The lyrics of "Whatever Possessed You" are steeped in the imagery of coldness, decay, and the visceral end of a relationship. Simpson’s "dreamy, depressed croon" delivers lines that read like the work of Romantic poets.
: The track features "explosive, melodious 12-string guitars" and "eastern sounding chimes". This creates a lush, shimmering wall of sound that reviewers have described as the "missing link" between the brooding post-punk of Joy Division and the grandiosity of Echo & the Bunnymen. Care - Whatever Possessed You (Lyrics)
: The setting is established with "November cold frost bites" and a bed described as "colder than chloroform". This medical/chemical metaphor suggests a numbing, artificial state of grief. The lyrics of "Whatever Possessed You" are steeped
"Whatever Possessed You" is a haunting mid-80s masterpiece by the Liverpool duo , comprised of vocalist Paul Simpson and producer/guitarist Ian Broudie. Released in early 1984, the track serves as a poignant epitaph for the band itself; Simpson famously walked out on the group just as the single hit the shops, leading to the shelving of their nearly completed debut album. The song’s lyrics and composition are a masterclass in neo-psychedelic gloom and romantic despair. The Winter of Discontent: Lyrical Themes This creates a lush, shimmering wall of sound
Ian Broudie’s production provides a "majestic, often orchestral" backdrop that contrasts sharply with the bleakness of the prose.