Talk Talk - Such A Shame (Official Video)

“Such a Shame“ was inspired by Luke Rhinehart’s The Dice Man,[3] 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.“[4] General Comment: This song is about Luke Reinhart’s “The Dice Man,” wherein the main character uses a roll of the dice to determine his daily actions and add a measure of uncertainty to his otherwise mundane life, which is borne out by the line “The dice decide my fate.” “A life on every face” is a reference to the face of the dice, each one reflecting a different path for the narrator to follow and a different life for him to live. Hollis has been credited with saying, “Before you play two notes, learn how to play one note. And don’t play one note unless you’ve got a reason to play it.“[23] He also commented: “The silence is above everything, and I would rather hear one note than I would two, and I would rather hear silence than one note.“[24] In 1982, he cited his greatest influences as Burt Bacharach and William Burroughs.[25] “Such a Shame“ [Verse 1] Such a shame to believe in this game A life on every face And that’s a change ’Til I’m finally left with an eight 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 [Chorus] (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 [Verse 2] The dice decide my fate And that’s a shame In these trembling hands My faith tells me to react, I don’t care Maybe it’s unkind that I should change A feeling that we share It’s a shame See upcoming pop shows Get tickets for your favorite artists [Chorus] (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 [Bridge] 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 [Chorus] (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 it across my name, it’s a shame (Such a shame) Number me in haste (Such a shame) This eagerness to change [Outro] Such a shame