Their debut single, I'm an Adult Now, quickly became a hit across Canada in 1986, sparked by a low-budget video which made it onto the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic. However, the band did not immediately sign to a record label, and released another independent single, Killed by Love, in 1988. The Amabile twins left the band that year, and were replaced by Kris Abbott and Leslie Stanwyck.
Also in 1988, they signed to Chrysalis Records. Their debut album, Love Junk, was produced by Todd Rundgren and released that year. "I'm an Adult Now" was re-recorded and released as a single again, making it to the charts a second time. The album sold over 100,000 copies in Canada, and was certified platinum, and is considered one of the classics of Canadian rock.
Stanwyck and Sinclair left, going on to form Universal Honey, after completing the band's follow-up with Rundgren, 1990's One-Sided Story.
Starting with the tour for the album, Brad Barker and Susan Murumets joined the lineup. Rachel Oldfield replaced Murumets in 1992. The band then went through difficulties with their record label, but signed to Mercury Records for 1993's The Downward Road.
Label troubles continued, and the band recorded their next two albums for the now-defunct Canadian label Iron Music. Oldfield left the band in 1995, and was replaced by Jennifer Foster, who in turn left the following year and was replaced by Renee Suchy.
Although the group never officially disbanded, after 1996 they did not record as a unit until 2005, when they recorded two new tracks for a greatest hits compilation.
Pressing Lips
The Pursuit Of Happiness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He gave me no special powers I could use on you
I've done all I can do
I can't give you the moon or the stars
But you can have the contents of my
Melancholy heart
What could mean more than a kiss right now
Pressing lips (honey)
Kiss me quick (sugar)
Mark my face with tangerine lipstick
Kiss me like you'll never
See me again (my angel)
Pressing lips
I could never want you more than this
Some boys will tell you they can make you complete
I won't presume that I'm the only thing you need
How unfair that would be
I can't move a mountain, swim a river deep
I won't make you supernatural promises
I can't keep
What could mean more than a kiss right now
If you need a grand gesture, close your eyes, I'll show you how (darling)
[Chorus]
She's on her tip-toes to reach her mic
She smiles at Stewey
God, what a beautiful night
[Chorus]
The Pursuit of Happiness's song "Pressing Lips" is a beautiful love song with lyrics that show honesty and vulnerability. The song's narrator acknowledges that they are mortal and have no special powers to impress their lover with grand gestures such as giving them the moon or the stars. However, they offer the contents of their melancholy heart and their lips for a kiss, which is something that means more than any grand gesture could.
The singer recognizes that some boys will make supernatural promises and claim they can make their lover complete, but they won't presume to be the only thing their lover needs. They understand that they are not capable of moving mountains or swimming deep rivers, and they won't make false promises.
The chorus of the song is a request for the lover to kiss them with all their might, to mark their face with tangerine lipstick and to show them how much they mean to them. The song ends with a taken aback narrator watching a performer on tip-toes for their microphone, smiling at Stewey, and admiring the beautiful night.
Line by Line Meaning
The god who made us made me mortal too
I'm just a mere mortal, created by the same divine being who created you
He gave me no special powers I could use on you
Sadly, I don't possess any extraordinary abilities that I could use to impress or please you
I've done all I can do
I've tried my best to make you happy
I can't give you the moon or the stars
I don't have the power to gift you celestial objects, as much as I would like to
But you can have the contents of my melancholy heart
However, I can offer you my emotions, even the sad ones that reside in my heart
What could mean more than a kiss right now
At this moment, nothing would be more meaningful than a kiss
If you need a grand gesture, close your eyes and show me how (darling)
If you want a more significant show of affection, tell me how, my love
Pressing lips (honey)
Let's kiss passionately, my dear
Kiss me quick (sugar)
Give me a quick but sweet kiss
Mark my face with tangerine lipstick
Put some orange lipstick on my face to show the world that I'm yours
Kiss me like you'll never see me again (my angel)
Kiss me with fervor and passion, as if it's the last time you'll ever see me, my beloved
I could never want you more than this
Right now, this is all that I could ever want from you
Some boys will tell you they can make you complete
Some men will claim that they can fulfill all your desires and make you whole
I won't presume that I'm the only thing you need
I won't make the assumption that I'm the only one who can meet your needs
How unfair that would be
That would be unjust and selfish of me
I can't move a mountain, swim a river deep
I don't have superhuman strength to do impossible things
I won't make you supernatural promises I can't keep
I won't make you false promises that I can never fulfill
She's on her tip-toes to reach her mic
The singer is standing on tiptoes to reach the microphone
She smiles at Stewey
She smiles at someone named Stewey
God, what a beautiful night
What a lovely evening, oh my god!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MOE BERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
YouCantHoldOnTooLong
This is truly one of the most beautiful songs Moe Berg ever wrote! I love The Pursuit Of Happiness!
~Dutch
Eric Tyrka
Wow This band came into my life at the perfect time. Thanks
Zappa Fan
Best band most people never heard of. TPOH are the best!
Floogelhornzzz
Never heard of? Slash once wore a T-shirt saying "I'm an Adult Now."
Jim Gorman
Pure magic
Mark Sander
I never knew the video existed. This is a most happy surprise to discover. Thank you.
DeFHoez
Man....I had such a crush on Kris Abbott back in the day....got to meet her at a TPOH show in '89....I was like a nervous 5th grader trying to talk to her.
Keana The Baby
Back to my chilhood
rizki faskia
8 comments?
World sick