The Furs initially used Martin Hannett as a producer, but their initial self-titled album from 1980 was eventually produced by Steve Lillywhite. The LP quickly established the band on radio and was a top 20 hit in the UK. The album also found success in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Australia. The US version of the album was re-sequenced, but failed to have as strong a commercial impact.
The Furs found success in the U.S. market with the 1981 release, titled 'Talk Talk Talk', which made its impact on the US album charts and received critical acclaim worldwide. In the UK, the album was a solid hit which spun off two charting singles, "Dumb Waiters" and the original version of "Pretty in Pink". The latter song served as inspiration for the 1986 John Hughes film of the same name, and was re-recorded for the platinum-selling soundtrack.
In 1982, the band was reduced to a four-piece with the departures of Morris and Kilburn. (Ex-Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert would briefly join the group around this time.) The band's remaining members moved permanently to New York, where they recorded the album Forever Now with producer Todd Rundgren. This album contained "Love My Way", a breakthrough Top 40 hit in both the US and the UK. Ely left the band after this release, though he would return for the 1988 single "All That Money Wants" and the 1989 album Book of Days.
The Furs' 1984 release Mirror Moves was produced by Keith Forsey, and featured the songs "The Ghost in You" and "Heaven". Both charted in the UK, and "Heaven" became the band's highest charting UK hit at the time -- but inexplicably, "Heaven" was never released as a single in America. Instead, Columbia Records opted for "Here Come Cowboys", despite both international success and heavy MTV airplay on "Heaven." "Here Come Cowboys" failed to chart, but "The Ghost In You" was a hit on the US pop charts. The band had become popular in Canada as well, CFNY, Toronto's new wave radio station, listed Mirror Moves as the #1 LP of 1984.
By this time, the band had become somewhat of a staple on US college and modern rock radio stations. As well, they were building mainstream success, fairly consistently placing singles in the pop charts on both sides of the Atlantic, though they would "have more impact on future musicians than they ever did in the marketplace." In 1986, the band re-recorded a version of "Pretty in Pink", which was their biggest hit to that time in the US, and their biggest-ever UK hit.
Richard Butler later claimed that the success of "Pretty in Pink" caused the band to be pressured into entering the studio to record a follow-up release before they were ready. The result was Midnight to Midnight, an album which Butler characterized as "hollow, vapid and weak". A more overtly commercial effort than the Furs had ever recorded before, the album also featured the single "Heartbreak Beat", which was their highest charting top 40 US hit.
However, the Furs were dissatisfied with their new commercial direction, and subsequently returned to a rawer sound with "All That Money Wants", a 1988 track especially recorded for a 'best-of' collection. 1989's Book of Days saw a return to the old-school style and the temporary return of Vince Ely. 1991's World Outside was similarly more of a "back to basics" approach.
From 1988 on The Furs' chart success continued with three #1 hits on the US Modern Rock chart between 1988 and 1991.
The band splintered in 1991, with the Butler brothers going on to found Love Spit Love. After spending most of the decade apart, Butler, Butler and Ashton re-formed The Psychedelic Furs in 2000, and released a live album Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live, which also featured a new studio recording, "Alive (For Once In My Lifetime)." A DVD version of the performance included live versions of "Alive" and three other previously unreleased songs: "Anodyne (Better Days)," "Cigarette" and "Wrong Train."
Since then the Furs continue to tour the world along with former Love Spit Love drummer Frank Ferrer, ex-Information Society and World Party keyboardist Amanda Kramer and saxophonist Mars Williams who returned to the band after a stint in the late 1980s.
Showing the band's significant influence as a part of the new wave and post-punk movements, their songs have been covered by numerous other artists. Examples include Annie Lennox, Buffalo Tom, Icehouse, Powderfinger, Regenerator, and Robyn Hitchcock.
All About You
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the race for last is almost run
and almost paid
from where i stand, i've got a view
out of all the miles of you
where i wait
i know what's true
all about you
there's a face in every crowd
a lot like you
is what you wanted what you took?
all the lines that leave you shook
leave me cold
i know what's true
all about you
someone's knocking at my door
down my stairs, i hear you call
but i won't wake
the seconds move the time along
and all my silence seems so long
i don't break
i know what's true
all about you
i know what's true
all about you
i know what's true
all about you
The Psychedelic Furs' song All About You is a melancholic tune about a relationship that has come to an end. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been ghosted by their partner, and they are left alone and trying to make sense of their feelings. The opening lines, "now the time is almost done, the race for last is almost run, and almost paid" imply that the end is near and that the singer is aware of it. The line "from where I stand, I've got a view, out of all the miles of you, where I wait" suggests that the singer is observing their former partner from a distance and waiting for them to come back.
The chorus, "I know what's true, all about you," indicates that the singer has gained insight into their partner's character and behavior, possibly after the relationship ended abruptly. The lines "is what you wanted what you took? all the lines that leave you shook, leave me cold" suggest that the partner may have been dishonest or manipulative in the relationship. The final verse, "someone's knocking at my door, down my stairs, I hear you call, but I won't wake" implies that the partner is trying to reconnect, but the singer has decided to move on.
Overall, the song portrays the pain and confusion of a breakup, as well as the singer's attempts to come to terms with their emotions and see the relationship for what it really was.
Line by Line Meaning
now the time is almost done
The present moment is nearly over
the race for last is almost run
The competition to be worst is nearly finished
and almost paid
And almost compensated for
from where i stand, i've got a view
From my position, I have a perspective
out of all the miles of you
Out of all the aspects of you
where i wait
Where I patiently remain
i know what's true
I know the reality
all about you
All that concerns you
through my window there's a sound
I hear a noise through my window
there's a face in every crowd
I see a familiar face in every gathering
a lot like you
One that closely resembles you
is what you wanted what you took?
Did you receive what you actually desired?
all the lines that leave you shook
All the statements that upset you
leave me cold
Do not impact me emotionally
someone's knocking at my door
There is a person knocking on my door
down my stairs, i hear you call
I hear your voice from downstairs
but i won't wake
But I will not wake up
the seconds move the time along
The passing moments propel time forward
and all my silence seems so long
And my silence appears to last forever
i don't break
I do not cave emotionally
i know what's true
I know the truth
all about you
All that pertains to you
i know what's true
I know the reality
all about you
All that concerns you
i know what's true
I know the genuine nature
all about you
All that has to do with you
Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@roberthubbardjr
Freakin love this band........
@lisetteheilman6361
Another great song. You guys will never get old. Every song brings me back to an event in my life. Love you guys.
@yvesaltana5732
the whole album is wonderful
@davidfurino2987
Very spacey, love it,aloha
@jamestierney939
It’s good to discover the Furs again, so long
@putnam83
To listen to this while watching a sunset...wow.
@joespivey873
ONENESS
@vivibrito1825
Essa musica toca profundamente a alma... que grande canção!
@Edbup1
Love this song, this album and this fuckin' amazing band!
@michaelfleming9903
Craftmanship.