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.
Shut That Door
The Wolfgang Press Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say to you, "My body's singing"
Whose body sings? My body's singing
Whose body sings? My body's singing
I've seen it all, I lived here too
There's nothing wide across the street
Grandmother born as I get in
If there's a face then I will come today
Hang on to your mother or she might go away
Whose body sings? My body's singing
Whose body sings? My body's singing
I seen it all, they form a child
From back to front, it's not too good
Divide it over, much more to do
The city laughs much more than I do
Fall asleep for years, been too much here
Let's see why we are driving on the streets
Reality is all grown up now
I'm looking up my old friends now
Shut that door right on my face
Shut that door, you ain't going no place
I seen it all from back to front
Just pass it down and I won't need to get old
I seen it all, I lived here too
There's nothing wide across the road
Grandmother born as I get in
Grandmother died, she lived here too
Shut that door, gonna fall on my face
Shut that door, you ain't going no place
She said to me, "Come body sing"
I say to you, "My body's singing"
He said to me, "My body's singing"
She said to me, "Come body sing"
I say to you, "My body's singing"
Hit by the waist, my body's singing
I got a wound, all up and away
If there's a road, then there has to be a place
If this is a time, then we've got some time to waste
If there's a road, then there has to be a place
If this is a time, then we've got some time to waste
The Wolfgang Press's song "Shut That Door" is a poignant reflection on the cycle of life and the passing of time. The opening lines of the song have a call and response structure that invites the listener to join in a conversation. The first sentence, "He said to me, 'Come body sing'," is followed by the response, "I say to you, 'My body's singing'". The juxtaposition of two different perspectives creates an interesting dynamic where the singer seems to be addressing both themselves and the listener simultaneously.
The lyrics go on to explore themes of mortality and memory. The lines "I've seen it all, I lived here too / There's nothing wide across the street / Grandmother born as I get in / Grandmother died, she lived here too, shut that door" hint at the passage of time and the way in which places and people change over the years. The repetition of the phrase, "Whose body sings? My body's singing", emphasizes the idea that each individual has their own unique experience of life and mortality.
The final lines of the song, "If there's a road, then there has to be a place / If this is a time, then we've got some time to waste", suggest a sense of acceptance and resignation. The singer seems to be acknowledging that life is fleeting and that there is no need to rush or hurry through it.
Line by Line Meaning
He said to me, "Come body sing"
Someone tells the singer to sing.
I say to you, "My body's singing"
The singer responds by saying that they are already singing.
Whose body sings? My body's singing
The singer is asserting that their body is the one singing.
I've seen it all, I lived here too
The singer has lived in this place before and has seen everything it has to offer.
There's nothing wide across the street
There is nothing of note on the other side of the street.
Grandmother born as I get in
The singer's grandmother was born in this place.
Grandmother died, she lived here too, shut that door
The singer is telling someone to shut the door as a sign of respect for the deceased grandmother who also lived in this place.
If there's a face then I will come today
The singer will come if someone they know is present.
Hang on to your mother or she might go away
The singer advises someone to hold on to their mother or she might leave.
I seen it all, they form a child
The singer has seen everything, including the creation of new life.
From back to front, it's not too good
Everything is not as it seems and has its problems.
Divide it over, much more to do
There is still a lot of work to be done to fix the problems.
The city laughs much more than I do
Things in the city seem funny to others, but not to the singer.
Fall asleep for years, been too much here
The singer has been in this place for too long and feels like they have been asleep for years.
Let's see why we are driving on the streets
The singer wants to question the reason for being on the streets.
Reality is all grown up now
The singer realizes that life has changed and everyone has grown up.
I'm looking up my old friends now
The singer is trying to reconnect with old friends.
Shut that door right on my face
The singer tells someone to shut the door in their face.
Shut that door, you ain't going no place
The singer is telling someone they can't leave.
Just pass it down and I won't need to get old
The singer wants someone else to take over and not have to deal with the burden of getting old.
Hit by the waist, my body's singing
The singer is singing loudly and with passion.
I got a wound, all up and away
The singer is feeling hurt and wants to escape.
If there's a road, then there has to be a place
If there is a path to follow, then there must be a destination.
If this is a time, then we've got some time to waste
If this is an opportunity, then there is time to enjoy it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW KEITH GRAY, MARK ALAN COX, MICHAEL DEREK ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D. D. Danahy
I love this album.
Marauder55
I remember these guys in the 80's 120 minutes when mtv was still ok great band.
steelyman08
This was my absolute #1 WP track for years & years. This is outlandishly original & sounds exactly like its title ~ except it's more like Slam that door! The atmospherics are mind blowing as well.
theevindave
listened to this track endlessly when the album came out, always with a bunch of nutters , screaming by the end, we were shovelling in the extacy..I'm getting a rush just thinkin about it
David Gant
Been to long since i have heard this thank you something about them so funky, rock, electro, music Love!!!
riversidepete 61
great bass line...shut that door!
steelyman08
more like "slam that door!"
C90 Recordings
So wrong, so demented... That screaming out of tune synth from 3:55 on is the sound of " We REALLY, truly, don't give a shit - but thanks for listening anyway ..." Never fails to bring a smile to my face.
Mark Harris
Disco/Secret Heard it on 4ZZZ about 30+ years..My Signature Song...When I’m in the zone it. floods my brain & heart ..
Disco/Secret
ClorofilaMusic that screaming synth is the icing. These guys never pretended to be pop stars. Going back to In Camera & Rema Rema, they’ve always had one foot in the experimental/noise/avant/don’t-give-a-fuck zone. Bought this 30 years ago, still sounds awesome!