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.
Four Long Years
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A futility of words
A loss of all sensation
An arbitrary world
Too fast, too slow
The operator does not know
Can't sleep, can't weep
With luck, with charm
The operator may succeed
Impact, in fact
Today's inspection may proceed
Finese, deceive and flatter
The chemically mis-matched
The sound of missing matter
Advances sealed and snatched
The lyrics to "Four Long Years" by Wire describe feelings of frustration and fatigue in the face of an overwhelming and unpredictable world. The first verse expresses a sense of disorientation and disconnect through the use of abstract phrases like "collapse of concentration" and "arbitrary world." The second verse reinforces this idea of helplessness, with the description of an operator who does not know what to do, and the feelings of insomnia and numbness that a come with a lack of progress. The chorus suggests that success may be possible through luck, charm, and impact, but the third verse reveals a more sinister side to this idea, with its references to deception and manipulation in the quest for power or advancement.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the difficulties of navigating a chaotic and competitive society, where success is a combination of skill, luck, and ruthless ambition. The use of abstract language and fragmented phrases creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, mirroring the experience of the operator who cannot keep up with the demands of his or her environment.
Line by Line Meaning
A collapse of concentration
The inability to focus or pay attention, resulting in a breakdown of activity or work.
A futility of words
The sense that words are useless and cannot effectively communicate or convey meaning.
A loss of all sensation
The experience of being numb or disconnected from emotions, physical sensations, or the world around oneself.
An arbitrary world
The impression of a world that lacks meaning or order, where events and actions seem random and pointless.
Too fast, too slow
The feeling of being out of sync with the pace of life or work, either moving too quickly or too slowly.
The operator does not know
The sense of uncertainty or confusion in navigating a situation or task, lacking knowledge or understanding about how to proceed.
Can't sleep, can't weep
The inability to find rest or release from emotional pain or distress, leading to constant suffering.
For years and years, not much to show
The sense of stagnation or lack of progress over a significant period of time, resulting in a lack of achievements or accomplishments.
With luck, with charm
The possibility of success or progress through positive circumstances or personal characteristics, such as good fortune or charisma.
The operator may succeed
The potential for positive outcomes or achievements in a given task or situation, despite the struggles and difficulties encountered.
Impact, in fact
The realization that actions or decisions may have significant consequences or effects on oneself or others.
Today's inspection may proceed
The sense that progress or movement is happening in a situation or task, leading to a sense of hope or optimism.
Finese, deceive and flatter
The use of manipulative tactics, such as charm or flattery, to gain advantages or deceive others.
The chemically mis-matched
Individuals who are struggling with imbalances or disorders related to chemical processes in the brain or body, resulting in negative effects on mood and behavior.
The sound of missing matter
The sense of something essential or valuable that is absent or missing, leading to a feeling of emptiness or loss.
Advances sealed and snatched
The feeling of missed opportunities or thwarted progress, as growth or development is hindered or stopped by external circumstances or factors.
Contributed by James M. 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