# Help me remember this late '80s song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 7, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742 "2006-04-07T16:56:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/1 "2006-04-07T16:56:06Z")
In late 1987 and early 1988, there was a song that was frequently played on rock/pop stations in New England (and maybe across the country, but that’s where I was at the time). It was in a minor key, had a male vocalist, and had lyrics which suggested that the vocalist/protagonist had been recently released from an asylum or mental institution. It had a winsome, rather sad feel to it. It _might_ have been sung by George Harrison, but I’m not at all sure of that. Does that ring a bell for anyone? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/2 "2006-04-07T17:20:22Z")
Hmmmm. Any others clues? Tempo? A smackeral of the lyrics? ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/3 "2006-04-07T17:31:03Z")
Wild guesses: REM- The One I Love David Bowie- Ashes to Ashes (though the album it was on was released in 1980) If it’s not those, I might be able to rack my brain and see if I can think of something else. The 80’s music I listen to is mostly on the New Wave side. Do you remember if it was a synth-based song or was it more guitar based? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/4 "2006-04-07T17:34:33Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > It _might_ have been sung by George Harrison, but I’m not at all sure of that. The only song I can think of by George Harrison that even vaguely fits the description would be [“Cheer Down.”](http://www.guitaretab.com/h/harrison-george/22785.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/5 "2006-04-07T17:45:54Z")
Slow tempo, almost elegiac in tone. Try as I might, I can’t remember any of the lyrics other than what I wrote in the OP (if I could, I’d have Googled it years ago). I’m almost certain it’s neither REM or Bowie, but I’ll check those out on iTunes. Having read the lyrics to “Cheer Down,” I’m sure it’s not that. I think it was mostly guitar and the singer’s voice; no synth that I remember. Thanks for your help so far. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/6 "2006-04-07T17:49:55Z")
“Rio” by Duran Duran. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/7 "2006-04-07T17:51:40Z")
I always thought that “Take Me Home” by Phill Collins sounded like someone being released from an asylum. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/8 "2006-04-07T17:54:36Z")
I meant to add some of the lyrics I remember: “I’ve been a prisoner all my life… but I can say to you that I don’t remember So take, take me home…” Something like that ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/9 "2006-04-07T17:57:49Z")
Isn’t that a Phil Collins song? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/10 "2006-04-07T17:59:18Z")
> [@Airblairxxx](#): > > Isn’t that a Phil Collins song? Yes, but I misidentified it as a ‘Phill’ Collins song! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/11 "2006-04-07T18:02:08Z")
But not PHILLL Collins. Crap, I saw your post right before mine and thought you were the OP. So never mind. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/12 "2006-04-07T18:10:57Z")
Artist: Yaz Album: Upstairs at Erics Title: In My Room Lyrics: (Partial due to copyright concerns) > [@](#): > > [chorus](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/yaz/in-my-room.html) > the walls are white and in the night > the room is lit by electric light > > i stand and watch the clock > i only wait for it to stop > the doors are shut and all the windows lock > the only sound is from the clock > i sit and wait alone in my room ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/13 "2006-04-07T18:31:42Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > Slow tempo, almost elegiac in tone. Try as I might, I can’t remember any of the lyrics other than what I wrote in the OP (if I could, I’d have Googled it years ago). I’m almost certain it’s neither REM or Bowie, but I’ll check those out on iTunes. Having read the lyrics to “Cheer Down,” I’m sure it’s not that. I think it was mostly guitar and the singer’s voice; no synth that I remember. > > Thanks for your help so far. Well, if you don’t find the song you’re looking for, you’ll at least get something out of this; the Bowie song is one of my favorites. I’m not a big fan of that particular REM song though. U2’s album The Joshua Tree was release in 1987 and some of the songs from it seem like they might fit your criteria. The Smiths’ album Strangeways Here We Come was also released that year. The song that immediately springs to mind is “Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me”. I’d be really surprised if it received radio play in the US though (or anywhere for this particular song). Plus this song doesn’t seem like it could easily be confused with George Harrison’s music. I don’t know how good the iTunes preview would be, because the song has a long intro that’s different from the rest of it. It looks like George Harrison did release an album in 87, [Cloud Nine](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jtklu325andk). Maybe [this link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_in_music) will help you out. I found it by googling [popular songs in 1987](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=popular+songs+in+1987), there are several useful looking links that turn up, but the Wikipedia one looks the most useful. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/14 "2006-04-07T18:58:13Z")
[Institutionalized](http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/suicidaltendencies/suicidaltendencies.html#12) by the _Suicidal Tendencies_? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/15 "2006-04-07T19:07:23Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > [Institutionalized](http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/suicidaltendencies/suicidaltendencies.html#12) by the _Suicidal Tendencies_? Slow tempo, almost elegiac in tone? :dubious: Now that this thread is open, I have a question too. I heard this one song? On the radio? And I think there was a guy singing? And maybe guitars? Can anyone help me figure out what song it was? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/16 "2006-04-07T19:15:48Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Slow tempo, almost elegiac in tone? :dubious: > > Now that this thread is open, I have a question too. > > I heard this one song? On the radio? And I think there was a guy singing? And maybe guitars? > > Can anyone help me figure out what song it was? Was it Billy Joel? Sounds like something he’d do! ---
**Author:** ![VegemiteMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/df788c/32.png) [@VegemiteMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegemiteMoose)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/17 "2006-04-07T20:05:01Z")
Hey **Elendil’s Heir**. The first two bands that popped into my head were **The Housemartins** and **The Smithereens**. Good luck, I hope you find out. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/18 "2006-04-07T20:38:53Z")
The first song that comes to my mind is _I Don’t Mind at All_ by Bourgeois Tagg (and produced by Todd Rundgren). Here’s a link to the lyrics: [http://www.lyricsvault.net/songs/7365.html](http://www.lyricsvault.net/songs/7365.html) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/19 "2006-04-07T20:46:48Z")
Are you familiar with **The Smiths** and/or **Morrisey**? Lots of the Smiths’ catalog would fit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742/20 "2006-04-07T20:56:45Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Slow tempo, almost elegiac in tone? :dubious: All I wanted was a Pepsi. Just one Pepsi. AND YOU WOULDN’T GIVE IT TO ME!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-late-80s-song/351742.md?page=2)