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.
Former Airline
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it different enough?
Tell me what it's like when you reach the point
When you draw the line
Is it straight enough?
Tell me what it's like when you draw the line
When you go too far
Is it near enough?
When you've seen too much
Is it almost the same?
Tell me what it's like when you've seen too much (jump in the flames)
When you know it all
Is it really there?
Tell me what it's like when you know it all
When you've had enough
Is it just the start?
Tell me what it's like when you've had enough
In Wire's song "Former Airline," the lyrics explore the idea of reaching a breaking point, and what that experience is like. The song poses a series of questions that ask the listener to consider what it's like to draw the line, go too far, see too much, and ultimately, reach a point of knowing it all or having enough.
Through these questions, the song seems to suggest that there is a certain threshold of knowledge or experience that, once crossed, can't be uncrossed. The line "When you've seen too much (jump in the flames)" suggests that there is a certain danger in pushing oneself to the edge, and that there may be no turning back once that line has been crossed.
Overall, "Former Airline" is a contemplative song that encourages the listener to consider what it means to reach a tipping point. It suggests that there is a fine line between gaining knowledge and experience, and overstepping one's bounds, and that it's important to be aware of where that line lies.
Line by Line Meaning
When you reach the point
At the point when you have to make a decision
Is it different enough?
Have you considered all the options and are you making a unique decision?
Tell me what it's like when you reach the point
Can you explain your experience when reaching such a decision point?
When you draw the line
When you decide to set a boundary.
Is it straight enough?
Is the boundary you're setting clear and precise enough?
Tell me what it's like when you draw the line
Can you describe the feeling of setting such a boundary?
When you go too far
When you exceed the limits.
Is it near enough?
Have you been close enough to the limit to understand it?
Tell me what it's like when you go too far
Can you describe your experience going beyond the limit?
When you've seen too much (jump in the flames)
When you've experienced too much and feel consumed by it.
Is it almost the same?
Does the constant exposure to such experiences make them all blend together?
Tell me what it's like when you've seen too much (jump in the flames)
How would you describe the feeling of being consumed by an overwhelming experience?
When you know it all
When you feel like you've learned everything there is to know.
Is it really there?
Is the knowledge you think you have truly there, or just an illusion?
Tell me what it's like when you know it all
Can you describe the feeling of thinking you have all the knowledge in the world?
When you've had enough
When you can't handle anymore.
Is it just the start?
Is the moment of 'having enough' just the beginning of a new journey, or the end?
Tell me what it's like when you've had enough
What does it feel like to reach your limit?
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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