A perfect ending to Progress, the song is the band making amends with each other after all those years of fighting and distance.
The song was originally sung by Robbie (until they decided to go with Gary, which they’ve talked about) and that demo was included in the deluxe version of Take the Crow...
[Verse 1]
We became the parade on the streets that we once cleaned
Expendable soldiers smiling at anything
Raised on a feeling our lives would have meaning eventually
We were once the answer and then you discover
You're actually just one thing after another
And what was the question and why was the lesson so deafening?
[Chorus 1]
This is all that matters now
And that was all that happened anyhow
You can look back but don't stare
Maybe I can love you out of there
[Chorus 2]
And when I went away what I forgot to say
Was all I had to say:
Eight letters, three words, one meaning
[Verse 2]
And outside forces didn't make it easy
So I thought I'd go before you leave me
Self-preservation was no explanation for anything
But the truth is more than we'll ever comprehend
I'm just starting to understand, my friend
All of that distance, cause I fell in love with the enemy
[Chorus 1]
This is all that matters now
And that was all that happened anyhow
You can look back but don't stare
Maybe I can love you out of there
[Chorus 2]
And when I went away what I forgot to say
Was all I had to say:
Eight letters, three words, one meaning
And when I went away what I forgot to say
Was all I had to say:
Eight letters, three words, one meaning
[Bridge]
At last, we meet on no man's land
Just footprints in the sand
We meet on no man's land, at last
[Chorus 2]
And when I went away what I forgot to say
Was all I had to say:
Eight letters, three words, one meaning
And when I went away what I forgot to say
Was all I had to say:
Eight letters, three words, one meaning
[Outro]
One meaning
Just one meaning
Eight Letters was written by Chris Cross & Billy Currie & Warren Cann & Midge Ure & Gary Barlow & Howard Donald & Jason Orange & Mark Owen & Robbie Williams.
Eight Letters was produced by Stuart Price.
Take That released Eight Letters on Mon Nov 15 2010.