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.
On Returning
Wire Lyrics
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Lobster red, nothing said
When yellow has turned green to brown, divide by four
Multiply by nine, describe your divisions, anatomical derision
Lobster head and lobster feet
On arriving with a third language
Tucked into your brief case, next to your toothbrush
Along with a copy of the Nouvelle Observateure
Under intensive electronic scanning
You regard your body with regard to events
With which nothing planned
Never lacked a sense of theater
On returning with the tab you've gained
A head of world service, the best of your culture
An evening of fun in the metropolis of your dream
The lyrics to Wire's "On Returning" are full of vivid and evocative language, but they are also quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The first lines suggest that the singer is warning someone about the dangers of not taking care of themselves in the sun, but this warning quickly turns into a series of nonsensical calculations and surreal imagery. The reference to lobster red might suggest sunburn or skin cancer, while the multiplication and division seem to have no particular meaning beyond creating a sense of disorientation and confusion.
The second half of the verse moves on to more concrete images, with the singer describing someone arriving somewhere with a third language tucked into their briefcase, along with a copy of a French newspaper. Meanwhile, their children are undergoing some sort of high-tech scanning process. The final lines of the verse suggest that the singer is reflecting on their own experiences and accomplishments, which have involved a great deal of drama and spectacle.
Overall, it is difficult to say exactly what "On Returning" is about, but it seems to explore themes of language, identity, and technology, while also incorporating surrealist and absurdist elements. The lyrics are filled with striking images and unexpected turns of phrase, and they invite the listener to interpret them in a variety of different ways.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll be sorry when the sun has roasted you to
If you don't take caution, you will regret it when the sunburns you heavily
Lobster red, nothing said
The extent of sunburn will turn your skin color to lobster red and you will remain silent in agony
When yellow has turned green to brown, divide by four
As the leaves change their colors, a mathematical formula can determine the exact shade and state of change
Multiply by nine, describe your divisions, anatomical derision
Carrying out further calculations can depict the divisions in your anatomy and bring forth ridicule as a result
Lobster head and lobster feet
As a result of excessive sunburn, your head and feet will resemble that of a lobster
On arriving with a third language
Upon arrival in an unfamiliar land, language barriers can pose a challenge
Tucked into your brief case, next to your toothbrush
Among your belongings for the trip, you carry with you a third language dictionary
Along with a copy of the Nouvelle Observateure
In addition to the dictionary, you also carry a copy of a French news outlet
While your sons and daughters who registered naught
Your children, who did not decide to pursue language learning, are stuck without a translator
Under intensive electronic scanning
At the border checkpoint, an intense electronic scanning process is put in place to ensure security
You regard your body with regard to events
You start to reconsider your choices and lifestyle as a result of feeling vulnerable after the scanning process
With which nothing planned
You never planned for any events that may occur as a result of the scanning process
Never lacked a sense of theater
You enjoy the excitement and drama that comes with traveling
On returning with the tab you've gained
Upon arrival back home, you realize the cost of the trip and are presented with the bill
A head of world service, the best of your culture
You feel pride in your culture and accomplishments as a result of your trip
An evening of fun in the metropolis of your dream
You enjoyed a night out in the big city that you have always wanted to visit
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN JOHN NEWMAN, GRAHAM LEWIS
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