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.
Entertain Me
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Show what I am
And cannot be, talk
Entertain me
Why the want for all that I can't touch
And all that I can't see?
Why the want for all that I can't speak?
And what is mine?
Speak to me
And what is yours?
Entertain me
Sing, read to me
Sell what I am
Sell what I feel
Sleep, walk to me
Why the want for all that I can't touch
And all that I can't see?
Why the need for all that I can't speak?
And what is mine?
And all I see
Talk to me
And what is yours?
Entertain me
And what is mine?
And what I see
Speak to me
And what is you?
Entertain me
Entertain me
Speak, entertain me
Talk to me
Don't talk to me
Spell, pay for me
Spell, spell lie for me
Spell, spell want for me
Sing, read to me
Walkie talk and tambourine
Stop, here it comes again
Here it comes again
The Psychedelic Furs song "Entertain Me" touches on the desire for material possessions and status symbols that one cannot physically touch, see, or speak about. The lyrics ask why there is a want for these things and what truly belongs to oneself. The repetition of the line "entertain me" highlights the need for distractions and entertainment to fill the void of not having these intangible desires.
The use of imperatives in the song, such as "speak," "sell," and "spell," adds to the sense of demand and expectation. The mention of a "spell" also alludes to the idea of magic and illusion, further emphasizing the idea of things that cannot be grasped or understood completely.
The line "walkie talk and tambourine, stop, here it comes again" may refer to the constant noise and distractions in society that prevent individuals from truly finding satisfaction or contentment. The repetition of this line at the end of the song presents a cyclical nature, as if the desire for intangible possessions and the need for entertainment will continue endlessly.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak, talk to me
Communicate with me, converse with me
Show what I am
Reveal my identity, demonstrate who I truly am
And cannot be, talk
And express what I cannot be, articulate the inexpressible
Entertain me
Captivate me, please me, provide me with enjoyment
Why the want for all that I can't touch
Why the desire for things that are intangible, elusive or beyond reach?
And all that I can't see?
The same question as above, but for things that are invisible or obscure
Why the want for all that I can't speak?
Why the longing for things I am unable to articulate or express?
And what is mine?
Consideration of ownership or possession
And all I see
Everything I observe or perceive
Speak to me
The same as line 1
And what is yours?
What do you possess or take ownership of?
Sing, read to me
Perform a musical or literary piece for me
Sell what I am
Promote or market my identity or persona
Sell what I feel
Similarly, promote or sell my emotions or mood
Sleep, walk to me
Come to me, approach me
Don't talk to me
The opposite of line 1
Spell, pay for me
Spell out or write for me, and cover the cost of it
Spell, spell lie for me
Write or say untruths on my behalf
Spell, spell want for me
Write or express desires on my behalf
Talkie walk and tambourine
A nonsensical sequence of words, possibly referring to musical instruments or communication devices
Stop, here it comes again
An abrupt halt followed by something recurring or anticipated
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD LOFTHOUSE BUTLER, TIMOTHY BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gard Goldsmith
According to John Ashton, his amp caught fire when they recorded this, and you can hear that in the bridge during his solo. I remember putting this on as the first cut on the album when I bought it. I had already heard "Should God Forget" on WFNX in Boston, and knew they had tossed away the record company pressures to appeal to the popular audience, and that, instead, they had stood for their integrity. When I heard this song, I rejoiced in the sound and in what Richard Butler expressed. He perfectly nails the endless thirst of pop fandom to constantly be entertained by things other people create, to express for THEM things that they could express themselves. He touches on this in a different way in "Little Fist" on the "Try Some, Eat One" Love Spit Love album, a story of excess told from the POV of a rock star or entertainer who awakens on the pavement, senses trouble in his behavior, but tosses it aside, "There's a world in front of me. I know tomorrow's gonna taste like cake. There's easy money for the freaks. A million friends who don't know what my name is." Richard B has pierced the veil of many kinds of self-delusion, always with a bent towards moral integrity. It's nice to be able to compliment a man for doing so, and a band for creating such awesome sounds. Cheers!
hobby gamer
it figures his guitar caught fire on this ! I'm glad he didn't put it out
MegaJyms
Beautiful chaos.🎵🎵🎵
Uffe Andersen
I loved this album and still do. I don't care who says what. Liked it then, like it now, nothing's changed, the test of time passed, full stop. Thanks for the gems after all this time. These sounds have lived with me always even though I haven't heard the songs in decades. Hope you are well. Huge hug and all the best to all.
Ian Turton
Hug to you friend. Album is amazing.
Mats A
Bought this album randomly at some point. Liked it very much.
Bob Malack
Drums are clean sounding and ripping with minimal drum fills, Vince Ely keeps the piece moving right along. Butler very 'on' and dialed in on this cut.
Bob Malack
Especially Roger Morris rarly 80's, sounds and looks ripping on 'Sister Europe' offiicial Utube video. Robert at 66.
hobby gamer
@Bob Malack nah this was the case from th GIT-GO
Bob Malack
Well after 40 odd years, I guess you're going to have some turn over, like band members retiring, switching bands, or dying..LOL!