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.
In my head
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
putting rain on all of this
with the sirens in my sleep
and her sorrow at my kiss
i can't turn away
hold a hand to when you pray
all her vanity and fate
written on her crazy face
i hear you say
here in my head
i hear you pray
time is what it's made
made by others i regret
remember me i hear it said
out of faces i forget
hope you get up off your feet
shake the dust out of your shoes
city lights and all my jazz
all my demonstrations too
here in my head
i hear you say
here in my head
i hear you pray
time is what it's made
made by others i regret
remember me i hear it said
out of faces i forget
here in my head
i hear you say
here in my head
i hear you pray
here in my head
i hear you say
here in my head
i hear you pray
The song In My Head by The Psychedelic Furs is a melancholic and introspective ballad that reflects on the complexity of human emotions and the role that memory plays in shaping our present. The lyrics take us on a journey through the mind of the singer as he tries to process his feelings and desires, and makes sense of the world around him.
The opening lines "I come pulling all the stops, putting rain on all of this" suggest a sense of frustration and despair, like the singer is trying to put a stop to something that is beyond his control. The reference to the sirens in his sleep could symbolize the inner turmoil and conflict that he is experiencing, while the sorrow at his kiss suggests that his actions have hurt someone he cares about deeply.
Despite his confusion and doubts, the singer cannot turn away from his feelings, and holds onto the hope that things will eventually work out. "Hold a hand to when you pray, all her vanity and fate written on her crazy face" reveals his tendency to rely on faith and intuition when faced with uncertainty and doubt.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the passing of time and the role that memory plays in shaping his perceptions of the world. "Time is what it's made, made by others I regret, remember me I hear it said, out of faces I forget" suggests a sense of regret and nostalgia, as the singer tries to hold onto the memories that define him, while at the same time recognizing that they are only a part of a larger narrative.
Overall, In My Head is a poignant and reflective song that speaks to the human experience of love, loss, and the passage of time. It is a testament to the enduring power of music to capture the most elusive and intimate of emotions, and to connect us to one another in ways that are both profound and timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
i come pulling all the stops
I'm doing everything I possibly can.
putting rain on all of this
I'm trying to wash away these bad feelings and situations.
with the sirens in my sleep
Being constantly troubled by unsettling thoughts and feelings.
and her sorrow at my kiss
My actions caused her pain and sadness.
i can't turn away
I'm unable to ignore or forget what has happened.
hold a hand to when you pray
Find comfort and solace in prayer.
all her vanity and fate
Her superficiality and destiny.
written on her crazy face
It's all visible in her expressions and behavior.
time is what it's made
We create time by what we do with it.
made by others i regret
Regretting that others have influenced my choices and actions.
remember me i hear it said
Hoping to be remembered fondly despite the mistakes I've made.
out of faces i forget
Forgetting the people who have passed through my life.
hope you get up off your feet
Wishing you find the strength to move forward.
shake the dust out of your shoes
Leave behind negative experiences and people behind.
city lights and all my jazz
The excitement and allure of city life and the things I've accomplished.
all my demonstrations too
My accomplishments and achievements.
here in my head
All of this is going on inside my thoughts and feelings.
i hear you say
I hear your voice giving me advice, comfort, or criticism.
i hear you pray
I hear your prayers and hopes for me.
here in my head
All of this is going on inside my thoughts and feelings.
i hear you say
I hear your voice giving me advice, comfort, or criticism.
i hear you pray
I hear your prayers and hopes for me.
here in my head
All of this is going on inside my thoughts and feelings.
i hear you say
I hear your voice giving me advice, comfort, or criticism.
i hear you pray
I hear your prayers and hopes for me.
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
daniel green
I can't pull in all the stops
But it rained on all of this
With the sirens in my sleep
And her sorrow at my kiss, I can't turn away
Hold the half turn when you pray
All the vanity and fate
Written on her crazy face. Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray. Time is what it's made
Made by all those I regret
"remember me" I hear it said, Other faces I'd forget, Hope you get up off your feet; Shake the dust out of your shoes
City lights and all my jazz
And all my demonstrations too. Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray. Time is what it's made
Made by others I regret
Remember we are here and sad
All the faces I'd forget. Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray
Here in my head I here you say
Here in my head I here you pray
MagicknightrayearthHope
Love this song so much... it's so joyous and tremendous and fills you with so much feeling and energy and yet also a little sad and nostalgic
M D
You just wrote the definition of a great song.
Chris Coleman
One of the most underrated songs ever thanks
fbtool
IMO, Their best album!
Adrenaline Junkie
Yes
Toyota Kawasaki
What makes you believe it's underrated?
Xavi Vuelve
Completamente de acuerdo. Beautiful!.
Jessie Arce
very true.
Ivone Pereira
Still have this album in CD ❤️❤️❤️ this band is huge,all their albums are sublime. No voice like Richard Butler
Michael Vincent
How can a song be both joyful and sad at the same time?
Amazing.
Wonderful song.