Virginia Astley was born in Garston, Hertfordshire, England. Virginia began learning piano at the age of six and flute at 14. After leaving school, she studied at the Guildhall School Of Music. Her first professional appearance in public was as a busker outside South Kensington tube station. In 1980, she auditioned for a new band from Clapham, the Victims of Pleasure. Astley, playing keyboards, worked with them for a short while playing in clubs and pubs around London. The band released three singles between 1980 and 1982 before splitting up.
Afterward, Astley wrote, arranged and performed music with Skids frontman Richard Jobson for the album The Ballad Of Etiquette. Their collaboration continued when Jobson moved to Belgian label Les Disques Du Crépuscule, and Astley contributed to the Crépuscule compilation The Fruit of the Original Sin. She also contributed as part of The Dream Makers (in collaboration with filmmaker Jean Paul Goude) for a cover version of "La Chanson d'Helene" (Helen's Song), showcasing an early example of her distinctive vocal style.
It was during this early period that Astley started to give serious consideration to releasing her own material; however, nothing immediately came of these plans. Then in 1981, she signed to the small UK label Why-Fi and recorded a series of songs. A school friend, Jo Wells (Kissing the Pink) and a university friend Nicky Holland both contributed as did Tony Butler, Mark Brzezicki and Peter Hope-Evans. Astley then received an offer from another Why-Fi artist, Troy Tate, for a supporting band position with The Teardrop Explodes. In the 1990s, finding that her musical style was popular in Japan, she went on to collaborate with Asian artists.
I'm sorry
Virginia Astley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm sorry for all I've said
For all of the wrong I've done
There surely must be another way
We've talked so long of you
I no longer know how I feel
But my listening was purely selfish
Here is the truth
The truth that I trusted
I trusted you
My strength to over rule
And even in writing these words
I feel that I'm trying to be good,
In honesty my heart is hurts
And you, you are the cause of my pain
We've talked so long of you
But I can't blame you for this
You've always been king of your world
And all your life you've been just adored
You know that I know the truth
That your soul's as lost as mine
Together we held close our hearts
Together in such a small leaf of time
Here on my own
The storm coulds have gathered
In truth I say
Why is it so wrong
I can't confess all those things
It's so hard to say that I'm wrong
But I'm sorry for all I've said
There surely must be another path
The Virginia Astley’s song “I’m Sorry” is about a person who is expressing their regrets about the mistakes they've made in the relationship. The singer opens with an apology, stating that they can't confess all the things they’ve done, however, they apologize for everything that they said and for all the wrong they’ve done. The singer acknowledges that their actions might have hurt the other person and shows remorse. The singer then says there must be another way to fix the relationship, indicating that they want to work things out.
The second verse suggests that the singer has been selfish in the past. They confess that their listening was merely selfish in trying to make the other person want them. The singer further admits their misunderstanding and doubts about the relationship. However, they trusted the other person with their truth, and even in writing the song, they try to be good. Despite their best efforts, their heart still hurts, and the other person is the cause of their pain.
Finally, the singer admits that the reason for the relationship's downfall cannot be entirely blamed on the other person. They acknowledge that the other person has always been king in their own world and loved by all. The singer and the other person hold their hearts close to each other for a brief moment in time, but they eventually go their own separate ways. The singer concludes by expressing her confusion about why things did not work out and wishing there was another path to reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't confess all these things
I can't reveal everything on my mind
But I'm sorry for all I've said
I apologize for my words
For all of the wrong I've done
I regret all my mistakes
There surely must be another way
Surely there is another solution
We’ve talked so long of you
We’ve talked about you for so long
I no longer know how I feel
I am confused about my own feelings
But my listening was purely selfish
I was only listening for my own benefit
In only trying to make you want me
I was trying to make you desire me
Here is the truth
I will tell you the truth
The truth that I trusted
The truth that I believed in
I trusted you
I had faith in you
My strength to overrule
My ability to overcome
And even in writing these words
Even as I write this
I feel that I'm trying to be good
I feel like I am attempting to do the right thing
In honesty my heart is hurts
To be honest, my heart is in pain
And you, you are the cause of my pain
You are the reason for my suffering
But I can't blame you for this
I cannot hold you responsible for this
You've always been king of your world
You have always been in control of your own life
And all your life you've been just adored
And you have always been loved by everyone
You know that I know the truth
You are aware that I am aware of the truth
That your soul's as lost as mine
That your soul is also searching, just like mine
Together we held close our hearts
We kept our hearts close to each other
Together in such a small leaf of time
Together, but only for a brief period
Here on my own
Alone, by myself
The storm clouds have gathered
Trouble is approaching
In truth I say
Honesty compels me to say
Why is it so wrong
Why does it feel so bad?
It's so hard to say that I'm wrong
Admitting my mistakes is difficult
There surely must be another path
There must be another way forward
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johndomondo
I can't confess all these things
But I'm sorry for all I've said
For all of the wrong I've done
There surely must be another way
We've talked so long of you
I no longer know how I feel
But my listening was purely selfish
In only trying to make you want me
Here is the truth
The truth that I trusted
I trusted you
My strength to over rule
And even in writing these words
I feel that I'm trying to be good,
In honesty my heart is hurts
And you, you are the cause of my pain
We've talked so long of you
But I can't blame you for this
You've always been king of your world
And all your life you've been just adored
You know that I know the truth
That your soul's as lost as mine
Together we held close our hearts
Together in such a small leaf of time
Here on my own
The storm coulds have gathered
In truth I say
Why is it so wrong
I can't confess all those things
It's so hard to say that I'm wrong
But I'm sorry for all I've said
There surely must be another path
@virginiaastley8030
I wonder who has said you can't put up A Summer Long Since Passed. Please can you let me know? I own the rights for these recordings and I have no objection. Thanks Virginia
@dia.6213
Bless you virginia astley. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
@BadDreamFancyDress
Cheers Virginia. We love your natty vibe ❤️
@haroldwalton932
Sat here in Toronto playing your albums after a long break...thanks you for the wonderful music....Any chance of the Ravishing Beauties stuff being released...bless you for your creativity
@strwberrry_wine6053
thank u for the beautiful music virginia ♡♡♡
@karithatthought2304
❤️
@seedhillbruisermusic7939
virginia astley's music is at the very heart of my being and has been for over 35 years now since I first heard her on John Walter's radio show as part of The Ravishing Beauties. My favourite musical artist of all time.
@simoesc
Virginia Astley, thank you so very much to allow all your marvelous songs to be published! Thank you for your wounderfull Music!
@misshoegal67
Wow even the great Virginia Astley posted on here and i missed it...thank you for the great music,so powerful lyrics
@johndomondo
I can't confess all these things
But I'm sorry for all I've said
For all of the wrong I've done
There surely must be another way
We've talked so long of you
I no longer know how I feel
But my listening was purely selfish
In only trying to make you want me
Here is the truth
The truth that I trusted
I trusted you
My strength to over rule
And even in writing these words
I feel that I'm trying to be good,
In honesty my heart is hurts
And you, you are the cause of my pain
We've talked so long of you
But I can't blame you for this
You've always been king of your world
And all your life you've been just adored
You know that I know the truth
That your soul's as lost as mine
Together we held close our hearts
Together in such a small leaf of time
Here on my own
The storm coulds have gathered
In truth I say
Why is it so wrong
I can't confess all those things
It's so hard to say that I'm wrong
But I'm sorry for all I've said
There surely must be another path