In September 1976, singer/bassist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford, alumni of King Crimson, worked on forming a band with Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. The project was stopped by Wakeman’s label. According to Bruford, “A&M Records were unwilling to let their ‘star,’ Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea failed.”
Determined to work together, Bruford and Wetton next asked guitarist Robert Fripp to reform King Crimson which Fripp had disbanded in 1974. When Fripp declined, Bruford and Wetton decided that each would bring in a musician of his choice to formulate a band. Wetton brought in keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, whom Wetton knew from his work with Roxy Music in 1976 – “stealing” him from Frank Zappa. Bruford recruited guitarist Allan Holdsworth (formerly of Soft Machine and Gong) who had played guitar on Bruford’s 1977 debut solo album, Feels Good to Me.
U.K. released their self-titled début album in 1978 and followed it with a supporting tour.
Following two lengthy American tours (June-October 1978), first Holdsworth and then Bruford departed U.K. over musical differences, going on to form the jazz rock fusion group Bruford. After the departure of Bruford and Holdsworth, U.K. didn’t bring in another guitarist. Drummer Terry Bozzio (another one-time Frank Zappa band member) joined Wetton and Jobson, and as a result U.K. became a trio with a progressive rock lineup of keyboards/bass/drums (albeit supplemented by Jobson’s violin). The trio recorded the album Danger Money, released in March 1979, and spent much of that year touring North America as opening act for Jethro Tull. A live album, Night After Night, was recorded in Japan that Spring and released in September. Following a final European tour in December 1979, and in spite of plans to record a new studio album in America in March 1980, U.K. disbanded. The reason for this was Jobson’s and Wetton’s different ideas on how the band should have gone on. Jobson wanted UK to go on with more long instrumental pieces, while Wetton thought that performing shorter songs was a better idea. Jobson stated that one song in particular was the reason of the band to disband: “When Will You Realise?”, a non-LP B-side (to date still unavailable on CD) featured on the “Night After Night” single, which Wetton would re-record (with slightly different lyrics) in 1980 on his solo album Caught In The Crossfire.
Throughout their brief existence, U.K.’s music was characterised by skilled musicianship, jazzy harmonies, close harmony vocals, use of odd time signatures (like 7/4 on the song “In the Dead of Night”), electric violin solos, and unusually varied synthesiser (Yamaha CS-80) sonorities.
Nothing To Lose
U.K. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I can really break it
Now I don't have to fake it
Forget it then I don't need it
If it ain't hot I'll leave it
Nothing to show but no one to
I'm kicking my heels, rolling the wheels
And I'm leaving today yeah, yeah
Nothing to lose
I gotta run for my life
Shoot out and shine those searchy lights
I'm really top cross that border line
I'm going to make it stick this time
Nothing to show but no one to
Stop me I'm going away
I'm kicking my heels, rolling the wheels
And I'm leaving today yeah, yeah
Nothing to lose
In U.K.'s song "Nothing to Lose," the artist expresses their feeling of liberation and empowerment as they leave behind the things that no longer serve them. The lyrics "Now I can really break it / Now I don't have to fake it / Forget it then I don't need it / If it ain't hot I'll leave it" suggest that the artist is shedding any previous facade or persona they may have put on, and can now be their authentic self. Additionally, the line "Nothing to show but no one to stop me" emphasizes the sense of freedom that the artist feels as they embark on this new journey, without any external pressures or expectations.
Throughout the song, the artist speaks to their determination to move forward and take control of their own destiny. The lines "I gotta run for my life / Shoot out and shine those searchy lights / I'm really top cross that border line / I'm going to make it stick this time" evoke the imagery of a daring escape, where the artist is pushing themselves to their limits in pursuit of their goals. Overall, "Nothing to Lose" is a song about self-discovery, risk-taking, and the freedom that comes with these experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I can really break it
I now have the freedom to act upon what I truly believe in
Now I don't have to fake it
I am no longer constrained by societal pressure to pretend to be someone I am not
Forget it then I don't need it
If something does not serve me or contribute to my goals, it is not worth keeping in my life
If it ain't hot I'll leave it
Anything that is not of high quality or does not align with my standards is not worth my time or effort
I gotta run for my life
I must take action and pursue my dreams with a sense of urgency and passion
Shoot out and shine those searchy lights
I am ready to face any obstacles or challenges that come my way, and I will do so with confidence and determination
I'm really top cross that border line
I am pushing beyond my comfort zone and taking risks to achieve my goals
I'm going to make it stick this time
I am committed to following through with my plans and making them a reality
Nothing to show but no one to stop me
I may not have tangible results yet, but I am not held back by anyone or anything
I'm going away
I am leaving my current situation behind and moving towards a better future
I'm kicking my heels, rolling the wheels
I am excited and enthusiastic about the journey ahead and am eager to take action
And I'm leaving today yeah, yeah
I am not waiting for tomorrow to start pursuing my dreams - I am taking action and starting today
Nothing to lose
I am unencumbered by past failures, fears, or doubts - I am ready to take on the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWIN JOBSON, JOHN KENNETH WETTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rockrabbitt
Nothing to lose
Now I can really break it
Now I don't have to fake it
Forget it then I don't need it…
Nothing to lose
Now I can really break it
Now I don't have to fake it
Forget it then I don't need it
If it ain't hot I'll leave it
Nothing to show but no one to
Stop me I'm going away
I'm kicking my heels, rolling the wheels
And I'm leaving today yeah, yeah
Nothing to lose
I gotta run for my life
Shoot out and shine those searchy lights
I'm really top cross that border line
I'm going to make it stick this time
Nothing to show but no one to
Stop me I'm going away
I'm kicking my heels, rolling the wheels
And I'm leaving today yeah, yeah
Nothing to lose
@Ivanprog2068
The violin solo still gives me goosebumps. FANTASTIC
@cesarincamendozaloyola4407
That solo elevates the song's appeal
@SJUCityBoy
R.I.P. John Wetton. One true giant of Rock. Great talent. Will be dearly missed.
@alessandro56moog75
great voice....family...king crimson...uriah heep...UK....asia....
@ln4454
My music hero, always will be.
@lusich94
Así es amigo “City Boy”...😞😢...JOHN...un gigante del “prog”
@andreistroe4140
such a huge voice...
@sermonvenes
Yes same kind of musician that Bill Bruford. 70' prog music wouldn't be the same without them!
@hzv7242
I can actually remember that they used to play this video back on the old MTV between 1981 - 1983. That was when MTV ROCKED!
@dancingdave5404
I used to cruise record shops looking for names on album covers...finding rare gems of obscure music I would otherwise not discover. Saw Terry Bozio on drums...wasn't he on that Zappa album? John Whetton from Family & King Crimson. That's how I discovered this band...their self titled "UK" album a pot of gold.