Clarke scored a chart hit of his own with The Entertainer which hit #10 R&B and #31 Pop in the US in 1965. Clarke died in 1970, too late to see his career see a resurgence in the 1970s on the UK northern soul scene. The intense devotion was given to an obscure Chess single, Landslide, and a song recorded later in Detroit on MS called (They Call Me) A Wrong Man.
Clarke also had a minor role in the Sidney Poitier film They Call Me MISTER TIBBS! in 1970.
Landslide
Tony Clarke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a landslide
Pain's falling from every side
Like a landslide
I'll get smothered in sadness if it doesn't fall
Baby save me don't you let me get caught up
In this landslide (no, no)
Happiness quit me and hurt just hit me
Like a landslide
Got no shelter no place to hide
From this landslide
I'll get smothered in sadness if it doesn't fall
Baby baby save me don't you let me get caught up
In this landslide (Oh, no, no, no, no)
Misery is rushing down on me
Like a landslide
Got no shelter got no place to hide
From this landslide
I'll get smothered in sadness if it doesn't fall
Baby baby save me don't you let me get caught
In this landslide
No, no landslide no, no,
no, no, no landslide no, no, no, no...
Tony Clarke's song "Landslide" aptly portrays the crushing weight and overpowering nature of negative emotions. The singer conveys the intensity of his pain and despair through a powerful metaphor of a landslide. The opening lines of the song create an image of a massive landslide rushing down on the singer with the force of misery that is falling from every side. The repetition of the phrase "like a landslide" reinforces the threatening nature of the emotions that are engulfing the singer.
Despite the overwhelming power of these emotions, the singer still hopes to find a way out. He pleads with his loved one to save him from getting caught up in the landslide, knowing that the sadness will smother him if it doesn't fall. The repetition of the refrain "baby save me don't you let me get caught up in this landslide" highlights the urgency of the situation and reinforces the singer's desperation.
The singer's misery is all-encompassing, and he has no place to hide from the pain that is falling on him. The song's bridge combines the images of happiness leaving him and the hurt hitting him like a landslide, showing that negative emotions can hit harder than positive ones. In the end, the song ends with a repetition of "no, no landslide no," which could either imply resolution or resignation.
Line by Line Meaning
Misery is rushing down on me
The feeling of misery is completely consuming me, overwhelming me like a rush of water in a landslide.
Like a landslide
The intensity of the pain and sadness is comparable to a landslide, uncontrollable and destructive.
Pain's falling from every side
Pain is coming from all different directions, like pieces falling in a landslide.
I'll get smothered in sadness if it doesn't fall
If the landslide of misery and pain does not happen, I will be consumed by a suffocating sadness.
Baby save me don't you let me get caught up
I am pleading for someone to help me, to save me from getting trapped in the landslide of sadness.
Happiness quit me and hurt just hit me
Happiness has completely abandoned me, leaving me vulnerable to the hurt that has hit me like a landslide.
Got no shelter no place to hide
There is no escape from the overwhelming pain, like having no shelter or hiding spot during a landslide.
No, no landslide no, no,
The repetition of 'no, no' shows a desperate desire for the landslide of sadness to not occur.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jag125
Lockdown ( formerly known as Landslide)
Misery is surrounding me
Because of Lockdown
Refraining from everything I like to do
Because of Lockdown
I’ll get smothered in sadness if these measures fail
Please save me from these restrictions again
In this Lockdown ( No, no)
Happiness quit me and hurt has hit me
Because of Lockdown
Got no shelter and no place to go
In this Lockdown
I’ll get smothered in sadness if these measures fail
Please, please save me from these restrictions again
In this Lockdown (Oh, no, no, no, no)
Misery is surrounding me
Because of Lockdown
Refraining from ………
@steveray2529
This gets the feet moving from the very start and is possibly the best opening to any NS record you're ever likely to hear. Pure class!
@simonconnelly4554
I was 15 looking 12 and being served at a soul night, this came on and i left to dance, thats how good this is!
@allennelson6985
One of the best Northern Soul songs ever.
@bcctalent
This is in my top ten all time tracks. The drum intro is superb
@paulkorobejko6126
This is my ringtone - I don't answer, I just dance
@banyera
So yer Landslidin everywhere !!! - good on you !!
@philipduffy1119
Totally love this song,just can't stop playing it
@richardjalowik3366
66 and still gets my feet going.absolute classic
@raystewart6524
A true Northern Soul Classic...a foot stompin' floor filler..
@ehaworth9
2 minutes and 14 seconds of pure joy