Yazoo were formed in early 1982 by former Depeche Mode songwriter Vince Clarke (synthesizers) and English singer Alison Moyet (vocals) and signed to Mute Records in the United Kingdom.
Their debut single "Only You" was released on 15 March 1982 and rose to number 2 on the UK charts. They also released two studio albums: Upstairs at Eric's in 1982 and You and Me Both in 1983.
Shortly after the release of the second album, Moyet and Clarke decided to break up. Moyet pursued a solo career while Clarke first founded (the short lived) The Assembly followed by the successful Erasure.
Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet briefly reunited in 2008 and toured Europe and the United States as Yazoo for the first time in twenty-five years. Also in 2008, their record company issued a 4-disc box set called In Your Room; containing remastered editions of both of their original albums, a disc of b-sides and remixes (imaginitively titled B-Sides and Remixes) and a DVD containing promotional videos, interviews etc.
Official website is at: www.yazooinfo.com
Bad Connection
Yazoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll ring you in the morning but the phone's been cut
Can you hear me I've been calling all day
Can you hear me
The radio reporter said the line's all dead
He told me that I oughta write a letter instead
Can you hear I've been calling all day
[Chorus:]
I'd wish they'd fix the wires cause my baby won't know
That I'm leaving in the morning and I'm ready to go
Can you hear me
Can you hear me at all
Gotta get the operator make a telephone call
And if I write a letter it won't get there on time
I'll only reach you baby on the telephone line
Can you hear me
I've been calling all day
Can you hear me
My car's already and my bags are all packed
I'm late already and I won't be back
Can you hear me
I've been calling all day
Can you hear me
[Chorus]
Oh can you hear me
The lyrics of Yazoo’s song Bad Connection depict a frustrating situation – the singer is trying to reach their loved one by phone, but the line is dead, leaving them unable to communicate. The song’s opening lines immediately establish this disconnect: “Morning this morning the curtains are shut / I'll ring you in the morning but the phone's been cut”. The singer has been trying all day to connect with the person they love, but to no avail, leading to desperation and a sense of hopelessness.
The predicament is made even worse when it is revealed that the radio reporter has confirmed that the line is dead, advising the singer to write a letter instead. But the singer knows that a letter won’t reach their loved one in time and that the only way to communicate with them is through the telephone line. This is the crux of the song’s chorus: “I'd wish they'd fix the wires cause my baby won't know / That I'm leaving in the morning and I'm ready to go”. The singer is stuck in a bad connection that is keeping them from sharing important news with their loved one.
In the end, the singer is left feeling frustrated and defeated, packing their bags and leaving without being able to communicate properly. The song ends with a plaintive cry: “Can you hear me? / Oh can you hear me”. Overall, the lyrics of Bad Connection are a poignant reminder of how important communication is in our relationships and how frustrating it can be when we are unable to connect.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning this morning the curtains are shut
It's early morning and the curtains are closed, blocking the light from entering into the room.
I'll ring you in the morning but the phone's been cut
I intended to call you in the morning, but the phone line is disconnected.
Can you hear me I've been calling all day
I have been trying to reach you all day, but it seems like there is no response from your end.
The radio reporter said the line's all dead
According to the news report on the radio, there seems to be some problem with the telephone lines in the area and they are not working properly.
He told me that I oughta write a letter instead
The radio reporter suggested that I should write a letter as an alternative way to communicate since the phone line is dead.
[Chorus:] I'd wish they'd fix the wires cause my baby won't know That I'm leaving in the morning and I'm ready to go Can you hear me Can you hear me at all Gotta get the operator make a telephone call
I hope that the phone lines get fixed soon, otherwise, my significant other won't know that I am leaving in the morning. I need to call the operator and make a phone call to make sure that my message gets delivered.
And if I write a letter it won't get there on time I'll only reach you baby on the telephone line Can you hear me I've been calling all day
If I try to send a letter, it won't reach you on time. The only way to reach out to you is through a phone call, and I have been trying to call you all day.
My car's already and my bags are all packed I'm late already and I won't be back Can you hear me I've been calling all day
I am all set to leave, my bags are packed, and my car is ready. I have already delayed leaving and won't be able to stay any longer. I have been trying to reach you all day.
[Chorus] Oh can you hear me
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the fact that the singer desperately needs to make a phone call and hopes that the phone lines will start working again soon.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VINCE CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind