Home > Format >

Up and Down

Writers - Tennant/Lowe
First released - 2009
Original album - Format
Producer - Pet Shop Boys
Subsequent albums - Yes 2017 reissue Further Listening 2008-2010 bonus disc
Other releases - bonus track with single "Did You See Me Coming?"

The Boys wrote this song (or at least an early version of it) in 2003 with the original title "No Excuse." They recorded it in April 2009—retitling it in the process—and released it as a bonus track on the "Did You See Me Coming?" single. Tom Stephan, aka Superchumbo, has done a remix of it.

This fairly simple but appealing song expresses the narrator's wild swings of mood depending on the presence or absence of his lover. Despite his conscientious efforts to stay healthy and focused, leading what appears to all outside observers to be a well-balanced life, he finds himself a victim of his feelings. He says he has "a secret agenda" that rules his private life: "I miss you so much, I'm a mess." As the chorus goes,

I go up, I go down
I go crazy when you're not around

It's obvious that this lover isn't around nearly as much as the narrator would like. As so often is the case in PSB songs, we're left with the distinct impression that this relationship doesn't have a very bright future. It's quite indicative, in fact, that the narrator describes his mental state by referring to himself as "a cloud in trousers." That also happens to be the title of a 1915 poem by the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, the narrator of which is also a rejected, frustrated lover.

As a final, interesting sidenote, the "Tom Stephan Vocal Mix" of "Up and Down" includes percussion samples that sound very much as though they've been lifted from the Boys' own classic "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)."

Annotations

"I float away like a cloud in trousers" – The phrase "a cloud in trousers" is borrowed from the translated title of a 1915 poem by Russian poet and playwright Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893-1930). The poem is written from the perspective of a spurned lover, which corresponds to the situation in which the song's narrator finds himself. It's possibly of interest to note that Mayakovsky died under mysterious circumstances. Officially his death was listed as suicide, allegedly because he was distraught over a recent breakup with his lover, an actress. But many believe he may have been murdered by the Soviets on account of his increasingly outspoken disenchantment with government policies.
"… another night of desperate housewives" – Although it's not capitalized, placed in quotes, italicized, or typographically set off in any other way, it's virtually certain that this line alludes (if not directly refers) to the U.S. television comedy-drama Desperate Housewives, which debuted in 2004. It has proven extremely popular not only in the States but also in Britain and a number of other countries.
Once, during an interview quite early in their career, Neil described Chris as "moody," elaborating, "He's a very up and down person. When he's in a good mood he's very very funny and light. When he's in a bad mood he makes everything a bit grim, there's no communicating with him." This, of course, doesn't necessarily mean that Chris was the inspiration for this song.

Mixes/Versions

Officially released

Mixer: Pet Shop Boys and Pete Gleadall
- "Seven-inch mix" (3:42)
  - Available as a bonus track with the "Did You See Me Coming?" single
Mixer: Tom Stephan
- Tom Stephan Vocal Mix (7:57)
  - Available as a bonus track with both the "Did You See Me Coming?" single and the German-only "Beautiful People" single

List cross-references

All text on this website aside from direct quotations (such as of lyrics and of other nonoriginal content) is copyright © 2001-2023 by Wayne Studer. All Rights Reserved. All lyrics and images are copyright © their respective dates by their respective owners. Brief quotations and small, low-resolution images are used for identification and critical commentary, thereby constituting Fair Use under U.S. copyright law. Billboard chart data are copyright © their respective dates by Nielsen Business Media, Inc.