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.
Where's the Deputation?
Wire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the intermission
Rien a voir
Only indecision
A tried heart popcorn
In the intermission
A tightening corner where no one belongs
Desole
In the intermission
The silent ones
Waiting for decisions
The bomb has landed
On the deputation?
Where's the rack across your back?
Scratching a living
The lyrics of Wire's song "Where's the Deputation?" are full of mysterious and evocative images. The song seems to be about a moment of difficult decision-making or waiting, during which people's hearts are "tried," or tested. The French phrase "Rien a voir" ("nothing to see") suggests that something important is happening, but it is not visible or clear. The reference to "popcorn" suggests a sense of nervousness or jittery energy. The line "The bomb has landed on the deputation?" creates a sense of fear or foreboding, as if something explosive or catastrophic has just occurred. The song ends with the line "Scratching a living," which adds a note of desperation or struggle to the overall mood.
Overall, the song seems to be conveying a sense of uncertainty and unease. The intermission, or break between acts, is a moment of pause or limbo, and the lyrics suggest that this is a time of heightened emotion and tension. The "silent ones" waiting for decisions are also a powerful image, suggesting a sense of powerlessness or voicelessness in the face of larger events. The reference to a "tightening corner where no one belongs" also adds to the sense of claustrophobia and discomfort that pervades the lyrics. Despite its enigmatic quality, the song is a powerful evocation of a moment of crisis or indecision.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts are tried
Emotions are tested and worn out
In the intermission
During a break, a period of uncertainty
Rien a voir
Nothing to see, no connection
Only indecision
Hesitation and lack of determination
A tried heart popcorn
An exhausted heart, jumping around restlessly
In the intermission
During a break, a period of uncertainty
A tightening corner where no one belongs
A restrictive space where nobody feels comfortable or accepted
Desole
Sorry
In the intermission
During a break, a period of uncertainty
The silent ones
Those who remain quiet
Waiting for decisions
Anticipating the outcome of choices made
The bomb has landed
Something has exploded or gone wrong
On the deputation?
Did this happen to the selected representatives?
Where's the rack across your back?
Where is the punishment for wrongdoing?
Scratching a living
Earning a meager income through hard labor
Contributed by Hailey D. 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