Wire's debut album, Pink Flag (1977), contains songs which are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach, unorthodox structures, and several songs are under a minute in length; "Field Day For The Sundays" is only 28 seconds long.
Chairs Missing followed in 1978, and found Wire stepping back from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag, with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Many of the songs had bassist Graham Lewis on lead vocals.
In 1979, creative differences pulled the band in different directions, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The LP came packaged with an EP of a different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Colin Newman's post-Wire solo albums ("5/10", "We Meet Under Tables"), while others were released by Gilbert and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ("And Then...", "Ritual View"). The band disbanded for the first time in 1980
Between 1981-85 Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and non-Wire collaborative projects such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985, the group reformed as a "beat combo" (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music or even possibly beatniks), with greater use of electronic musical instruments. It released It's Beginning To And Back Again (IBTABA) in 1989, a "live" album of mostly re-worked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck, heavily re-arranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", became the band's biggest charting single.
Gotobed left the band in 1990, after the release of the album Manscape. After his departure, the band dropped one letter from its name, becoming "Wir" (still pronounced "wire"), and released The First Letter in 1991. Once again, the band disbanded in 1992 There followed a further period of solo recordings, during which Newman founded the Swim ~ label, and later Githead with his wife (ex-Minimal Compact bassist Malka Spigel), while Wire remained an occasional collaboration. It was not until 1999 that Wire again became a full-time entity.
With Gotobed back in the line-up (now using his birth name, Robert Grey), the group initially reworked much of their back catalogue for a performance at Royal Festival Hall on 26 February 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs and an album Send (2003) followed, as well as collaborations with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. In 2004 the band split once more.
In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were re-released with original vinyl track listings. Rumours abounded of a renewal of activity to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's debut as a 4 piece and the re-release of Pink Flag in 2007. A third Read & Burn EP was released in November, 2007.
A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47 was released in July 2008. Bruce Gilbert was not involved in this recording, although according to Colin Newman, he did feature in a minimal capacity on the third Read and Burn EP. 2011 saw the release of the band's twelfth studio album Red Barked Tree.
Another the Letter
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Letter brings change, now things are uncertain
Hand to hand, letter moves on
Like a series of shocks, like a series of shocks
Like a series of shocks, like a series of shocks
Like a series of shocks, but the contents are known
Oh, faint heart, when the letter arrives
Lifesize, lifesize, lifesize
Once the air rang with things unsaid
Now cruel outlines aren't easily read
Behind the curtain in the yellow bulb light
In the yellow bulb light, in the yellow bulb light
In the yellow bulb light, in the yellow bulb light
In the yellow bulb light, in the yellow bulb light
The letter reads
"Took my own life"
The song "Another the Letter" by Wire tells the story of a letter that brings change and shakes up the lives of those who receive it. The lyrics describe the journey of the letter as it passes from hand to hand, carrying with it a series of unexpected shocks. As the letter moves, the uncertainty of its contents looms large, causing those who receive it to become apprehensive and fearful. The reference to the "yellow bulb light" behind the curtain creates a sense of mystery and secrecy, heightening the tension and suspense of the situation.
When the letter finally arrives and is opened, the recipient realizes the gravity of its contents. The lyrics talk about how the faint of heart suddenly find themselves faced with a situation that is larger than life. The final line of the song reveals the shocking truth that the letter contains: "Took my own life." This revelation brings the tragedy to a dramatic conclusion, leaving listeners to contemplate the pain and suffering that must have led the writer to take such a drastic step.
Overall, Wire's "Another the Letter" uses powerful imagery and vivid language to tell a story that is both poignant and unsettling. The song captures the upheaval and uncertainty that can come with unexpected news, while also exploring themes of loss, grief, and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Passed to hand, behind the curtain
A letter is secretly passed from one person to another, behind a curtain or other hiding place
Letter brings change, now things are uncertain
The contents of the letter bring about a change in circumstances, making everything uncertain or unpredictable
Hand to hand, letter moves on
The letter is passed from one person's hand to another's and continues to circulate
Like a series of shocks, like a series of shocks
Each person who receives the letter is shocked, as if they've received a jolt
Like a series of shocks, like a series of shocks
Each person who receives the letter is shocked, as if they've received a jolt
Like a series of shocks, but the contents are known
Despite the shocking effect, the letter's contents are eventually revealed and known to all
Oh, faint heart, when the letter arrives
The person reading the letter may feel faint-hearted or nervous when it arrives
You suddenly find things looking lifesize
The contents of the letter suddenly seem very real or life-sized, as opposed to abstract or theoretical
Lifesize, lifesize, lifesize
The realness or gravity of the situation is emphasized
Once the air rang with things unsaid
There were things that were left unspoken or unacknowledged in the past
Now cruel outlines aren't easily read
The circumstances have become more difficult to interpret or understand, and may seem harsh or cruel
Behind the curtain in the yellow bulb light
The letter was passed in secret, behind a curtain and under the soft light of a yellow bulb, adding to the mysterious or clandestine nature of the situation
In the yellow bulb light, in the yellow bulb light
Emphasizing again the yellow bulb light, creating a sense of intimacy or secrecy
In the yellow bulb light, in the yellow bulb light
Emphasizing again the yellow bulb light, creating a sense of intimacy or secrecy
In the yellow bulb light, in the yellow bulb light
Emphasizing again the yellow bulb light, creating a sense of intimacy or secrecy
The letter reads
The contents of the letter are revealed
"Took my own life"
The letter contains the shocking news that the writer has taken their own life
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE CLIFFORD GILBERT, COLIN JOHN NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pierre Clary
on Champs
i believe this song is about amphetamine abuse, endemic on the punk scene...Speed, "more speed than before ,less time than before (tolerance build up)........
Pierre Clary
on Champs
The song "Champs" by Wire is an intense and fast-paced track that addresses themes of competitiveness, the desire for success, and the sacrifices one must make in order to achieve their goals. The repeated phrases "The taste of champions, the pace, the pace, the speed, the need, the need to seed, the chance to die" suggest that the speaker is wholly dedicated to winning and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. The subsequent line "Another dead don't cry" implies that the speaker has seen others perish in their pursuit of victory and is not phased by it. The stanza "You've still got speed, you'll maybe bleed, there's less time" highlights the idea that time is running out and that one must act quickly if they wish to be successful.
The next stanza begins with the phrase "More speed than before, you've done it before, there is no for, what are you doing it for?" which suggests that the speaker is no longer satisfied with their previous achievements and is compelled to push themselves even harder. The line "Want more, want more" is a clear indication that the speaker is never satisfied with what they have and will always strive for more. The repetition of "Another dead don't cry" throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder that the pursuit of success often has a cost, and that cost can be the lives of others.i think this so,
Pierre Clary
on Champs
YOU'RE RICH NOT POOR