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.
Nocturnal Koreans
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I awoke
I was fit for one purpose
I was going for broke
I brushed out my trail
Concealed my advance
Changing wheels often
There'd be no second chance
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
Bipolar opps met
Under sodium lamps
Five miles out from
The runaway ramp
Drug impaired drivers
Lost in the woods
Believe sea-burnt nurses
Never tasted so good!
Um-um-um-um-um-um
Um-um-um-um-um!
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
Nocturnal Koreans
Are walking the halls
They missed their connection
They're climbing the walls
Cracker barrel kids
And their cracker barrel folks
Beavis and Butthead...
Thro' their cracker barrel jokes!
Her-her-her-her-her-her
Her-her-her-her-her
Her-her-her-her-her-her
Her-her-her-her-her
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
The lyrics of "Nocturnal Koreans" by WireHQ are cryptic and metaphorical, but seem to convey the message of feeling lost and out of control in a fast-paced world. The opening lines suggest that the singer is already dressed and showered before waking up, indicating a sense of urgency and a readiness to face the unpredictable challenges of the day. The phrase "going for broke" further emphasizes this idea of taking risks and pushing oneself to the limit. The following lines describe the singer's attempt to navigate a difficult path, "changing wheels often" to avoid any mistakes or missteps. The repeated question "Do you think you are able of finding your way?" amplifies the sense of doubt and uncertainty, as if the singer is trying to convince themselves that they are capable of handling whatever comes their way.
The middle verses introduce a new set of images, that of "bipolar ops" meeting under "sodium lamps," suggesting a covert, possibly criminal operation. The reference to "drug-impaired drivers lost in the woods" adds to the feeling of chaos and danger, while the line "sea-burnt nurses never tasted so good" is ambiguous but could suggest that even those in the medical profession are not immune to the allure of danger and illicit behavior. The repeated "um-um-um" and "her-her-her" phrases seem to function as a sort of chorus, adding to the overall sense of confusion and disorientation.
Line by Line Meaning
I dressed and I showered
I got ready for the day
Before I awoke
Without realizing it was morning
I was fit for one purpose
I had a specific goal in mind
I was going for broke
I was risking everything to achieve my goal
I brushed out my trail
I covered my tracks
Concealed my advance
I didn't want anyone to know what I was doing
Changing wheels often
I used different methods to avoid suspicion
There'd be no second chance
I knew failure was not an option
Do you think you are able
Of finding your way?
Do you trust your instincts to guide you?
Bipolar opps met
Under sodium lamps
Two opposing sides met in a tense environment
Five miles out from
The runaway ramp
Far away from a safe exit
Drug impaired drivers
Lost in the woods
Drivers under the influence in a dangerous situation
Believe sea-burnt nurses
Never tasted so good!
Desperation led to unlikely choices
Nocturnal Koreans
Are walking the halls
People who are awake when they should be sleeping
They missed their connection
They're climbing the walls
Feeling trapped and frustrated
Cracker barrel kids
And their cracker barrel folks
Stereotypical, small-town Americans
Beavis and Butthead...
Thro' their cracker barrel jokes!
Immature humor of some Americans
Her-her-her-her-her-her
Her-her-her-her-her
The sound of forced laughter
Writer(s): Colin John Newman, Graham Lewis, Robert Selwyn Grey, Matthew Andrew Eric Simms
Contributed by Levi R. 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