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.
slow motion
The Outfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I said these words
A thousand times
Would you believe me?
If I gave you my promise forever
Would you deceive me? '
I don't care if the whole world outside
When I see you tonight
We're gonna make love in slow motion
If I told you
I was a clown
Would you believe me'
If I gave you my shoulder to cry on
Would you deceive me
It can happen just once in a lifetime
Accept every notion
When I see you tonight
We? re gonna make love in slow motion
I would count every star in the sky
To prove my devotion
When I see you tonight
We're gonna make love in slow motion
If I was accused
Without a crime
Would you believe me?
If I was innocent
Time after time
Would you deceive me?
This can happen just once in a lifetime
Accept every notion
When I see you tonight
We? re gonna make love in slow motion
I would climb every mountain
I'd sail every ocean
When I see you tonight
We're gonna make love in slow motion
When I see you tonight
We? re gonna make love in slow motion
The Outfield's 1989 hit Slow Motion is a love song about a man's promise of devotion to his partner. The first verse starts with the question of whether the partner can trust his words and promises. He asks if the partner would believe him if he said these words a thousand times, or if he gave her his promise forever, would she deceive him? He goes on to say that he doesn't care about the world outside, as long as he is with his partner.
The chorus states that when he sees his partner tonight, they will make love in slow motion. This phrase is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the physical and emotional attraction the singer has for his partner. This love is so intense that he would climb every mountain and sail every ocean to prove his devotion.
The second verse again poses the question of whether his partner would believe him if he was accused of a crime but was innocent. He repeats that this kind of love can only happen once in a lifetime and that he accepts every notion of it. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the powerful connection between the singer and his partner.
Overall, Slow Motion is a sensual, melodious love song that focuses on devotion and trust. The lyrics highlight the singer's willingness to do whatever it takes to prove his love for his partner. The repeated chorus of making love in slow motion emphasizes the intense physical and emotional attraction between the two lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
If I said these words
A thousand times
Would you believe me?
Asking if the person he loves would believe him if he told them he loved them multiple times.
If I gave you my promise forever
Would you deceive me? '
Asking if the person he loves would betray him if he promised to love them forever.
I don't care if the whole world outside
Is one locomotion
The singer doesn't care about anything else in the world, as long as he is with the person he loves.
When I see you tonight
We're gonna make love in slow motion
They plan on taking their time and enjoying each other's company physically and emotionally.
If I told you
I was a clown
Would you believe me'
Asking if the person he loves would still believe him even if he said something silly and untrue.
If I gave you my shoulder to cry on
Would you deceive me
Asking if the person he loves would betray him if he tried to be there for them emotionally.
It can happen just once in a lifetime
Accept every notion
The singer believes that a love like this only comes along once in a lifetime and they should cherish every moment of it.
I would count every star in the sky
To prove my devotion
The singer would do anything to prove to the person they love that they are devoted to them.
If I was accused
Without a crime
Would you believe me?
Asking if the person he loves would believe him if he was accused of something he didn't do.
If I was innocent
Time after time
Would you deceive me?
Asking if the person he loves would betray him even if he proved his innocence multiple times.
I would climb every mountain
I'd sail every ocean
The singer would go to great lengths to be with the person they love.
When I see you tonight
We? re gonna make love in slow motion
Reiterating the fact that they plan on spending time together and taking things slow.
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.