Then Jeric… Read Full Bio ↴Then Jerico were a British rock band from the late 1980s.
Then Jerico produced two outstanding albums of creative songwriting, instrumentation, arrangement and production. The singles "Big Area" and "Sugar Box" being especially memorable. The song "Big Area" was featured in the 1989 science fiction film "Slipstream" starring Mark Hamill.
The band included singer Mark Shaw, bassist Jasper Stainthorpe, drummer Steve Wren, and guitarist Scott Taylor.[2]
The band played at The Limelight Club in NYC in 1983 and signed to London Records in 1984. The single "The Big Sweep" was recorded for London but they objected to the lyrical subject matter (an anti-Robert Maxwell/Rupert Murdoch statement). It was initially released by the track's producer Martin Rushent on his own Immaculate label in 1985 and later as a limited edition by London Records along with the new song, "Fault".[2]
The band's songs "Muscle Deep" and "The Motive" charted in 1987.[2] They enjoyed success with two albums, First (The Sound of Music) (1987) co-produced by Mark Shaw and Owen Davies, which reached number 35 in the UK Albums Chart,[3] followed by The Big Area in 1989 that went gold and reached number 4 in the UK Albums Chart.[3] Producer Rick Nowels took care of about more than half of the tracks on that album which also led to the appearance of Belinda Carlisle on side vocals on the single "What Does It Take".[4]
Released in 1988, ahead of the group's second album, "Big Area" achieved their greatest chart success, peaking at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.[3]
The original Then Jerico line-up split up in early 1990,[5] with Mark Shaw leaving the band to pursue a solo career. He released his only studio album, Almost for EMI in 1991.[6][7] It was produced by guitarist Andy Taylor and included two singles "Love So Bright" and "Under Your Spell".[7] Mark Shaw has also worked off and on with Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley and the SAS Band.[2]
In 1998, Shaw re-activated Then Jerico, writing the materials for Orgasmaphobia, a self-financed album[6][8] released on Eagle Rock. The album was co-produced by Mark Shaw and Andy Taylor with collaborations from Taylor, Simple Minds' keyboard player Mick MacNeil and author Iain Banks.[8] In 2000, a live album Alive & Exposed was released by Yeaah! Records credited to 'Then Jerico... Mark Shaw Etc.'.[9] It was a recording made in the summer of 1992 of a concert at The Grand Theatre, Clapham in London.[9][10] It contained a new song "Step into The Light".[10]
Shaw embarked on a new Then Jerico tour in 2012 with an original line-up of the band, made up of Mark Shaw, guitarists Rob Downes and Scott Taylor, bass player Jasper Stainthorpe and drummer Steve Wren.[11]
A Reprise Tour was launched for 2013[12] to promote the release of the 'Reprise' compilation album[12] on Warner / Rhino Music with a number of appearances including at Henley's Rewind the 80s Music[13][14] and at the Let's Rock Bristol festivals.[15]
As of February 2014 the 'original' Then Jerico called it a day; however, lead singer Mark Shaw has continued, as he vowed to do, with a new and improved line-up to fulfill Let's Rock festival dates in May, June and July. In 2015 Shaw has been playing club shows prior to a new album release in 2016 and a forthcoming performance at "Let's Rock London", Clapham Common, London, on 16 July 2016.
Sugar Box
Then Jerico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sugar box
Since the day you walked into my dream
I have felt an older side revealed
Taking me and standing way above
Making me dishonest with your love
You could want me back now
Prey
Oh! And it was always second chances I received
Don't you want me back now
Prey
Learning sometimes takes a little time
Holding out and hoping that it's mine
Falling out and falling in between
Turn myself around myself I see
Oh! 'Cause I was always far to lonely to believe
You could want me back now
Prey
Oh! And it was always second chances I received
Don't you want me back now
Ah sugar box
Lips like sugar
Sugar, sugar box
Aah lips like sugar
Sugar box
Burning with the hurting of a child
Crying out and hoping that it's mine
Sliding out and drifting on away
I've turn myself around once in this game
Oh! 'Cause I was always far to lonely to believe
You could want me back now
Prey, prey
Oh! and it was always second chances I received
Don't you want me back now
Ah ah ah ah sugar box
Aah she had lips like sugar
Sugar box
She said
Lips like sugar
Sugar Box!
The song "Sugar Box" by Then Jerico is about the power of love and attraction. The first verse describes the effect that this person has had on the singer since they entered his dream. He feels like an older side of himself has been revealed and he is now above himself. However, he finds himself being dishonest with his love as he is too lonely to believe that someone could want him back, which is when the metaphor of prey comes into play.
Despite these concerns, the singer learns that love takes time and effort to work out. He is willing to hold out and is hoping that the love is reciprocated. He may have had some ups and downs (falling out and falling in between), but he realizes that he needs to turn himself around.
The chorus of "Lips like sugar, sugar box" is a powerful and sensual declaration of the attraction that the singer feels towards this person. The metaphor of sugar is explored in depth in the song, and it's a symbol of the sweetness and sensuality of the person the singer is attracted to.
Overall, "Sugar Box" is a song about how love can be both beautiful and fraught with challenges. The singer is trying to navigate through his own doubts and fears to find a way to connect authentically with the person he desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Lips like sugar
The singer is describing his lover's lips as being as sweet as sugar
Sugar box
The singer is referring to his lover's whole being as being as sweet as a sugar box
Since the day you walked into my dream
The singer is saying that he has been dreaming about this person before they actually met
I have felt an older side revealed
The singer has discovered a different side of himself since meeting this person
Taking me and standing way above
This person has a significant effect on the singer and is capable of making him feel elevated
Making me dishonest with your love
The singer is confessing that they have been deceitful in their relationship due to their love for this person
'Cause I was always far too lonely to believe. You could want me back now. Prey.
The singer couldn't believe anyone would want him before and he now feels like he is being preyed upon since he is so infatuated with this person
And it was always second chances I received. Don't you want me back now. Prey.
The singer is saying that he has had multiple chances to reconcile but he is still unsure if his lover wants him back
Learning sometimes takes a little time
The singer acknowledges that learning about love can take time to truly understand
Holding out and hoping that it's mine
The singer is hoping for a happy ending and that the person he loves will ultimately be his
Falling out and falling in between
There were times when the singer lost hope before regaining it again
Turn myself around myself I see
The singer has taken time to reflect and see things more clearly now
Burning with the hurting of a child
The singer is describing emotional pain that feels like a child's pain
Crying out and hoping that it's mine
The singer is pleading for the love he desires to be reciprocated
Sliding out and drifting on away
The singer is feeling lost and moving away from love due to fear or anxiety
Aah she had lips like sugar. Sugar box. She said.
The singer is reiterating that his lover had sweet lips and refers to her as a whole as a 'sugar box'
Aah lips like sugar. Sugar box.
The singer is repeating his earlier claims of his lover having sweet lips and being as sweet as a sugar box
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEX MUNGO, DAVID TAYLOR, JASPER JOHN NIELSON STAINTHORPE, MARK ROBERT TIPLADY, STEPHEN WREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ele_ Pri
Lips like sugar
Sugar box
Since the day you walked into my dream
I have felt an older side revealed
Taking me and standing way above
Making me dishonest with your love
Oo! 'Cause I was always far to lonely to believe
You could want me back now
Prey
Oh! And it was always second chances I received
Don't you want me back now
Prey
Learning sometimes takes a little time
Holding out and hoping that it's mine
Falling out and falling in between
Turn myself around myself I see
Oh! 'Cause I was always far to lonely to believe
You could want me back now
Prey
Oh! And it was always second chances I received
Don't you want me back now
Ah sugar box
Lips like sugar
Sugar, sugar box
Aah lips like sugar
Sugar box
Burning with the hurting of a child
Crying out and hoping that it's mine
Sliding out and drifting on away
I've turn myself around once in this game
Oh! 'Cause I was always far to lonely to believe
You could want me back now
Prey, prey
Oh! and it was always second chances I received
Don't you want me back now
Ah ah ah ah sugar box
Aah she had lips like sugar
Sugar box
She said
Lips like sugar
Sugar Box!
80s Music
The lost band of the eighties who should have had major success. I cannot help but admire Mark Shaw's refusal to admit defeat in the face of life's slings and arrows. In a parallel and just universe Then Jerico would have been deservedly huge.
80s Music
@gb 74 I am glad you enjoyed the concert. I saw Then Jerico in 2012 in Liverpool when they reformed and it was very good.
beijinggods1
You said it just right. On looks alone this band should have been SUPERSTARS, and the music is even better than DURAN DURAN - there is no god .
Andy Spokes
Andy Taylor Duran Duran spotted the talent
Terence Eagle
Well put. This is my favourite song from 80s
Brendy Quinn
Well said
Keith Barrett
Mark shaw and then jerico were one of the most underrated bands of the 80's, they have always been one of my fav bands of the 80's and in my opinion were way better than the likes of duran duran and wham etc, their songs still sound fresh and excellent today, i'm just glad i was old enough in the 80's to appreciate them
ZenObi Bonsai
Same here dude! :)
BC Wilder
i think so to, have the CD heard every day
Sara Gomes
I'm only getting to know them better now. Totally agree. And they even have a good looking, great performer singer.