# The song "True" by Spandau Ballet **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539 "2014-05-29T04:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/21 "2014-05-29T14:13:28Z")
I try to stay on the scene, like a sex machine. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/22 "2014-05-29T14:17:35Z")
My question about the song: how much does a ticket to the world cost? ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/23 "2014-05-29T15:02:16Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > My question about the song: how much does a ticket to the world cost? It depends on whether you want to be in Economy or Business class, and how many miles you want to fly. On Delta’s [Round the World Planner](http://roundtheworld.skyteam.com/B2C/301b20145495211985/ConsumerTool/en/Home/MainPage), you can fly up to 26000 miles in Economy for $4492.80, or up to 38000 miles in Business for $15264.60 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/24 "2014-05-29T15:47:24Z")
Why did they find it so hard to write the next line? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/25 "2014-05-29T16:35:12Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > [And why didn’t the horse have a name?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQzW6wz2JQk) If you’re going to go America, don’t forget the alligator lizards in the air on the Ventura Highway. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/26 "2014-05-29T16:43:09Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why did they find it so hard to write the next line? It’s hard to write lines when you’re too busy snorting them…? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/27 "2014-05-29T16:47:28Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > My question about the song: how much does a ticket to the world cost? That’s where, I believe, he proves himself an idiot. Tickets to the world are free yet someone much smarter, convinced him he needed to buy one. (while supplies last) ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/28 "2014-05-29T17:40:40Z")
Great rule of thumb: If you can’t figure out what an 80’s song is about, the answer is “Masturbation” ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/29 "2014-05-29T18:08:29Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > That’s where, I believe, he proves himself an idiot. Tickets to the world are free yet someone much smarter, convinced him he needed to buy one. (while supplies last) Wait, what if you do need a ticket? _Could we get kicked out???_ ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/30 "2014-05-29T18:16:37Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Wait, what if you do need a ticket? > > _Could we get kicked out???_ Yes, when they’ve punched your ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/31 "2014-05-29T18:46:39Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Your quote actually mostly just gives the context of the song’s authorship. You quote contains only one single reference to what it is about namely “Kemp’s platonic relationship with Altered Images singer Clare Grogan” but firstly I defy you to interpret the actual words in a manner that shows this to be correct and secondly it doesn’t answer the OP’s question. Second part first: Seems obvious to me. Why can’t platonic love be “true?” As far as lyrical interpretations, and how one might get that out of them, it’s rather difficult, but I read them as “it’s better that it’s platonic, but that doesn’t mean that have to like it.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/32 "2014-05-29T18:57:07Z")
Since when did anyone really care about figuring out Spandau Ballet\* lyrics, anyway? \*I’ve always considered that a particularly morbid band name for the genre, actually. Yet it would somehow not fit into the metal/deathmetal genre the actual meaning seems to belong in… ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/33 "2014-05-29T18:59:03Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > A lot of _Human League_ fans on the Dope, it seems. I wasn’t classing them as fluff, just incomprehensible lyrics. One man’s poetry is another man’s juvenile nonsense. But I will concede that maybe I shouldn’t have plucked _Human League_ out of the air, and should have chosen more carefully. That’s fine, I’m not precious about it even though I am a fan. There certainly was enough juvenile and pretentious nonsense around in the early 80’s but, as you concede, The Human League were less guilty than most. (However, Spandau Ballet probably _were_ repeat offenders when it comes to incomprehensibility…“She loved like diamond”? did she really Tony…in what way exactly? was she overpriced and tacky?) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/34 "2014-05-29T19:43:25Z")
What’s funny is, _Dare_ was probably one of the first 80’s albums I bought. I thought it was allright. A guy in class asked me what kind of music I listened to and I told him I liked Human League. He goes, “Ugh. Fluffy crap. You should get into the B-52s\*.” At various points in my life I’ve agreed and disagreed with that sentiment. Their (B-52s)eponymous album IS outstanding. Over time my opinion of the Human League degraded, but I’m willing to give them SOME credit. \*Not that the B-52s is terribly deep music. I’m sure a lot of people would think they were the definition of ‘fluffy’. Not I, but a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/35 "2014-05-29T20:15:11Z")
It’s the Synchronicity of the 99 Red Balloons Burning Down the House, and the Little Red Corvette that Killed the Radio Star with all the Girls who Just Wanna Wear Sunglasses at Night. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/36 "2014-05-29T21:15:11Z")
I looked up the lyrics and after careful consideration I have to say True is about…writer’s block. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/37 "2014-05-29T21:24:35Z")
missed the edit window:ninja’d. The masturbation angle is kind of creepy but works altogether too well, Jenny/867-5309, She’s a Beauty by The Tubes, Candy O by The Cars,etc. Scary! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/38 "2014-05-29T21:47:44Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > missed the edit window:ninja’d. The masturbation angle is kind of creepy but works altogether too well, Jenny/867-5309, She’s a Beauty by The Tubes, Candy O by The Cars,etc. Scary! Turning Japanese is the type specimen for that. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/39 "2014-05-29T23:03:12Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > “I know this much is true” refers the the line “I want the truth to be said (be known)” Well whaddaya know, an actual answer. This actually makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539/40 "2014-05-30T01:50:08Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Why did they find it so hard to write the next line? Because it’s hard for a young man to write an honest love song. “True is about how difficult it is to be honest when you’re trying to write a love song to someone. Hence: “Why do I find it hard to write the next line?” The lyrics are full of coded messages to Clare. I’m still berated for the line “Take your seaside arms” but it’s straight out of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, which she had given me as a present – although in the book, it’s “seaside limbs”. The line “With a thrill in my head and a pill on my tongue” is also a bastardisation of Nabokov. I don’t want to embarrass Clare. I was 22 and she was 18. True was really a song about me and my idea of love.” > **[How we made: Gary Kemp and Steve Norman on True](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/may/14/how-we-made-true-spandau-ballet)** > > ‘I still get berated for the line “Take your seaside arms”, but it’s from Nabokov’s Lolita’ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-song-true-by-spandau-ballet/689539.md?page=3)