassure you and alleviate your fears
Ain? t nobody gonna take this girl of mine
I will protect you from anyone who tries to take you away from me
I saw you yesterday
I noticed you the other day
Standing outside my room
You were near my place of residence
Didn't know what to say
I was too nervous to start a conversation
Baby I felt such a fool
I regretted not being able to talk to you
Hoping that one day
I am holding out for the possibility
You might think it? s cool
You might find me appealing
Look at me another way
See me in a different light
Please don't see the fool
Don't see me as foolish or unintelligent
I'm thinking that someday
I am pondering the future
I've gotta next to you
I want to be next to you
It's driving me crazy
It's making me anxious and stressed
I'm wondering what to do
I am unsure of how to proceed
All I know is that one day
I am optimistic that it will happen eventually
This might be complete
This could be my destiny
Things are going my way
Things are working out in my favor
Down on sadness street
Feeling depressed or hopeless
This might heaven tonight but I'm too lost to know
I may be in a state of bliss, but I am uncertain
If I'm not in heaven tonight then I? m sure it? s the right place to go
Even if I am not experiencing absolute happiness, being with you is still meaningful to me
If you didn't need me
If you did not rely on me
What would I say to you
What excuse would I have to talk to you
Please believe me
Trust that I am being sincere
Girl my heart beats too
My heart is full of affection for you
All I'm hoping is one day
I have high aspirations for our relationship
My dreams will all come true
My deepest wishes and desires will be realized
But I wish it was yesterday
I regret having not started our relationship earlier
Girl it couldn't be too soon
I want to be with you as soon as possible
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Your Love
Winter of '84, 4 feet of snow drops on Harrisburg, PA the night the Romantics are to play the local club The Metro, Called to find out the band were there. Took the girlfriend to a venue of a dozen people and the band. They played that song at least 6 times, once me sing it on stage. Best concert I was ever at.