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.
Sister Europe
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So sick upon a steinway
The sailors drown
See them talk and see them drown
And see them drink and fall around
Upon the floor
Sister of mine, home again
Lonely in a crowded room
The radio plays out of tune
So silently
The radio upon the floor
Is stupid it plays Aznavour
So out of key
Sister of mine home again
Sister of mine home again
Broken on a ship of fools
Even dreams must fall to rules
So stupidly
Words are all just useless sound
Just like cards they fall around
And we will be
Sister of mine home again
Sister of mine home again
Buy a car and watch it rust
Sister see them fall to dust
They fall around
In another crowded room
Paint me like the shirt I'm in
Honestly
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister
The lyrics to The Psychedelic Furs' "Sister Europe" are full of melancholic and introspective imagery. The first stanza sets the tone with the lines "Stupid on the Steinway, so sick upon a Steinway, the sailors drown." The singer is feeling lost and disconnected, possibly due to a relationship that has gone awry. They witness the sailors drowning, a metaphor for people sinking deeper into their problems. The second stanza continues with the theme of loneliness and disconnection with the line "Lonely in a crowded room, the radio plays out of tune, so silently." The singer is surrounded by people yet still feels alone, and even the radio's music cannot provide solace.
The chorus brings in the theme of family, specifically a sister. The line "Sister of mine, home again" suggests that the singer's sister has returned, possibly providing a glimmer of hope in the midst of the singer's despair. However, the final stanza continues with the motif of being lost at sea, this time with the line "Broken on a ship of fools, even dreams must fall to rules, so stupidly." The singer is again feeling trapped and helpless in the face of life's harsh realities, and even their dreams cannot provide escape.
Overall, "Sister Europe" is a poetic expression of the singer's inner turmoil and their longing for a sense of belonging and connection. The use of nautical and musical imagery adds depth to the lyrics, and the inclusion of a sibling brings a personal touch to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Stupid on the Steinway
Feeling unwell and clumsy on the piano
So sick upon a steinway
Feeling extremely unwell while playing the piano
The sailors drown
Watching people suffer and fail
See them talk and see them drown
Watching people struggle to the point of failure
And see them drink and fall around
Watching people become intoxicated and lose control of themselves
Upon the floor
Collapsing due to alcohol or drug intake
Sister of mine, home again
Addressing a close friend or family member who has returned home
Lonely in a crowded room
Feeling isolated and disconnected despite being surrounded by people
The radio plays out of tune
Feeling frustrated by the poor quality of music on the radio
So silently
In a very quiet manner
The radio upon the floor
The radio is on the ground
Is stupid it plays Aznavour
The radio's choice of music is subpar
So out of key
The music from the radio is not in tune
Broken on a ship of fools
Feeling shattered while surrounded by people who lack intelligence or judgment
Even dreams must fall to rules
Recognizing that even the most ambitious dreams must adhere to society's expectations.
So stupidly
In a silly or foolish manner
Words are all just useless sound
The meaning of words is arbitrary and dependent on the person speaking them.
Just like cards they fall around
Reinforcing the fleeting nature of words and thoughts
And we will be
Ultimately accepting that we will expire
Buy a car and watch it rust
Acquiring material possessions only to see them deteriorate over time
Sister see them fall to dust
Observing loved ones fade away with time
They fall around
People constantly perish and disappear
In another crowded room
Moving on to another overcrowded social environment
Paint me like the shirt I'm in
Desiring to be portrayed accurately for who they are without pretense
Honestly
Sincerely expressing oneself and being truthful with oneself and others
Sister of mine, home again
Welcoming a close friend or family member back home
Sister of mine
Referring to a cherished female companion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Duncan Kilburn, John Ashton, Richard Butler, Roger Nicholas Morris, Timothy Butler, Vincent Davey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PDMF
Sister Europe (Lyrics)
The Psychedelic Furs
Stupid on the Steinway
So sick upon a Steinway
The sailors drown
See them talk and see them drown
And see them drink and fall around
Upon the floor
Sister of mine, home again
Sister of mine, home again
Lonely in a crowded room
The radio plays out of tune
So silently
The radio upon the floor
Is stupid it plays Aznavour
So out of key
Sister of mine
Home again
Sister of mine
Home again
Broken on a ship of fools
Even dreams must fall to rules
So stupidly
Words are all just useless sound
Just like cards they fall around
And we will be
Sister of mine
Home again
Sister of mine
Home again
Buy a car and watch it rust
Sister see them fall to dust
They fall around
In another crowded room
Paint me like the shirt i'm in
Honestly
Sister of mine
Home again
Sister of mine
Home again
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister of mine
Sister
Composers: T. Butler, R. Butler, J. Ashton, V. Ely
AyliffeSmith
The Furs at their very best. Sinister and hypnotic…
CrimsonThorns
😎
clark johnstone
Smashing 🙂
jean-louis Berlatier
You're so right
PvtJohnTowle
This one grows on you
tinfoilhatter
they were young: and competition was still fairly competitive, supposedly.... but they apparently paid-it-no-mind, haha
Mark anthony
i think the vocalist creates a lot of the deep atmospherics; such a delicious voice and then i think the fact that they don't try to be technical wizzards but instead let the songs breathe and be quite minimal in many ways is what makes their songs so great/
Visions of Madness
Spot on. The best kind of music. This song is beautiful.
Alexander Arnaud
Eerie verses and an absolutely beautiful chorus. I love this song.
lccga02
makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, brilliant song from an exceptional band.