Formed in London in 1983, the Wolfgang Press comprised vocalist Michael Allen, guitarist Andrew Gray, and keyboardist Mark Cox. Allen and Cox first teamed in the group Rema Rema, which also featured Adam & the Ants alum Marco Perroni; after reuniting in the short-lived quartet Mass, the duo recruited Gray, and as the Wolfgang Press issued their cacophonous, gloomy debut LP, The Burden of Mules, in 1983. An EP trilogy co-produced by Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie followed in quick succession: while 1984's Scarecrow was a lighter, more streamlined affair, 1985's Water spotlighted ominously sparse torch songs, and the same year's Sweatbox explored deconstructionist pop. The three EPs were later collected on The Legendary Wolfgang Press & Other Stories.
The Wolfgang Press' second full-length effort, 1986's Standing Up Straight, incorporated industrial and orchestral influences into the mix, while the Big Sex EP's "God's Number" offered a soulful backing chorus, a harbinger of things to come. Indeed, after 1988's hypnotic Bird Wood Cage and its leadoff single, "King of Soul," introduced strong elements of dub, reggae, and R&B, the trio took the full plunge into the dance arena with 1991's Queer, an idiosyncratic outing admittedly inspired by De La Soul's landmark 3 Feet High and Rising; the first single, a surreal cover of the Randy Newman-penned "Mama Told Me Not to Come," was a minor hit. 1995's Funky Little Demons completed the Wolfgang Press' transition into white funk; prior to its release, however, Cox exited the group's ranks.
Birmingham
The Wolfgang Press Lyrics
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Wolfgang [Incomprehensible]
Wolfgang
Wolfgang
Face the facts and don't look back
There's a hole in this middle town affair
There's a whole inquest, like a hole in rest
You're a sleeping bag
You're a rhyming slug
Pressure, pressure
Man is sick of chairs
From the heart of the sins above ground
Around here, I think I'm Jesus
And I'm sick of all the songs about love
Head hunt in Birmingham
We're going to hurry down the same old roads
I'm not going to think that I'm a Jesus
Sorry this and sorry that's the same old bone
Pressure, pressure
[Incomprehensible]
Fix this, kiss this
I'm not sick, I'm going to handle this
I'm going to have everything I want to have
I'm going to seed some mean
I'm going to raise a scene
I'm going to raise everything I ever had
I'm not sick, I'm going to handle this
I'm going to
make it through, I'm going to make a wish
I'm going to break some bones
I'm going to make it known
That I am not just some sleeping bag
The lyrics of The Wolfgang Press's song "Birmingham" showcase the frustration and angst of the singer amidst the monotony of a middle town affair. The repetition of "Wolfgang" could be interpreted as the singer's personal mantra or battle cry as he faces the challenges of his environment. The opening lines, "Face the facts and don't look back, there's a hole in this middle town affair," suggests that the singer is trying to come to terms with the limitations of his surroundings.
The middle section of the song expresses the singer's dissatisfaction with the status quo and his desire for change. He refers to himself as "Jesus" and claims to be sick of love songs, indicating a desire for something more raw and real. The phrase "pressure, pressure" is repeatedly sung, perhaps signifying the pressure felt by the singer to conform to societal norms or expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Face the facts and don't look back
Acknowledge the truth and move forward without hesitation
There's a hole in this middle town affair
There is something missing or lacking in the city center
There's a whole inquest, like a hole in rest
There is an investigation or inquiry that is causing unrest
That I think I'm going to have to sit in
That I will be involved and impacted by the investigation or inquiry
You're a sleeping bag
You are comfortable and complacent
You're a rhyming slug
You are uncreative and uninspired
Man is sick of chairs
We are tired of the mundane and routine
From the heart of the sins above ground
The root of our problems are deeply ingrained in our society
Around here, I think I'm Jesus
I feel like I am all-powerful or have a god complex
And I'm sick of all the songs about love
I am tired of the cliche and overused topic of love in music
Head hunt in Birmingham
Going on a search and taking action in Birmingham
We're going to hurry down the same old roads
We will take familiar paths and repeat past actions
Sorry this and sorry that's the same old bone
Apologizing repeatedly for the same mistakes is getting old
Fix this, kiss this
Taking action to solve a problem
I'm not sick, I'm going to handle this
I am not unwell, I will take control and solve the problem
I'm going to have everything I want to have
I will work towards achieving my goals and obtaining what I desire
I'm going to seed some mean
I will cause trouble and chaos
I'm going to raise a scene
I will create a commotion or disturbance
I'm going to raise everything I ever had
I will revive and revitalize everything that I have previously accomplished.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW KEITH GRAY, MARK ALAN COX, MICHAEL DEREK ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind