Talk Talk: "Such a Shame" (1984)

Talk Talk were an English musical group, active from 1981 to 1991. The group had a string of international hit singles including "Today", "Talk Talk", "It's My Life", "Such a Shame", "Dum Dum Girl", "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World".

In their later years the band's commercial appeal receded, and their critical reputation increased as they moved from synthpop to a more experimental form. Their last two albums, Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock, were highly acclaimed and remain influential to experimental alternative rock genres.

"Such a Shame" is a song written by Mark Hollis for Talk Talk's second album "It's My Life" (1984).

It was released as the album's second single in 1984 (see 1984 in music), and became a big hit in continental Europe in 1984 and 1985, reaching the Top 10 in numerous countries, and becoming a number one in certain territories (their second number one single after the remixed version of their song "Talk Talk" which topped the South African charts in 1983); but strangely this single was largely ignored in the UK. In the U.S., the song entered the Billboard Hot 100, and was a Top 20 hit in the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play.

"Such a shame" was inspired by Luke Rhinehart’s The Dice Man, one of composer Mark Hollis' favourite books. When asked what drove him to respond to Rhinehart’s book, Hollis replied, "A good book, not a lifestyle I'd recommend."

The song was also released in 2004. It was also featured in a European TV commercial for the French car Peugeot 205.


- Lyrics:

Such a shame
to believe in escape.
'A life on every face'
But that's a change,
until I'm finally left with an '8'.
Tell me to relax - I just stare.
Maybe I don't know
if I should change
a feeling that we share.
It's a shame

(such a shame)

Number me with rage
It's a shame (such a shame)
Number me in haste (such a shame)
This eagerness to change

It's a shame

The dice decide my fate
that's a shame
In these trembling hands my faith
tells me to react
"I don't care"
Maybe it's unkind if I should change
a feeling that we share.
It's a shame

(such a shame)

Number me with rage
It's a shame (such a shame)
Number me in haste (such a shame)
This eagerness to change

Such A shame


(Instrumental)


Tell me to relax - I just stare.
Maybe I don't know
if I should change
a feeling that we share.
It's a shame

(such a shame)

Number me with rage
It's a shame (such a shame)
Number me in haste It's a shame (such a shame)
Write across my name (such a shame)
This eagerness to change

Such A Shame