Talk Talk - Asides Besides

Happiness is Easy (12" Mix) by Talk Talk

John Cope by Talk Talk

Here I offer two of the most compelling songs by the 80's group Talk Talk. These are later works when the group had begun stripping out the synth-heavy orchestrations and gone much, more percussive. They would later be attributed to influencing a style of music called 'post-rock' in which traditional rock instruments were employed "for non-rock purposes, using guitars as facilitators of timbres and textures rather than riffs and power chords" (The Wired, May 1994)

I had never really paid too much attention to the lyrics, although the vocalizations in these songs are intrigal to the effects they produce. Upon further analysis of the words, a powerful social engagement is revealed by the lyricist. I am not exactly sure what to make of the strong Christian symbology in Happiness is Easy; but, there are several lines that show a skepicism of organized religon and a warning of blind alligence. How apropros.




Happiness Is Easy
(Mark Hollis / Tim Friese-Greene)

Makes you feel much older
Sublime the blind parade
It wrecks me how they justify their acts of war
They assemble, they pray
Take good care of what the priests say
'After death it's so much fun'
Little sheep don't let your feet stray
Happiness is easy
Joy be written upon the earth
And the sky above
Jesus star that shines so bright
Gather us in love
Guilt upon their shoulders
How well the cause evades
Infecting your religions, claiming pacts
It's easy to shoulder the blame
Happiness is easy
Little ships of Galilee
Happiness is easy
Standing on the sea
Happiness is easy
Jesus tried to love us all
Happiness is easy
Be a friend to me
Happiness is easy
Try to teach my children
To recognise excuse before it acts
From love and conviction to pray
Take good care of what the priests say
'After death it's so much fun'
Little sheep don't let your feet stray
Happiness is easy
Little ships of Galilee
Standing on the sea
Jesus tried to love us all
Be a friend to me
Joy be written upon the earth
And the sky above
Jesus star that shines so bright
Gather us in love

John Cope
(Mark Hollis / Tim Friese-Greene)
Weapons at my feet
Some kind of living
Beggar sits to plead
Some kind of giving


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