When most people think of Hazel O’Connor these days this is in fact the song that comes to mind, but there was a time when she was counted with the “bad girls” of rock, along with the likes of Siouxsie Sioux, Lene Lovich and Toyah Wilcox. Starring in the punk movie “Breaking glass” and with a hit on her hands in the shape of “Eighth Day”, she was claiming her place as another of the punk queens of England.
"Will you"
Hazel O’Connor
1981
from the album “Breaking glass” (original soundtrack)
But then she released this ballad, and is forever now linked with the song, which appears on love albums periodically. It’s a slightly bitter tale of two lovers, I believe, sitting after another boring day comes to a close, the same as their relationship it seems is doing. Hazel speaks to her lover, not in words but in her thoughts, watching what he does --- simple, ordinary tasks ---
”You drink your coffee and I sip my tea” --- while the tiniest hope of reconciliation or even romance hangs in the air like the Sword of Damocles. Hazel realises the chances are that nothing will happen, but fantasises in her mind what might be:
”Then we touch/ Oh it’s too much/ This moment I have waited for a long long time/ A shiver, makes me quiver”
It’s all fantasy though, and she watches as her lover ignores her and wonders if he will
”Just politely say goodnight?” The song is a beautiful one and Hazel’s vocal, brittle and cracking with repressed anger and recrimination, but also the desperation of someone who just wants to be loved, even once, is powerful. It opens on simple guitar with attendant piano coming in in a sort of staccato fashion, the first blast of sax belting in as the second verse begins. The percussion cuts in properly now, the piano taking a little more of the melody. Sax moans in counterpoint, then squeals before the bridge, as synthesised strings are added to the melody.
The best part however comes in the extended ending, with a long, mournful sax solo that comes in on the back of slow, measured drumming and takes the whole thing to a new level. A song quite rightly and deservedly reckoned one of the alltime classic love ballads, and one which never does, and never will, grow old.
You drink your coffee and I sip my tea,
And we're sitting here, playing so cool thinking "What will be, will be."
But it's getting kinda late now.
I wonder if you'll stay now, stay now, stay now, stay now?
Or will you just politely say "Goodnight"?
I move a little closer to you,
not knowing quite what to do
and I'm feeling all fingers and thumbs:
I spill my tea --- oh silly me!
But it's getting kinda late now.
I wonder if you'll stay now, stay now, stay now, stay now?
Or will you just politely say "Goodnight"?
And then we touch; much too much.
This moment has been waiting for a long, long time.
It makes me shiver, makes me quiver:
This moment I am so unsure;
This moment I have waited for:
Well is it something you've been waiting for?
Waiting for too?
Take off your eyes, bare your soul.
Gather me to you and make me whole.
Tell me your secrets, sing me the song.
Sing it to me in the silent tongue.
But it's getting kinda late now.
I wonder if you'll stay now, stay now, stay now, stay now?
Or will you just politely say "Goodnight"?