Craig Reid and Charlie Reid were born in Leith, Scotland in 1962, and grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty. After several punk rock bands at school they formed The Proclaimers in 1983.
The pair came to public attention when an Inverness based fan sent their demo to the British band The Housemartins, who were impressed enough to invite The Proclaimers on their 1986 UK tour. The exposure of the tour won them a January 1987 appearance on the British pop music television programme The Tube on Channel Four; "Letter from America" peaked at number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, whilst the album This is the Story went gold. The follow-up album Sunshine on Leith featured "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way". They had a hit with their EP King of the Road, which reached number 9 in UK in 1990.
In March 2007 they recorded a new version of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" with television comedy characters Andy Pipkin (played by Matt Lucas) and Brian Potter (Peter Kay) for the Comic Relief charity. A long list of celebrities were featured in the music video for this new version, including David Bellamy, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Paul O'Grady, David Tennant, Frank Sidebottom and many more. This new version of the song reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart.
The band was one of The B-52s' touring partners on their Funplex tour in Australia and New Zealand in November 2009, alongside Mental as Anything.
The brothers are fans of Hibernian Football Club, and "Sunshine on Leith" has become a theme song for the club, being played at home matches for important fixtures, such as the Edinburgh derby versus Heart of Midlothian FC, the club's city rivals. Charlie and Craig Reid appeared at their Easter Road stadium for the 'Hands Off Hibs' campaign in 1990 when Wallace Mercer, a wealthly Edinburgh businessman with direct connections to Hearts FC, attempted a takeover of the club but was defeated by fan pressure.
They are also well-known supporters of Scottish independence and have at various stages of their lives been activists for the Scottish National Party, expressing such views during their promotional tour of Britain in March 2007. However in April 2007 Charlie Reid announced that he had switched his allegiance to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest at the Scottish National Party's receipt of funding from big business. Many of their songs reflect their political views, such as "Letter from America" and "Cap in Hand".
On 16 May 2006 the twins announced their participation in a campaign to free a fellow Scot, Kenny Richey, from his death row sentence in Ohio, including an appearance at a charity concert. Also, in 2010 they participated with Billy Bragg in a show supporting Reprieve, charity that fights the death penalty. The Proclaimers also support other charities such as The Lighthouse Foundation (addiction victims), AICR (cancer research), Drake Music Scotland (help disabled people through music) or 500 miles (amputees or disabled people in Africa).
Turning Away
The Proclaimers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I must have told you that one before
Cause you're turning away, turning away, turning away
You come and go as you please
I don't make you weak at the knees
When you're turning away, turning away, turning away
that lasts for a lifetime
Some love affairs fire a hate
that never burns out
This love affair is dead
Because you are in indifferent
You won't say it
But I am left in no doubt
You used to say what you meant
But now you ooze contempt
When you're turning away, turning away, turning away
Some love affairs build a love
that lasts for a lifetime
Some love affairs fire a hate
that never burns out
This love affair is dead
Because you are in indifferent
You won't say it
But I am left in no doubt
My jokes don't work any more
I must have told you that one before
Cause you're turning away, turning away, turning away
Turning away, turning, turning away etc...
The song Turning Away by The Proclaimers portrays the end of a love affair that has lost its spark. The singer feels that their partner has become indifferent and uninterested in the relationship, as they no longer laugh at their jokes or make them weak at the knees. The repeated line "turning away" emphasizes the partner's detachment and suggests that they are physically and emotionally moving away from the singer.
The lyrics also contain a comparison between love affairs that last a lifetime and those that end in hate that never fades. This contrasts with the dead love affair that the singer is experiencing, as it neither inspires long-lasting love nor enduring hatred. The partner's lack of communication compounds the situation as the singer is left with a feeling of uncertainty and doubt. In a way, the singer feels that the partner's indifference hurts more than an expressed hate or anger because it leaves the singer to wallow in a mess of insecurity and self-pity.
Overall, Turning Away presents a relatable theme of a relationship that has run its course and teaches the significance of expressing one's feelings before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
My jokes don't work any more
I used to make you laugh with my jokes, but now they no longer have the same effect.
I must have told you that one before
I have repeated my jokes so many times that I have lost count, and it seems like you have too.
Cause you're turning away, turning away, turning away
Your lack of interest and engagement is obvious as you turn away from me, both physically and emotionally.
You come and go as you please
You are not committed to this relationship and you only stay when it is convenient for you.
I don't make you weak at the knees
I do not have the power to make you feel passion, desire or excitement.
Some love affairs build a love that lasts for a lifetime
Some relationships are able to create a deep, everlasting love that endures time and distance.
Some love affairs fire a hate that never burns out
In some relationships, hatred can become a permanent emotion that cannot be extinguished.
This love affair is dead
Our relationship has reached its end and there is no hope for revival.
Because you are in indifferent
Your lack of feelings, empathy or interest has contributed to the death of our love.
You won't say it
You refuse to express your emotions and give closure to what we had.
But I am left in no doubt
Despite your silence, I am sure that our love is over and that you are the cause of it.
You used to say what you meant
You were honest and sincere about your feelings and opinions in the past.
But now you ooze contempt
At present, you exude disdain, disapproval and disrespect towards me and our relationship.
Turning away, turning away, turning away
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the distance, rejection and avoidance that characterize the current state of our relationship.
Contributed by Isaac L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TV
on Role Model
"Lower set of lips" is not making reference to lips on the face, but those in the lower part of her body.