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.
There's A World
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in you, i get torn in two
you don't see my reflection in my scenes
you fall, i don't come at all
i can almost feel you bleed
you've been falling in too deep
i can almost hear you say
but your words get in my way
there's a world outside
why wait?
for the reason why
i come soon from the shelter of my room
you don't move
coming down on you
i can't fall
all that does is made to crawl
i'm one, leave the world undone
i can almost feel you bleed
you've been falling in too deep
i can almost hear you say
but your words get in my way
why wait?
there's a world outside
why wait?
for the reasons why
it ain't always what i want
it ain't always mine
why wait?
there's a world outside
you can't win
coming from the state you're in
you don't see
my reflections and my scenes
you fall, i don't come at all
i can almost feel you bleed
you've been falling in too deep
i can almost hear you say
but your words get in my way
why wait?
there's a world outside
why wait?
for the reason why
it ain't always what i want
it ain't always mine
why wait?
there's a world outside
it ain't always what i want
it ain't always mine
why wait?
there's a world outside
The Psychedelic Furs's song "There's A World" feels like a conversation between two people, with a tense back-and-forth exchange. The first stanza establishes the singer's frustration with the other person's imminent departure, and how being around them is emotionally draining. The second stanza flips the scene, with the other person seeming to be stuck in one place while the singer is ready to move on, and also feeling like they're being held back by the other person's words. The refrain of "why wait? there's a world outside" is a plea to break free from these negative patterns and look towards new experiences.
Throughout the song, there's a sense of being stuck or trapped in a cycle, and the feeling of wanting to break free but not knowing how to do so. The repeated line "it ain't always what I want, it ain't always mine" points to a lack of control over one's own life, and a sense of resignation to that fact. The final line "there's a world outside" is both a comforting thought and a reminder of the vastness of the unknown.
Overall, "There's A World" is a melancholy yet hopeful song, urging the listener to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone in order to find something new.
Line by Line Meaning
i can't wait to say goodbye before you break
I want to end things before you hurt me more
in you, i get torn in two
Being with you is tearing me apart
you don't see my reflection in my scenes
You don't understand or see me for who I am
you fall, i don't come at all
When you fall apart, I can't be there for you
i can almost feel you bleed
I can sense your pain and suffering
you've been falling in too deep
You've been getting too involved and it's not good for you
i can almost hear you say
I can almost hear you asking for help
but your words get in my way
Your words and actions are preventing me from helping you
why wait?
Why hesitate?
there's a world outside
There's a whole other world out there
for the reason why
To find out the reason for things
i come soon from the shelter of my room
I'm stepping out of my comfort zone soon
you don't move
You don't take action or make progress
coming down on you
Consequences are weighing down on you
i can't fall
I can't let myself fall for you anymore
all that does is made to crawl
Everything feels like it's been reduced to crawling, barely moving forward
i'm one, leave the world undone
I'm just one person, unable to fix everything wrong with the world
it ain't always what i want
Things don't always turn out the way I desire
it ain't always mine
I don't always get what I think is rightfully mine
you can't win
You can't come out on top in this situation
coming from the state you're in
Coming from the difficult situation you're currently in
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
daniel green
I can't wait to say goodbye before you break
In you, I get torn in two
You don't see my reflection in my scenes
You fall, I don't come at all
I can almost feel you bleed
You've been falling in too deep
I can almost hear you say
But your words get in my way
Why wait?
There's a world outside
Why wait?
For the reason why
I come soon from the shelter of my room
You don't move coming down on you
I can't fall, all that does is made to crawl
I'm one, leave the world undone
I can almost feel you bleed
You've been falling in too deep
I can almost hear you say
But your words get in my way
Why wait?
There's a world outside
Why wait?
For the reasons why
It ain't always what I want
It ain't always mine
Why wait?
There's a world outside
You can't win coming from the state you're in
In you, what is all makes me is
You don't see my reflections and my scenes
You fall, I don't come at all
I can almost feel you bleed
You've been falling in too deep
I can almost hear you say
But your words get in my way
Why wait?
There's a world outside
Why wait?
For the reason why
It ain't always what I want
It ain't always mine
Why wait?
There's a world outside
It ain't always what I want
It ain't always mine
Why wait?
There's a world outside
Unicorn Princess
The Furs are the greatest band ever.Fantastic.
SOLtoo
I saw the Furs on the World Outside tour in a small club in Ohio. Of course, they played heavily off the new album. A dozen of us waited out back and got our ticket stubs / CD booklets signed by the band afterwards. Great times!
sppdenver
very cool! I'm going to the show in July, there playing with James here in Denver.
I've always loved this album!! and will be my first time seeing James!!
really looking forward to the show!! Greetings from D'town!! ; )
Kevin Price
Criminally under heard. Might be my favorite Furs song.
Toyota Kawasaki
What makes you believe it's "under heard"?
Yves Altana
what a great song!
LEPERCOLONY1
Great band great song
Charlie Schmitt
Criminally underrated band.
Deborah Paley
This year has been good for something. Revisiting my favorite bands and filling in my music library. Shocked that I let so many years go by...the Furs sound soooooo fucking right. So damn good!!!! And Made of Rain! Fan from the very beginning......oh and Richard Butler's solo CD 2006, brilliant, out of print, found on at Discogs, came from Greece!! Look for one you won't be disappointed.
Daniel Averill
Love this song