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
Ode to Boy
Yazoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He turns and laughter flickers in his eyes
Intent and direct when he speaks, I watch his lips
And when he drives I love to watch his hand
White and smooth almost feminine, almost American, I have to watch him.
[Chorus:]
In his face age descends on youth, exaggeration on the truth
And everything he seems to do reflects just another shade of blue
I saw him searching into you and ached a while
I watch his lips caress the glass,
His fingers stroke its stem and pass
To lift a cigarette at last, he dries his eyes
From a shadow by the stair
I watch as he weeps unaware
That I'm in awe of his despair, but I am there
[Chorus]
The song "Ode to Boy" by Yazoo is a melancholic and introspective exploration of unattainable infatuation. The singer describes their intense and almost obsessive attraction to a young man whom they observe from a distance. The opening lines set the scene for their fixation: "When he moves I watch him from behind." The singer is captivated by the way he carries himself, the way he speaks, and even the way he drives. The focus on physical attributes, such as his smooth and feminine hands, suggests that the attraction may be superficial or even fetishistic.
The second verse shifts the focus to the man's emotions, particularly his sadness. The singer watches him weep and feels a sense of awe for his vulnerability. The chorus describes the juxtaposition of youth and age in the man's face, and suggests that his actions are colored by a sense of sadness, reflected in the "shade of blue" that seems to permeate everything he does. The final line, "I saw him searching into you and ached a while," suggests that the singer is pained by the thought that the object of their desire may be interested in someone else or may be struggling with his own inner turmoil.
Overall, "Ode to Boy" is a haunting and beautiful portrayal of unrequited love and the intense emotions that can arise from a profound attraction to someone who is ultimately unattainable.
Line by Line Meaning
When he moves I watch him from behind
I observe him closely when he moves away from me.
He turns and laughter flickers in his eyes
As he turns, he smiles and I see a flicker of joy in his eyes.
Intent and direct when he speaks, I watch his lips
He is intentional and straightforward when he speaks, and I can't help but watch his lips move.
And when he drives I love to watch his hand
I enjoy watching his hand as he drives, it appears delicate and smooth like a woman's, almost like an American.
White and smooth almost feminine, almost American, I have to watch him.
His hand is so pale and soft it reminds me of a woman's hand, almost like that of an American woman, I can't help but be fascinated by him.
In his face age descends on youth, exaggeration on the truth
Looking at his face, I see a combination of youth and age, with a hint of embellishment on the truth.
He caught me looking then but soon his eyes forgot
He noticed me observing him, but quickly forgot about it.
And everything he seems to do reflects just another shade of blue
He seems melancholic in everything he does, reflecting an underlying sadness.
I saw him searching into you and ached a while
I watched him as he looked deeply into someone else and felt my own heart ache.
I watch his lips caress the glass,
I notice how his lips linger on the rim of the glass as he drinks.
His fingers stroke its stem and pass
His delicate fingers stroke the stem of the glass before moving on.
To lift a cigarette at last, he dries his eyes
He eventually lifts a cigarette to his lips, and in doing so, wipes away a tear.
From a shadow by the stair
I watch him from the shadows, hidden by the staircase.
I watch as he weeps unaware
I watch him cry, even though he is unaware of my presence.
That I'm in awe of his despair, but I am there
I am in awe of his pain and sadness, and I am right beside him, even though he doesn't know it.
[Chorus]
The refrain repeats the themes of age and melancholy, and my fascination and longing for this man.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MOYET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind