"Talk About the Weather" is the title track from Red Lorry Yellow Lorry’s debut album, released in 1985 on the Red Rhino label. The song and album are seminal works in the UK post-punk and gothic rock scenes, marked by their stark, driving sound and emotionally distant atmosphere. The album was a commercial success on the indie charts, peaking at No. 3 on the NME indie rock albums chart and remaining there for several months123.
Musical Style and Themes
The track exemplifies the band’s signature style: relentless, rigid drum machine rhythms, an impenetrable wall of distorted guitars, and Chris Reed’s deep, commanding vocals2. The music is moody and downbeat, evoking "gray skies and fog"—an atmosphere that resonates with fans of post-punk and gothic rock42.
Lyrically, "Talk About the Weather" uses meteorological imagery as a metaphor for emotional distance and communication barriers in relationships. The song’s protagonist expresses a desire for genuine connection—wanting to "stand in the rain and get you wet"—while the other person remains withdrawn, preferring to "talk about the weather" rather than confront deeper feelings5. The repeated references to being "soaked to the skin" and "sheltered from tomorrow" underscore themes of vulnerability, avoidance, and longing for intimacy.
Notable Lyrics
"You want to talk about the weather
Saturation is a point
There’s nothing left you know
Nowhere left for me to hide
Nothing left but still alive
To face it all and here today
There’s nothing left in you and me
And I can’t show you this inside
If all you want to do is hide" 5
Legacy and Reception
"Talk About the Weather" remains a fan favorite and a classic of the post-punk era, praised for its atmospheric sound and emotional directness. The album’s success helped establish Red Lorry Yellow Lorry as a key band in the 1980s UK alternative scene123.
Personnel
- Chris Reed – vocals, guitar
- David Wolfenden – guitar
- Paul Southern – bass
- Mick Brown – drums3
Key Facts Table
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | Red Lorry Yellow Lorry |
| Song | Talk About the Weather |
| Album | Talk About the Weather (1985) |
| Genre | Post-punk, gothic rock |
| UK Indie Chart Peak | No. 3 (NME indie albums chart) |
| Notable Themes | Emotional distance, communication, vulnerability |
| Label | Red Rhino |
Summary
"Talk About the Weather" is a quintessential post-punk track—brooding, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant—using the metaphor of weather to explore the complexities of communication and connection in relationships524.
