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.
You & I
The Psychedelic Furs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like all good dreamers do
Finally in anger
I gave it all to you
I never shouted it
Like we do in school
And knee-jerk negativity
Just never got me through
You don't get a vote
This is not a five and ten
This is not a joke she said
It's only you and only I
Bang bang
Bye bye
Now I got a love
To lose myself inside
I don't need to find a face
That I can hide behind
I never shouted it
Like we do in school
Bleed your negativity
Just never got me through
But ma she said so carefully
You don't get a vote
This is not a five and ten
This is not a joke
She said
It's only you and only I
Bang bang
Bye bye
Lose yourself lose yourself
Lose yourself lose yourself
The lyrics of The Psychedelic Furs's song Only You And I are primarily about falling in love and the fierce sense of devotion and intensity that comes with it. The first verse details the singer's experience of falling in love, likening it to the reverie of a good dream. However, the singer also references a sense of anger that accompanies this love, suggesting that it is not all sunshine and roses. Nonetheless, the singer is willing to give all of themselves to this love, a sentiment that is emphasized in the repetition of the phrase "I gave it all to you".
In the second verse, the singer reflects on what it means to truly love someone. They reject negative emotion and "knee-jerk negativity", suggesting that these things do not serve their love. The singer's mother is mentioned as providing guidance on this matter, cautioning them that this love is serious and not to be taken lightly. The chorus repeats the idea that it is only the singer and their beloved in this relationship, and that they do not need any external validation or input in order to feel fulfilled. The final repeated phrase, "lose yourself", seems to suggest that this relationship is a way for the singer to escape from their problems and immerse themselves in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah I fell in love
I experienced falling in love
Like all good dreamers do
In the way most dreamers fall in love
Finally in anger
After a long time, with some frustration
I gave it all to you
I gave my all to you
I never shouted it
I never expressed it loudly
Like we do in school
Like how kids usually do
And knee-jerk negativity
Reacting impulsively with negativity
Just never got me through
It never really helped me
And ma she said so carefully
And my mother said in a cautious manner
You don't get a vote
You don't have a say in this
This is not a five and ten
This is not a trivial matter
This is not a joke she said
This is not something to be taken lightly
It's only you and only I
It's just between you and me
Bang bang
Suddenly
Bye bye
Goodbye
Now I got a love
Now I have a love in my life
To lose myself inside
To immerse myself completely in
I don't need to find a face
I don't need to hide behind a persona
That I can hide behind
That I can conceal myself with
Bleed your negativity
Get rid of your negativity
But ma she said so carefully
But my mother warned me in a cautious manner
You don't get a vote
You don't have a say in this
This is not a five and ten
This is not a trivial matter
This is not a joke
This is not something to be taken lightly
She said
My mother said
It's only you and only I
It's just between you and me
Bang bang
Suddenly
Bye bye
Goodbye
Lose yourself lose yourself
Surrender yourself completely
Lose yourself lose yourself
Surrender yourself completely
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN ASHTON, RICHARD LOFTHOUSE BUTLER, TIMOTHY BUTLER, VINCENT DAVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Blue Greenglue
My god, this album is phenomenal! Still.
B Ricker2
I'd forgotten how awesome this song is.
KC9UDX
Shame on you 😁
Breard Didier
Psychedelic Furs: A great band, not to be forgotten!
Mark richard Oliver
yerah like we forget and ...no longer exist.. well i may as well did not untill this influence xx long live Mr Butler xxxxxx
Paul Redding
New Album and Tour
steve wilson
I bought this album when i was15..before i went into 6th form !use to drive my mam & dad crazy playing it!Wooahh times have changed..but still got it on vinyll! Its aged well..
Mayanna
thanks to my mom i have the cassette tape. the whole album really is addictive. can’t stop playing!
Watanga10
Love this song! I have the live version but I like this one more.
Scott Sargent
most underrated song anywhere,
super slick sound and guitar placement.
love it