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 Of The Law
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
trying to make it all pay
and we're telling the world
everything that you said
every word that you say
and we're taking it down
every word of it's true
and you got to get freeevery shot that you take
and you've got to get loose
and all of it's true
written in silver
it's only the blues
written in new words
and all of it's true
written in silver
it's only the blues
written in new words
we got all of the law
and there's nothing to prove
we got all of the dream
yeah and all of it's free
we got nothing to lose
when your vanity fades
i know it's not you
and you got to get straight
every step that you take
and you got to get cool
and all of it's true
written in silver
it's only the blues
written in new words
and all of it's true
written in silverit's only the blues
written in new words
listen we got it all
we're gonna make it all pay
we got all of the dream
and we're telling the world
every word that you say
and we're taking it down
every word of it's true
yeah you got to get free
every step that you take
and you've got to get loose
and all of it's true
it's written in silver
it's only the blues
written in new words
and all of it's true
written in silver
it's only the blues
written in new words
The lyrics to The Psychedelic Furs' "All Of The Law" appear to be about the struggle for fame and success, the pressures that come with it, and the need to stay true to oneself. The singer is "out in the crowd" and trying to make it pay, but the world is scrutinizing every word that he says. Despite this, the song encourages the singer to keep going, to "get free" and "get loose" in order to succeed. The chorus repeats the phrase "written in silver, it's only the blues, written in new words, and all of it's true," which suggests that even though the singer's story may seem like a cliché or well-worn trope, it is still authentic and deserves to be heard.
The song's message seems to be that success is possible, but it comes at a cost. The singer must continue to work hard, even when it seems like everything is against him. The phrases "we got all of the law and there's nothing to prove, we got all of the dream, yeah and all of it's free, we got nothing to lose" suggest that, despite the pressures of the music industry, the singer has support and freedom to pursue his dreams.
Overall, "All Of The Law" is an empowering anthem for anyone who is struggling to make it in the music industry, or in any field where the odds may seem stacked against them.
Line by Line Meaning
when you're out in the crowd
When you're trying to succeed in front of everyone
trying to make it all pay
Trying to make a living and have success
and we're telling the world
And we're spreading your words
everything that you said
All your words, ideas, and views
every word that you say
Every single thing you say
and we're taking it down
We're recording and documenting it
every word of it's true
Everything you're saying is real and genuine
and you got to get free
And you need to be liberated
every shot that you take
Every opportunity you seize
and you've got to get loose
And you need to relax and unwind
and all of it's true
And all of what you're saying and doing is authentic
written in silver
Recorded with elegance and grace
it's only the blues
It's just life's ups and downs
written in new words
Expressed in a contemporary way
we got all of the law
We understand everything about this field
and there's nothing to prove
And there's nothing to demonstrate or validate
we got all of the dream
We have detailed plans of achieving our aspirations
yeah and all of it's free
And we can achieve it without any costs
we got nothing to lose
We don't have any risks or downsides
when your vanity fades
When your superficiality disappears
i know it's not you
I know that's not really who you are
and you got to get straight
And you need to become honest and sincere
every step that you take
Every move you make
and you got to get cool
And you need to become collected and composed
listen we got it all
Listen, we have everything
we're gonna make it all pay
We're going to monetize everything
it's written in silver
It's recorded eloquently
and all of it's true
And everything we're doing and saying is honest and genuine
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD LOFTHOUSE BUTLER, TIMOTHY BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LaloShiruba
When you're out in the crowd
Trying to make it all pay
And we're telling the world
Everything that you said
Every word that you say
And we're taking it down
Every word of it's true
And you got to get free
Every shot that you take
And you've got to get loose
And all of it's true
Written in silver
It's only the blues
Written in new words
And all of it's true
Written in silver
It's only the blues
Written in new words
We got all of the law
And there's nothing to prove
We got all of the dream
Yeah and all of it's free
We got nothing to lose
When your vanity fades
I know it's not you
And you got to get straight
Every step that you take
And you got to get cool
And all of it's true
Written in silver
It's only the blues
Written in new words
And all of it's true
Written in silver
It's only the blues
Written in new words
Listen we got it all
We're gonna make it all pay
We got all of the dream
And we're telling the world
Every word that you say
And we're taking it down
Every word of it's true
Yeah you got to get free
Every step that you take
And you've got to get loose
And all of it's true
It's written in silver
It's only the blues
Written in new words
And all of it's true
Written in silver
It's only the blues
Written in new words
@phantomleap
absolutely killer track. probably the most underrated Furs song.
@larrydaiell
I know some Psych Furs fans that hardly remember it, if they remembered it at all!!!
@Jason_Van_Stone
I just heard this for the first time on Pandora, yesterday. It's been on repeat for an hour now 😀
@derekbaker3279
@@larrydaiell A lot of die hards were really 'thumbs down' when this album was released, but IMHO they needed to look past the splashy '80s production' and listen to what Richard & the band were doing. ...and I'd say there are at least another 3 or 4 really great tunes on this album.
@djvycious
Fun Fact: This song was recorded as a take with the whole band playing together. instruments were NOT tracked individually. This is why it sounds different from the other songs on the M2M album, and why it's a standout.
@tinfoilhatter
it has a, uh, nice sound, by gosh.. these boys play fairly well together when they wanna, yeah? ha ha
@eddieciccarone5344
One of the most underrated songs ever
@larrydaiell
You are correct, Sir ☺️ !!!
@MD-ru5vs
Not only the song also the band.
@Gratefuldeaf
Wholeheartedly yes