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.
Tearing Down
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the colors of you
And they shine over all I see
And all I see
Is all of the tears that I spent
Those that fell over nothing
And landed here where I stand
I'm tearing down the flowers sent
And all of them
I'm tearing down your hollow heart
And all of that
All the flags that I rose
That I hung out of windows
And stuck on the sky like crows
But you want more
I'm tearing down the flowers sent
But all of them
I'm tearing down your hollow heart
And all of that
All the ribbons they hung in your hair
And you turn in the mirror to me
And I see you there
And I don't care
I took off all the rings from my hand
Yeah, and all of the birds from the sky
Over where I stand
And you want more
I'm tearing down the flowers sent
And all of them
I'm tearing down your hollow heart
And all of that
I'm tearing down your promises
And all of this
I'm tearing all your flowers down
And all of that and this around
The lyrics to "Tearing Down," by The Psychedelic Furs, describe a destructive relationship in which the singer is tearing apart the symbols and promises that once seemed to hold hope for the relationship. The flowers that once covered his partner's feet, in all their vibrant colors, now represent the tears he has shed for nothing. He feels hollow inside, and those same flowers seem to mock him with their superficial beauty. The ribbons in her hair and the rings on his fingers, once cherished symbols of their love, now mean nothing to him. The flags and crows that he hung in the sky (perhaps symbolizing his despair and hopelessness), don't seem like they'll be enough for his partner, who seems to always want more. He's tearing down the flowers, the promises, the symbols, and all that's around him because he's realized that they were never enough to sustain the relationship in the first place.
Throughout the song, the singer seems numb and detached from the relationship he's describing. He no longer cares about the person or the symbols of their love. Even when she turns to him in the mirror, he "doesn't care." It's unclear why the relationship has deteriorated to this point, but it seems likely that the singer has been hurt and disappointed too many times to keep trying to make it work. He tearfully reveals that all he sees when he looks at her and the symbols of their love are his own tears, which now seem wasted in light of the relationship's ultimate downfall.
Overall, "Tearing Down" is a sad and regretful song about a relationship's collapse. The symbols of love that once seemed so significant now seem shallow and meaningless, and the singer is torn between wanting to tear them all down and wanting to salvage what's left of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
The flowers they cover your feet
The singer is referring to the colorful and bright aspects of the subject, which are like flowers at their feet.
All the colors of you
The subject is representative of all the vibrant and complex colors combined.
And they shine over all I see
The singer is overwhelmed by the bright and stunning beauty of the subject.
And all I see
In looking at the subject, the artist sees nothing but their overpowering beauty.
Is all of the tears that I spent
The subject has made the artist cry and suffer repeatedly.
Those that fell over nothing
The reasons for the singer's tears are insignificant or unclear.
And landed here where I stand
The emotions caused by the subject continue to affect the singer directly.
And in my hand
The artist holds the power to retaliate against the subject.
I'm tearing down the flowers sent
The artist is attempting to destroy the beautiful aspects of the subject, which they see as a false facade.
And all of them
No part of this facade or the subject's being is safe from the artist's wrath.
I'm tearing down your hollow heart
The singer believes the beauty and colorful facade of the subject is masking a cold, empty, and artificial core.
And all of that
The entirety of the subject's being is a facade to the artist.
All the flags that I rose
The singer has celebrated, praised, and honored the subject for their beauty.
That I hung out of windows
The admiration and respect for the subject were public and widely known.
And stuck on the sky like crows
The subject was elevated like a totem, signifying the singer's devotion.
But you want more
The subject craves more admiration and attention from the artist, which they are not willing to provide.
All the ribbons they hung in your hair
The subject endeavored to enhance their beauty with accessories, which impressed the artist.
And you turn in the mirror to me
The subject is seeking validation from the singer, who has made it clear that they are not interested in offering it.
And I see you there
The singer is aware of how stunning the subject is, but finds their beauty meaningless and without substance.
And I don't care
The artist is indifferent to the subject's beauty.
I took off all the rings from my hand
The artist is rejecting any symbols of devotion or love they may have shown the subject.
Yeah, and all of the birds from the sky
The artist is severing any bond they had with the subject and is done with them completely.
Over where I stand
The singer is now standing on the subject's fallen symbols, looking down on their beauty with scorn.
I'm tearing down your promises
The artist is rejecting any promises the subject may have made to them.
And all of this
The singer is done with the subject entirely, including any associated memories or emotions.
I'm tearing all your flowers down
The singer is tearing down the colorful facade that the subject has been using to trick them and the world.
And all of that and this around
The singer is done with the subject and is determined to rid themselves of all associated memories and feelings.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOE MCGINTY, JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD BUTLER, TIMOTHY BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johan Herstad
why isn't this album on spotify? it's their best album in my opinion
Steven Voynow
Another classic! World Outside is full of gems from begin to end~
sppdenver
I'm Tearing All Your Flowers Down And All Of That And This Around
going to the show in a few weeks here in Denver!! they could do this
whole Album and I wouldn't mind a bit!! Great Album!! We Love You!!!
ramiro fauno martinez
Is all of the tears that I spent
Those that fell over nothing
And landed here where I stand
And in my hand
Kerry Winter
This song…the beginning…when Richard 1st singing the flowers that cover your feet….killer tune…the Furs at their best…tearing down your hollow heart….
crazy69 defiant one
Is all the tears that I spent those that fell over nothing and landed here where I stand and in my hand . ......beautiful song
Linda Redlick
I love these guys ❤️😍
Marky E
just beautiful.
Daniel Morales
I fuckin love it
skywatcher1972
Those must be the "Flowers of Evil"! I'll go there next. . . Will tear them down!!