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.
Poppies in the Field
The Teardrop Explodes Lyrics
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I′m throwing it over to you
The parachutes in your hands
But don't ask me what to do
The poppies are in the field
But don′t ask me what that means
The poppies are in the field
I wait around
I wait around
I see a change in you
Can you see a change in me
But I can't explain at all
I can′t explain what I feel
Comics insult you said
But comics are all I read
Comics insult you said
But comics are all I read
I wait around
I wait around
I wait around
I wait around
Wait around
I see a change in you
Can you see a change in me
But I can′t explain at all
I can't explain what I feel
The poppies are in the field
But donÂ′t ask me what that means
The poppies are in the field
But don't ask me what that means
I wait around
I wait around
Wait around
The Teardrop Explodes's Poppies in the Field is a song filled with ambiguity and a sense of detachment. The lyrics are enigmatic, and their meaning is open to interpretation. The song is seemingly about the loss of innocence, as the singer is grappling with changes they cannot explain. The lines "The poppies are in the field, but don't ask me what that means" and "I can't explain at all, I can't explain what I feel" point to a sense of confusion and a struggle to come to terms with an undefined loss.
The song also deals with the themes of communication breakdown and isolation. The lines "The parachutes in my bag, I'm throwing it over to you. The parachutes in your hands, but don't ask me what to do" suggest a lack of communication and cooperation between two people. The singer seems to be waiting for something, but they are not sure what they are waiting for or what it will bring.
In all, Poppies in the Field is a song that explores the complexities of human emotions and interactions. While its meaning is open to interpretation, it is clear that the song's themes are universal and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
The parachutes in my bag
I have something that could potentially save someone, but I am giving it away because I don't know what to do with it.
I'm throwing it over to you
I am giving you the responsibility to figure out what to do with this thing that could potentially save someone.
The parachutes in your hands
You are now in possession of something that could potentially save someone's life.
But don't ask me what to do
I cannot provide guidance on what to do with this thing that could potentially save someone.
The poppies are in the field
There is something beautiful in the midst of chaos and destruction.
But don't ask me what that means
I cannot explain why there is something beautiful in the midst of chaos and destruction.
I wait around
I am at a standstill, not knowing what to do or where to go next.
I see a change in you
I can sense that you are different in some way.
Can you see a change in me
Can you tell that I am different in some way as well.
But I can't explain at all
I cannot put into words why we both feel different or what has caused this change.
Comics insult you said
You have been criticized for your choice in leisure reading.
But comics are all I read
Despite the criticism, you continue to read and find joy in comics.
I wait around
I continue to be at a standstill, unsure of what to do or where to go next.
Wait around
This is a repeated phrase emphasizing the feeling of being stuck and waiting for something to happen.
Writer(s): Cope, Dwyer, Finkler
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.