The band's initial line-up consisted of singer/bassist Julian Cope, Mick Finkler on guitar, Gary Dwyer on drums and Paul Simpson on keyboards. They were managed by Bill Drummond and signed to his Zoo label. An early version of the band, which included Ian McCulloch on vocals, was known as A Shallow Madness.
The band released their first single, Sleeping Gas in February of 1979. Soon after, Simpson left the band and was replaced by Zoo label co-owner, David Balfe. Their next single Bouncing Babies inspired a tribute song of its own: I Can't Get Bouncing Babies by the Teardrop Explodes - an ode to the difficulty of obtaining a copy of the song.
Finkler was fired by Cope during the recording of their debut album Kilimanjaro and was replaced by Dalek I Love You guitarist Alan Gill. The LP was a moderate success; it reached number 24 on the British pop charts.
In 1981, the group was at the height of its popularity. In January, they hit # 6 on the British charts with the Reward single and in April they broke the top 20 with Treason. During this period, there were numerous line up changes: Alfie Agius was brought in on bass, Jeff Hammer replaced Balfe on keyboards and Troy Tate replaced Gill on guitar.
Expectations were high for the band's second album, Wilder. The first single Passionate Friend performed reasonably well (#25 UK), but the album itself was unsuccessful, limping to 29 on the charts, disappearing shortly afterwards.
When the band reconvened to record their third album, they were reduced to the trio of Cope, Dwyer and a reinstated Balfe. Tensions were high – Cope wanted to write ballads and quirky pop songs, while Balfe was more interested in recording synth-based dance music. Cope eventually dissolved the band in 1982 in the middle of the sessions. The material was later released in 1990 under the title Everybody Wants to Shag .... The outtakes show a mix of synth/dance pop, dominated by Balfe's keyboards on songs like Count to Ten and Run for Cover and more gentle pop on songs like Soft Enough For You, that prefigure the direction of Cope's early solo career.
Ha Ha I'm Drowning
The Teardrop Explodes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don’t take things for granted
You know it’s not like that
It isn’t how you said
You ask me if I love you
Well I don’t think that’s fair
You ask me if I love you
Well I don’t think that’s real
The stupid things you said
you only try to hurt me
The stupid things you say
You hurt me deep inside
You ask me if I love you
Well I don’t think that’s fair
You ask me if I love you
Well I don’t think that’s real
To criticize our love
Well ask me once again
And ask me for the third time
Oh ask me how I feel
I say I’m drowning in your love
Ha Ha I’m drowning in your love
The Teardrop Explodes’ “Ha Ha I’m Drowning” appears to be a reflection of a relationship that is not working, but one person is forcing the other to stay in it. The lyrics suggest a toxic dynamic where insults and criticism are used to keep the other person in the relationship. The first few lines of the song seems to be an appeal to use common sense and not take things for granted. The person singing the song is questioning if they truly love the other person as the constant criticism and hurtful words have begun to tear the relationship apart. The chorus of the song centers around the repeated question of whether or not they love the other person, with the singer responding that it is not fair to criticize their relationship.
The repeated question, “Do you love me?” appears to be a desperate plea from one person wanting to save the relationship, but the answer is not what they wanted to hear. The lines “you hurt me deep inside” suggest that the constant criticism and insults have caused emotional damage. The last lines of the song have the singer proclaiming, “I’m drowning in your love.” This could symbolize the overwhelming and suffocating nature of a toxic relationship or love that is not genuinely reciprocated.
Overall, the song is a reflection of a relationship that is not working, where one person is trying to hold on to the other despite the clear evidence that the love is not mutual.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh use your common sense
Think logically and reasonably
Don’t take things for granted
Appreciate what you have
You know it’s not like that
Your assumption is incorrect
It isn’t how you said
Your version of events is wrong
You ask me if I love you
You question my feelings
Well I don’t think that’s fair
It's not reasonable to ask that
Well I don’t think that’s real
It's not truthful to say that
The stupid things you said
Your hurtful comments
you only try to hurt me
Your intention is to cause me pain
The stupid things you say
Your hurtful comments
You hurt me deep inside
You caused me emotional pain
Well ask me once again
Request my opinion one more time
And ask me for the third time
Ask me again, for the third time
Oh ask me how I feel
Request my emotional state
I say I’m drowning in your love
I am consumed by my feelings for you
Ha Ha I’m drowning in your love
It's ironic that my euphoria causes me pain
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.