Telegraph

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

About Telegraph

"Telegraph" is a song by the British band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and is the second single from their studio album Dazzle Ships. "Telegraph" was originally slated to be the first single release, but being unhappy with the mix and with pressure from Virgin, the band opted instead to release "Genetic Engineering". The song was first recorded in 1981 at The Manor studios and had been under consideration for the Architecture & Morality album. The lyrics on the original 1981 version and the 1983 version are different in places, reflecting the harder edge the original version presented. The 1981 version was released on the 2008 re-released Dazzle Ships album as an extra track. The original inspiration for "Telegraph" came from Andy McCluskey's strong feelings against politics and religion at the time. These motifs were weakened for the version on Dazzle Ships. Critic Stewart Mason in AllMusic retrospectively described the song as "insanely catchy" and "brilliant", adding: "[A]s the state-of-1983 electronics of the arrangement sound more and more quaint, the irony grows sharper.""Telegraph" was OMD's first single not to enter the top 40 in the UK since achieving chart success with the single "Messages" in May 1980. It was included on the CD and cassette versions of the group's first singles compilation album The Best of OMD in 1988 (in a remix unique to that release), but omitted from the second singles compilation The OMD Singles in 1998. 


Year:
1983
2:57
93 
#1

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I've got a telegraph in my hand.
Words on paper, written in sand.

We've got telegraph, right across this land.
It doesn't mean a damn thing.
We don't understand.
But who needs telegraph anyway?

I've got a telegraph in my hand.
Words on paper, written in sand.

We've got telegraph, right across this land.
It doesn't mean a damn thing.
We don't understand, we never understand!

God's got a telegraph on his side.
It makes Him powerful, gives Him pride.
Even in America, God bless America!
They understand the value of the telegraph.
Hand in hand, hand in hand...

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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are a British New Wave group formed in 1978, whose founding members, Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals), are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England. The band rose to fame with their fourth single "Enola Gay", which became a major hit throughout Europe in 1980, and achieved worldwide popularity the following year with their third album Architecture & Morality. Regarded as the band's seminal work, it spawned three international hit singles and propelled them to superstar status in their home country. OMD, whose music frequently eschewed traditional pop music arrangements in favour of experimentation, were retrospectively described by AllMusic's Ned Raggett as having been… more »

4 fans

Written by: ANDREW MC CLUSKEY, PAUL DAVID HUMPHREYS

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Genre
"Telegraph" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) is classified as a synth-pop song, combining the elements of pop music and the synthesizer.
Release
Released in 1983, it was the second single from their fifth studio album, Dazzle Ships.
Chart Rankings
Upon release, "Telegraph" reached No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart, marking a decline in the band's previously high chart placements.
Music Video
The music video for "Telegraph" predominantly features the band performing on a stage set with multiple television sets, reflecting their industrial and electronic music style.
Inspirations
The song "Telegraph" and the album Dazzle Ships have both been inspired by the Cold War environment that prevailed during the 1980s.
Co-writers
The song was written by OMD members Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper, Malcolm Holmes, and Andy McCluskey.
Production
"Telegraph" was produced by respected musician and producer Rhett Davies - who had previously worked with artists like Roxy Music and Brian Eno.
Presentation
Known for its synthesized soundscapes, "Telegraph" is praised for its blend of traditional pop songcraft with a sense of sonic experimentation.
Legacy
Despite its lower chart achievement, "Telegraph" is now regarded as a classic OMD single and is often included in the live performances and compilations.
Concept
The song "Telegraph" and the entire Dazzle Ships album is characterized by its highly conceptual approach, utilizing sound samples, synthesizer patches, and a decidedly less commercial direction compared to their previous works.
Reactions
Initially, fans and critics had mixed reactions to the song and the album due to the experimental approach adopted by the band. However, over time, its influence and audacity have been more widely acknowledged.
Reissue
In 2008, a reissue of Dazzle Ships included a live version of "Telegraph" recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London.

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