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.
Boiling Boy
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dark and deep
In secret sunset
Places creep
Lock up your hats
Lock up your hats
Progress with a vision
To practice with at home
To practice with at home
A collision with decision
To practice with at home
He transferred his soul
To his imagination
His atoms were excited
And he glowed in the dark
The boiling boy
Was a picture of confusion
But he had the advantage
Of a cold start heart
The song Boiling Boy by Wire is a dark poem about a confused and unusual individual who is the boiling boy mentioned in the title. The song begins with a description of the wind as gifts of the west winds which are dark and deep. The sunset is also referred to as secret and the places where it creeps are unknown. The repetition of the line "Lock up your hats" adds to the ominous tone of the song and hints at the idea of confinement. The lyrics then move on to a discussion of progress and practicing at home. The use of the term schism with an ism suggests a divide or separation within a larger group or ideology, which may reflect the boiling boy's inner conflict. The line "He transferred his soul to his imagination" hints at a desire for escapism from reality and an attachment to the inner world.
The second half of the song describes the boiling boy himself. His atoms being excited and glowing in the dark suggest an intense energy or excitement that may be too much for others to handle. The line "But he had the advantage of a cold start heart" implies that while the boiling boy may appear chaotic and confused, he is also emotionally detached or unfeeling. Overall, the song presents a haunting image of an outsider and may reflect the feelings of isolation and despair that some people experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Gifts of the west winds
The west winds bring gifts, which are mysterious and potent.
Dark and deep
The gifts that the west winds bring come from a place that is shrouded in mystery and depth.
In secret sunset
These gifts arrive in the waning light of day, hidden from view.
Places creep
These gifts come from secretive places and are perhaps even a little unsettling.
Lock up your hats
Take heed of these potent gifts and hold onto your protective gear; you're going to need it.
Progress with a vision
Move forward with a clear goal in sight and a plan for achieving it.
To practice with at home
Grasp the opportunity to practice and hone your skills in the comfort and safety of your own home.
A schism with an ism
A division has arisen within a specific ideology or belief system.
A collision with decision
There has been a clash between several courses of action and a definitive choice must now be made.
He transferred his soul
The artist has moved his essence or spirit to a different realm of existence.
To his imagination
Specifically, this essence has been transferred to the realm of the imagination.
His atoms were excited
The essence was transformed into a state of heightened energy.
And he glowed in the dark
This transformed essence was so electrified that it radiated a luminous quality, even in total darkness.
The boiling boy
This speaker is hallucinating, possibly due to drug use, and is seeing a character that may or may not be real.
Was a picture of confusion
This character is difficult to make sense of, representing chaos or disorientation.
But he had the advantage
Despite all of this, the boiling boy has one key asset.
Of a cold start heart
He is able to begin with a clean slate or fresh perspective, unencumbered by previous biases or assumptions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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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