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.
Take Me Home
The Outfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had you in the palm of my hand
You could see that I didn't wanna stay
Knew I wanted lovin' like a man
I could feel your hands perspiring
You could see my temperature rising
Take me home and we can dance all night
Gimme some loving till the broad daylight
Take me home and we can dance all, dance all night
I could tell it was gettin' kinda late
Couldn't wait to get you all alone
You could see that I didn't wanna wait
I can't wait for you to take me home
Come together perfect timing
This could all be so exciting
Take me home and we can dance all night
Shake me, baby, make me feel alright
Gimme some loving till the broad daylight
Take me home and we can dance all night
When I touch you set my hands on fire
But I just can't keep my eyes off you
You're the one that fills me with desire
I'll do anything you want me to
I'll do anything you want me to
Don't think twice if the devil's gonna take you home tonight
You feel so fine and I'll soon be makin' love to you
I still believe in a perfume garden
You get me beatin' something startin'
Take me home and we can dance all night
Shake me, baby, make me feel alright
Gimme some loving till the broad daylight
Take me home and we can dance all night
Take me home and we can dance all night
Shake me, baby, make me feel alright
Gimme some loving till the broad daylight
Take me home and we can dance all night
Take me home and we can dance all night
Shake me, baby, make me feel alright
Gimme some loving till the broad daylight
Take me home and we can dance all night
The Outfield's "Take Me Home" is a love song filled with longing, passion and desire. In the first verse, the singer notes his partner's nerves, recognizing her perspiring hands, and realizes that he has her under his control. He needs her love, and he wants it like a man. The lyrics suggest that he is being honest about his intentions and desires, with the intent of spending all night dancing, shaking his body, and loving her until daylight.
The second verse notes that it's getting late and emphasizes his desire to be alone with her. He doesn't want to wait, as the timing is perfect to come together, seize the moment, and get lost in each other in a dance of passion. The singer goes on to say that he can't keep his eyes and hands off her, as she sets his hands on fire. He professes his love and willingness to do anything she wants him to do, indicating his devotion to her. The song concludes with the singer encouraging his love interest to take him home and dance all night, shake him, and show him love until broad daylight.
Line by Line Meaning
I could tell just by sitting downstairs
From a distance, without even interacting with you, I could feel that you were interested in me
I had you in the palm of my hand
I had a good sense of your level of attraction towards me
You could see that I didn't wanna stay
You could tell that I was eager to leave with you
Knew I wanted lovin' like a man
I knew what I wanted sexually, and I was not afraid to take charge and ask for it
I could feel your hands perspiring
I noticed that you were also nervous and excited
You could see my temperature rising
Similarly, you could tell that I was getting more and more turned on
Take me home and we can dance all night
If you take me home, we can spend the night being physically intimate
Shake me, baby, make me feel alright
I want you to excite me and bring me pleasure
Gimme some loving till the broad daylight
I want to be intimate with you all night, until the sun comes up
I could tell it was gettin' kinda late
As the night was progressing, I became more interested in being alone with you
Couldn't wait to get you all alone
I was eager to be alone with you, away from other people and distractions
You could see that I didn't wanna wait
You could tell that I was impatient and wanted to be alone with you as soon as possible
I can't wait for you to take me home
I am looking forward to being alone with you and engaging in sexual activity
Come together perfect timing
The timing is perfect for us to start an intimate relationship
This could all be so exciting
I am excited at the prospect of starting an intimate relationship with you
When I touch you set my hands on fire
Your touch makes me feel an intense, passionate attraction to you
But I just can't keep my eyes off you
I am constantly drawn to you and cannot resist you
You're the one that fills me with desire
I am strongly sexually attracted to you
I'll do anything you want me to
I am willing to do whatever it takes to please you and make you happy
Don't think twice if the devil's gonna take you home tonight
Don't hesitate to follow your sexual desires, even if they are sinful or dangerous
You feel so fine and I'll soon be makin' love to you
You are extremely attractive to me, and I am eager to engage in sexual activity with you
I still believe in a perfume garden
I still believe in romance and passion, and want to experience it with you
You get me beatin' something startin'
You make my heart race and get me excited for an intimate relationship with you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN FREDRICK SPINKS
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.