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.
Ecstasy
The Wolfgang Press Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talk a scarecrow has a mind to jump the fence
If he's got any sense (my legs have gone to their maker)
If he's got any sense...
I've got a hunch, I've got a hunch
This is a song about ecstasy
Sing it loud and sing it next to me
Sing it loud and sing it clear
Cause it is all we need to hear
Sing a song about ecstasy
A golden line we stand entwined
A thorough bred beneath the bed
A pidgeon strut in open field
Litter bins hide a place
A bloody disgrace, a bloody disgrace
About ecstasy next to me
A flowers scent I'm heaven bent
I'm scarred for life I'm scarred for life
In open fields, fields open in
I stumble in to stumble out
And this is what its all about
A roundabout, a roundabout
A bloody disgrace, a bloody disgrace
Sing a song about ecstasy
Sing it loud and sing it next to me
Goodbye
A scarecrow has a sense to jump the fence
To jump the fence, to jump the fence
The lyrics of The Wolfgang Press's song Ecstasy are enigmatic and abstract, filled with surreal imagery and elusive meanings that leave plenty of room for interpretation. The song seems to deal with the themes of love, loss, and transcendence, as expressed through a series of cryptic and poetic images that invite the listener to delve deeper into their own subconscious.
The opening lines, "He gave me his time in half forgotten jews/Talk a scarecrow has a mind to jump the fence/If he's got any sense (my legs have gone to their maker)" suggest a sense of disorientation and confusion, a feeling of being lost in a strange and unfamiliar landscape. The reference to "half forgotten jews" could be interpreted as a metaphor for memories or ideas that have been discarded or neglected, while the image of the scarecrow evokes a sense of unease and instability. This sense of uncertainty is reinforced by the repetition of the line "If he's got any sense...", which suggests a hesitancy or reluctance to fully commit to a particular course of action.
The chorus, "Ecstasy/I've got a hunch, I've got a hunch/This is a song about ecstasy/Sing it loud and sing it next to me/Sing it loud and sing it clear/Cause it is all we need to hear/Sing a song about ecstasy" seems to offer a counterpoint to this mood of confusion and instability. The repetition of the word "ecstasy" suggests a sense of euphoria or transcendence, a moment of heightened awareness or spiritual awakening. The line "Sing it loud and sing it clear/Cause it is all we need to hear" reinforces this sense of joy and celebration, urging the listener to embrace the moment and let go of their doubts and fears.
Overall, the lyrics of Ecstasy are open to a wide range of interpretations, from the metaphysical to the political to the deeply personal. The song's poetic imagery and striking imagery invite the listener to immerse themselves in its dreamlike world and draw their own meanings and messages from it.
Line by Line Meaning
He gave me his time in half forgotten jews
He spent his time with me in a way that felt fleeting and distant, like half-remembered memories.
Talk a scarecrow has a mind to jump the fence
The idea is so simple, even a scarecrow could understand it and decide to take action.
If he's got any sense (my legs have gone to their maker)
If he's intelligent, he will make a move before it's too late, unlike me who has already lost the opportunity.
If he's got any sense...
If he's clever, he will know what to do in this situation.
Ecstasy
The feeling of intense happiness or joy.
I've got a hunch, I've got a hunch
I have a strong feeling, a gut instinct.
This is a song about ecstasy
The purpose of this song is to celebrate and explore the concept of extreme happiness.
Sing it loud and sing it next to me
Let's sing this song together with enthusiasm.
Sing it loud and sing it clear
Sing it with confidence and clarity.
Cause it is all we need to hear
This message is what we should focus on and embrace.
Sing a song about ecstasy
Through music, let's celebrate the feeling of intense joy.
A golden line we stand entwined
We are united in a special, precious moment.
A thorough bred beneath the bed
A valuable and powerful force is hidden and waiting to be revealed.
A pidgeon strut in open field
Something seemingly ordinary can display confidence and grace in the right environment.
Litter bins hide a place
Even in the most unlikely places, there can be opportunities and hidden gems.
A bloody disgrace, a bloody disgrace
This situation is shameful and unacceptable.
About ecstasy next to me
This topic of intense happiness is important to me personally.
A flower's scent I'm heaven-bent
I'm so focused and desperate to experience something beautiful and transcendent.
I'm scarred for life, I'm scarred for life
I have been deeply affected and will never be the same because of a past experience.
In open fields, fields open in
In wide-open spaces, new opportunities and possibilities can emerge.
I stumble in to stumble out
I enter and leave situations awkwardly and clumsily.
And this is what it's all about
This is the essence of the situation or experience.
A roundabout, a roundabout
A confusing and aimless situation, like a circular traffic intersection.
A bloody disgrace, a bloody disgrace
This situation is shameful and unacceptable.
Sing a song about ecstasy
Through music, let's celebrate the feeling of intense joy.
Sing it loud and sing it next to me
Let's sing this song together with enthusiasm.
Goodbye
This is the end of the song or perhaps a farewell to the negative situation or experience.
A scarecrow has a sense to jump the fence
Even a simple being can recognize the opportunity to escape a negative situation and make a move towards betterment.
To jump the fence, to jump the fence
To take a leap of faith and pursue something new and better.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@markoa.e.5398
flower
Hello and thanks!
I had the WOLFGANG PRESS scarecrow 12”
It was stolen.
I saw them singing RESPECT live - the bar staff didn’t get the band’s ironic cover. No Liz Frazier :-(
I ended up buying from the Netherlands the 12” for $91 USD. I loaned it to a DJ friend to burn RESPECT parts 1 & 2. He never did. Never returned it.
If you are able to post on YouTube the full 4:19 version that is not available anywhere on CD or digital. You definitely would be posting a rarity and I would be sincerely grateful.
Thanks so much.
@vanzarockin
Haven't listened to this in years. How can that be when WP is so so good?!
@simonbeni.photographer.tou372
I know this album for over 30 years.
@qashak
One of the best W.P. song. Thanks for posting!
@patacaisse9233
Very Nice song, thanks - one of my reference tracks of the 80s
@tunapaw
Masters of every key!
@999klondike
Best intro...These guys have an extra dimension in their music that's hard to define, but puts them a cut above nearly everyone in the 80's imho.
@crowhillian58
If you've not heard Burning bluue soul by Matt Johnson/The The you should check it out because it's an whole album's worth of electonic earworms. :)
@mastershaw3094
Recording is superb. Unbelievable
@parvuspeach
Didnt know them but stole this album by chance in 86? at a legendery now defunct punk bar in Lisbon. Unconditional fan since then :D
@miguelfortunato4367
My favourite song of WP.