The band was formed in 1995 and all the songs on the debut album, Her handwriting (the title is a quote from Part company by The Go-Betweens) were recorded in Mitcham, south London, in December '95/ January '96, with long-time The Field Mice/Northern Picture Library producer Ian Catt, also known for his work as producer/arranger/co-songwriter for Saint Etienne. Released on Shinkansen Records (the label launched by Matt from Sarah Records) the album, which intimately details the break-up of a relationship, received universally good reviews.
Subsequent albums, Lips that taste of tears (1998) and Broken by whispers (2000), showed a band constantly improving their skills, combining their usual melancholy with transparent pop.
In 2001 the fourth album Alive to every smile appeared featuring a new line-up with many ex-Sarah Records band members in its ranks: Keris Howard from Brighter/Harper Lee, Beth Arzy from Aberdeen and Harvey Williams from Another Sunny Day/The Field Mice. Annemari Davies (ex-The Field Mice) also collaborated with the band. The album was very well received in Spain due to a release on Elefant Records (eventually TBS' main label) and in February 2002 the band visited Spain for the first time.
In 2003 A certain evening light was released, a compilation of singles and B-sides.
In 2004 the band left Shinkansen; The seven autumn flowers was released by Elefant Records worldwide.
In September 2005 Bobby Wratten announced that the band would no longer appear live. He had been uneasy about performing for some time, and had decided to concentrate on studio recordings instead. April 2007 saw the release of The Last Holy Writer.
2010 is expected to see the release of their new album, titled "Fast Trains And Telegraph Wires".
Headlights
Trembling Blue Stars Lyrics
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Could be the one to set me free.
I went and fell again -
There's just something about her, I guess.
I wonder, did she know?
I wonder, did it show?
And now she's gone again,
And now she's gone again.
And now she's gone again.
Watching headlights far away,
Aching at the close of the day,
Walking and wishing she
Were sharing the evening with me.
And I recall silently not sleeping.
And I recall her wet hair in the morning.
And I recall the distance I was keeping.
And I recall a birthday kiss she gave me,
Two journeys to her flat when it was just me,
And, in her car, to the radio her singing.
I recall the attention I was paying.
I wanted friendship, wanted closeness -
Around her I was hopeless.
I'd catch myself and feel a fool -
It's such a different world in which she moves.
I wonder, did she know?
I wonder, did it show?
I wonder, did it show?
And now she's gone again,
Seems we're not meant to be friends,
And memories like these, they're what I have left -
Memories that, stupidly, I never will forget.
Memories like these: a birthday card somewhere;
I could tell she was awake,
She wanted, too, to break the silence -
If we'd have talked into the night,
Would that have made a difference?
The lyrics of "Headlights" by Trembling Blue Stars talk about the singer's infatuation with someone who keeps slipping out of his grasp, leaving him feeling lonely and vulnerable. The song opens with the singer admitting that he had thought this person could be the one to set him free. He then admits that he fell for her again, despite knowing that she consistently isn't interested in being his friend. The singer wonders if she knows how much he likes her, and if it shows. He then reminisces about the time they spent together among his lonely musings, highlighting the memorable times they shared, like the birthday kiss she gave him and the times he drove her to her flat. He admits that he wanted to be close to her, but his affection may have made him seem foolish in her eyes. In the end, the singer is left with only memories of her, hoping that maybe, if they had talked late into the night, things might have been different.
The lyrics of this song delve into themes of infatuation, loneliness, and missed chances. The singer here seems to be well-aware of his feelings for the person he's singing about, yet he's helpless to do anything about it. He's caught in a cycle where he desperately wants to be closer to this person, but every time he thinks he's made progress, things slip out of his grasp. His musings on their memories together speak to the weight that these experiences hold for him, despite the fact that he may never be able to experience them again. The lyrics, therefore, act as a rousing anthem for people who may find themselves feeling caught up in their own infatuations, with feelings that are unrequited and remain unspoken.
Line by Line Meaning
I nearly thought that maybe she
I had a glimmer of hope that she could be the one to save me from my loneliness.
Could be the one to set me free.
I thought she could be the one who would help me escape from the emptiness in my life.
I went and fell again -
I fell in love with her despite my better judgement and my previous failed relationships.
There's just something about her, I guess.
I can't explain it, but there's just something special and unique about her that draws me in.
Watching headlights far away,
As I watch the distant headlights, I feel a sense of sadness and yearning for her.
Aching at the close of the day,
As the day ends, I feel a deep sense of longing and sadness for her.
Walking and wishing she
As I walk, I can't help but wish that she were by my side.
Were sharing the evening with me.
I wish she were here to share this special moment with me.
I wonder, did she know?
I often wonder if she knew how I really felt about her.
I wonder, did it show?
I wonder if my true feelings for her were obvious to her.
And now she's gone again,
She's left my life once more, and I feel the emptiness all over again.
Seems we're not meant to be friends,
Our relationship seems to be more complicated than simply being friends, but it's also not meant to be a romantic relationship.
And memories like these, they're what I have left -
All that's left of our relationship are these memories, and they're precious to me.
Memories that, stupidly, I never will forget.
Even though these memories sometimes bring me pain, I know I'll always remember them.
I wanted friendship, wanted closeness -
I always hoped we could be close friends, but I also wanted something more.
Around her I was hopeless.
Whenever I was near her, I felt completely lost and unsure of what to do or say.
I'd catch myself and feel a fool -
Sometimes, I would realize how foolish I was acting around her and feel embarrassed.
It's such a different world in which she moves.
She lives in a different world than I do, and it's hard for me to understand or fit in with it.
Memories like these: a birthday card somewhere;
This memory is of finding an old birthday card from her.
I could tell she was awake,
I could sense that she was still up and thinking about me.
She wanted, too, to break the silence -
She also wanted to reach out and talk to me, but we both remained silent.
If we'd have talked into the night,
If we had stayed up talking all night, maybe things would have been different between us.
Would that have made a difference?
I wonder if our relationship would have turned out differently if we had talked that night.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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