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.
Executioner
The Wolfgang Press Lyrics
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You want something look no further
Thinking hard but working in a small time
She was born in mid-town provincial
Down the road from Faust
Harper Lee said it's allowed
Mama wakes up raising money
Did it a suicide come?
Freak see-saw romance come
Peak time sure sign
She's here to serve it up
Like a dream
She's a waltz
Like I am
She's so soft
Raising fools and it's no wonder
What we have a care for we won't tear asunder
We offend but she won't suffer
She's like having heaven in your home
She's a dream
Like a waltz
She's a gas
She's so soft
Like a dream
She's a waltz
She's a man
She's so soft
You can suffer all your monies
Rose and me still love you honey
Could I face another day content that I was under
But if you go leave your soul home
She's so soft
She's so soft
Thinking surface looking under
You want something look no further
Break it down softly she won't murmur
She was thrown from big-town provincial
You get a suicide sun
People there are neither hip nor dumb
Peak time sure sign
She's here to serve it up
Like a dream
She's a waltz
Like a man
She's so soft
Could I face another day content that I was under
But if you go leave your soul to live in wonder
If you go leave your soul home
She's so soft, she defies the laws of line
She's so soft, she defies the laws of line
She's so soft, she defies the laws of line
The lyrics to The Wolfgang Press's song, "Executioner," can be interpreted in a variety of ways, but the overall theme seems to be the struggle between achieving personal goals and finding meaning in life. The opening lines suggest a search for something meaningful just below the surface of things, with the singer looking for something deeper. This dovetails into the next line, where the singer is working hard but only in a limited timeframe. The third line is more cryptic, suggesting that the female protagonist was born in a place that is neither small nor large, but that is provincial nonetheless. The reference to "Faust" suggests that the singer is trying to make a deal with a metaphorical devil in order to achieve her aims in life, but it is unclear who or what that devil represents.
The next few lines suggest that the singer comes from a family of strong women who are trying to make their way in a world that is hostile to them. The reference to Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, suggests that the singer's mother is trying to raise money for a good cause, but is meeting resistance from those who don't want to help. The reference to a "sonnet" suggests that the mother is using her words to create something beautiful in the midst of adversity. The line "Did it a suicide come?" is particularly cryptic, but it could be interpreted to mean that someone close to the singer committed suicide.
The next few lines suggest that the singer is trying to find love, but is only experiencing the ups and downs of a "freak see-saw romance." However, there is a suggestion that she is in charge of her own life, as evidenced by the line "Peak time sure sign/She's here to serve it up." The repeated refrain of "like a dream/she's a waltz/like a man/she's so soft" suggests that the singer is both feminine and strong, beautiful and powerful, and is able to blend these seemingly contradictory traits together in a way that makes her unique.
Overall, "Executioner" is a song that is open to interpretation, but it seems to be a meditation on the struggles of finding meaning and love in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving. The singer is depicted as a strong and complex woman who is able to navigate these challenges with grace and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking surface looking under
Examining the exterior, but searching beneath the surface
You want something look no further
What you desire is here and now, you don't have to look any further
Thinking hard but working in a small time
Putting in a lot of thought, but operating within limited time constraints
She was born in mid-town provincial
She came from a small town in the middle of nowhere
Down the road from Faust
In the vicinity of the legendary character Faust
Harper Lee said it's allowed
As stated by Harper Lee, there's no prohibition
Mama wakes up raising money
The mother wakes up to make money
In the back room speaking like a sonnet
In the privacy of the back room, she speaks in a poetic way
Did it a suicide come?
Did someone commit suicide?
Freak see-saw romance come
Unusual and unstable romantic relationship is approaching
Peak time sure sign
An unmistakable indication that it's the perfect time
She's here to serve it up
She's here to deliver it
Like a dream
Similar to a dream
She's a waltz
She moves gracefully, like a waltz
Like I am
Just like myself
She's so soft
She's extremely gentle and tender
Raising fools and it's no wonder
Raising foolish people is no surprise
What we have a care for we won't tear asunder
We won't destroy or separate what we value
We offend but she won't suffer
We might offend, but she won't be negatively affected
She's like having heaven in your home
Having her around is like having a piece of heaven in your home
She's a gas
She's a source of fun and enjoyment
You can suffer all your monies
You can lose all your money and still endure
Rose and me still love you honey
Both Rose and I still love you, my dear
Could I face another day content that I was under
Can I cope with another day being content with being beneath someone/something?
But if you go leave your soul home
If you leave, make sure you leave a part of your being behind
She's so soft, she defies the laws of line
She's so gentle that she breaks the rules of rationality
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARK ALAN COX, MICHAEL DEREK ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind