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.
The Great Dominions
The Teardrop Explodes Lyrics
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I came to my senses
A night on fire put out all traces of feeling
I′m only concerned with looking concerned
I don't want to get my laces burned
We talked for hours
Except for the fainting
We seemed so enchanted but now my expression is changing
I stand back from a shark attack, and it's all the same
Mummy, I've been fighting again
Mummy, I′ve been fighting again
Mummy, I′ve been fighting again
Mummy, I've been fighting again
I should have known
You′d seek my opinion
From all over the country and out to the great dominions
Careful, some of the blunders of history have been made that way
I'm still stuck in this pickle jar on a paper carpet
Mummy, I′ve been fighting again
Mummy, I've been fighting again
Mummy, I′ve been fighting again
Mummy, I've been fighting again
The Teardrop Explodes’ song “The Great Dominions” features vivid and somewhat disjointed lyrics that are open to interpretation. The chorus involves the singer addressing their mother, confessing that they have been fighting again. The song appears to be about personal conflict and how this can lead to feeling stuck and unable to see a way out. The lyrics suggest that the singer has reached a point where they are “only concerned with looking concerned,” indicating that they are more focused on the appearance of being troubled than actually dealing with their problems.
The lines “We talked for hours / Except for the fainting / We seemed so enchanted but now my expression is changing” suggest that the singer has been chatting with someone for a long time, but now something has changed in the tone of the conversation. This could be due to the singer’s own mental state, or something that has happened during their interaction. The line “Suddenly / I came to my senses / A night on fire put out all traces of feeling” hints that the singer’s emotions have been intense, but have suddenly dissipated. They may be feeling numb or disconnected as a result.
Overall, “The Great Dominions” is a moody and introspective track that touches on themes of personal turmoil and disconnection. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic, but betray a sense of inner turmoil and confusion that many listeners may be able to relate to on some level.
Line by Line Meaning
Suddenly
All of a sudden
I came to my senses
I regained my awareness
A night on fire put out all traces of feeling
An intense emotional experience made me emotionally numb
I'm only concerned with looking concerned
I'm more focused on appearing concerned than actually feeling it
I don't want to get my laces burned
I want to avoid getting into trouble
We talked for hours
We had a long conversation
Except for the fainting
Aside from the brief moment of passing out
We seemed so enchanted but now my expression is changing
Things seemed wonderful before, but now I'm starting to feel differently
See, see for yourself, I'm run down by a dream
I'm exhausted from pursuing a goal
I stand back from a shark attack, and it's all the same
I'm used to danger and it doesn't faze me anymore
Mummy, I've been fighting again
I've been in a physical altercation again
I should have known
I realize now that I should have anticipated something
You'd seek my opinion
You would ask for my advice
From all over the country and out to the great dominions
From near and far, people are seeking my opinion
Careful, some of the blunders of history have been made that way
Be cautious, because some major mistakes have been made by relying too heavily on the opinions of others
I'm still stuck in this pickle jar on a paper carpet
I feel stuck in a difficult situation
Writer(s): Julian Cope
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.