Initially Farrington and Mann were in the locally active, Manchester, England-based group Beau Leisure. Farrington and Mann then went on to form When in Rome at the same time that Mann re-located to London from his Manchester home. Mann tirelessly traded the group's demo of "The Promise", an emotional love song mixing smooth pop with electronic music, along with other tracks around the entire A&R Departments of all the major labels. Eventually, A&R man Simon Potts of Electra signed them to an undisclosed deal. Simply Red were signed to Electra at around the same time, oddly enough. However, internal corporate politics caused Electra to close their London offices. Unable to deal with the time difference between the U.K. and the U.S. when dealing with Electra then, When in Rome decided to change labels, and the group were signed almost instantly to Virgin U.K. subsidiary 10 Records by A&R guru Mick Clark.
Producer Ben Rogan (who had worked with Sade) and Richard Burgess (associated with Five Star and Living In a Box) took special interest in the trio's "The Promise," issued first as a 12" dance disk. When the song became popular hitting the top of Billboard's Dance Club Play chart, Virgin ordered an album. "The Promise," remixed, was the first single from their self-titled debut album. It was an instant success, barely missing the Top Ten in the United States and peaking at #11. Months later, the trio reached Billboard's pop chart's lower reaches with "Heaven Knows", a 1990 single that hit #95 and garnered some underground fame.
Finding themselves dogged with the 'one-hit-wonder' tag (although the success of their eponymous debut as a whole made them more of a 'one-album-wonder'), the group faced internal tension and soon broke up. Michael Floreale in particular tried his hand at making material such as commercial jingles. Floreale, taking in musicians Rob Juarez and John Ceravolo, has written and performed as When in Rome since 2005; his outfit has performed alongside artists such as Devo and The Psychedelic Furs in the U.S. Although having spent much time out of the music business, Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann went back to writing and performing as When In Rome since 2008. A reunion of the original line-up has been ruled out by Floreale, and the division between the two outfits has caused legal issues, with them sometimes labeled as 'When In Rome US' versus 'When In Rome UK'.
Wide Wide Sea
When In Rome Lyrics
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I can only believe him
He's always on your side there's no disguise
And when you're dancing with another
If you could see his face
To dance behind your smile is no disgrace
He's lost on a wide wide sea
Hes's lost on a wide wide sea
Where else in the world is there to live life
And now I know how he is feeling
So much hope so revealing
I was always at your side how hard I tried
And you're dancing with another
If you could see my face (see my face)
I've danced behind my pride and choked my child
I'm lost on a wide wide sea
Alone and drifting in the whirl tide
I'm lost on a wide wide sea
Where else in the world is there to live life
I'm lost on a wide wide sea
Alone and drifting in the whirl tide
I'M lost on a wide wide sea
Where else in the world is there to live life
The song "Wide Wide Sea" by When In Rome is a compelling and poignant ballad that explores the themes of lost love and isolation. The lyrics describe two individuals who are both lost and adrift, drifting aimlessly on the vast ocean of life. The singer conveys his sense of despair and longing for his lost love, as he watches her dance with another. He recognizes that he has been left behind, cast adrift in a lonely sea.
The first verse describes the singer's awareness of his rival's intentions to win over his lost love. He acknowledges the other man's persistence and loyalty, admitting that he is "always on your side / there's no disguise." The second verse is addressed to the lost love, with the singer describing his own feelings of love and persistence despite his rival's advances. He laments the fact that he has choked on his pride and failed to show his love in the face of rejection, as she dances with another.
The chorus is a powerful reflection of the two individuals' shared sense of isolation and despair. They are both "lost on a wide wide sea," drifting aimlessly and alone in the whirlpool of life. The chorus is repeated twice, emphasizing the depth of their despair, before the song concludes with a final repetition of the metaphorical refrain.
Line by Line Meaning
Well he says he's gonna do it
He made a promise and I have faith that he will follow through with it
I can only believe him
I have no choice but to trust that he will keep his word
He's always on your side there's no disguise
He is a loyal friend and his support is genuine
And when you're dancing with another
When you are spending time with someone else
If you could see his face
If you could experience the emotions he is feeling
To dance behind your smile is no disgrace
To hide your pain and emotions for the sake of someone else's happiness is not shameful
He's lost on a wide wide sea
He is feeling lost and directionless
Alone and drifting in the whirl tide
He is isolated and his life feels chaotic
Hes's lost on a wide wide sea
He is struggling to find his place in the world
Where else in the world is there to live life
He is searching for meaning and purpose in his existence
And now I know how he is feeling
I can empathize with the emotions he is experiencing
So much hope so revealing
He had high expectations and he expressed them openly
I was always at your side how hard I tried
I was always there to support you despite my efforts and struggles
If you could see my face (see my face)
If you could see the pain and hurt that I am hiding beneath my surface
I've danced behind my pride and choked my child
I have concealed my vulnerability for the sake of my ego and it has harmed my inner innocence
I'm lost on a wide wide sea
I am feeling lost and adrift
Alone and drifting in the whirl tide
I feel isolated and overwhelmed
I'm lost on a wide wide sea
I am searching for direction and purpose
Where else in the world is there to live life
I am questioning the point of my existence and searching for fulfillment
Writer(s): MICHAEL FLOREALE, ANDREW MANN, CLIVE FARRINGTON
Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.