I'm surprised there's not more information about this song, here or otherwise.
All I've been able to gather is that there is a Stanlow oil refinery in England. It seems a stretch to link the lyrics to a refinery, though.
Actually, I'm pretty sure the word Stanlow itself does refer to the refinery as it's situated close to where the band come from (and it's visible from miles around so it's unlikely to be a coincidence). No idea what the rest of the song's about, though. I once heard it described as 'a simple love song', or words to that effect, but I always thought there must be more to it than that. I agree that the lack of information is strange. Probably one of my favourite OMD songs, though.
Actually, I'm pretty sure the word Stanlow itself does refer to the refinery as it's situated close to where the band come from (and it's visible from miles around so it's unlikely to be a coincidence). No idea what the rest of the song's about, though. I once heard it described as 'a simple love song', or words to that effect, but I always thought there must be more to it than that. I agree that the lack of information is strange. Probably one of my favourite OMD songs, though.
The song is indeed about the Stanlow oil refinery which is beside the motorway that takes to the Wirral peninsula where the band are from. The machine sound at the start and end of the track is a recording of a pump at the the refinery where Paul Humphries father used to work.
The song is indeed about the Stanlow oil refinery which is beside the motorway that takes to the Wirral peninsula where the band are from. The machine sound at the start and end of the track is a recording of a pump at the the refinery where Paul Humphries father used to work.
The Oil Refinery is unmissable from the M53 and M56 motorways (the two meet near Stanlow) particular at night when it is lit up by thousands of lights and the band passed it many times on their way home from gigs.
The Oil Refinery is unmissable from the M53 and M56 motorways (the two meet near Stanlow) particular at night when it is lit up by thousands of lights and the band passed it many times on their way home from gigs.
I'm surprised there's not more information about this song, here or otherwise. All I've been able to gather is that there is a Stanlow oil refinery in England. It seems a stretch to link the lyrics to a refinery, though.
Actually, I'm pretty sure the word Stanlow itself does refer to the refinery as it's situated close to where the band come from (and it's visible from miles around so it's unlikely to be a coincidence). No idea what the rest of the song's about, though. I once heard it described as 'a simple love song', or words to that effect, but I always thought there must be more to it than that. I agree that the lack of information is strange. Probably one of my favourite OMD songs, though.
Actually, I'm pretty sure the word Stanlow itself does refer to the refinery as it's situated close to where the band come from (and it's visible from miles around so it's unlikely to be a coincidence). No idea what the rest of the song's about, though. I once heard it described as 'a simple love song', or words to that effect, but I always thought there must be more to it than that. I agree that the lack of information is strange. Probably one of my favourite OMD songs, though.
Definitely about the oil refinery, Andy Mc once told me when chatting to him after a gig. It's quite a site, enough to provoke or inspire the tune.
Definitely about the oil refinery, Andy Mc once told me when chatting to him after a gig. It's quite a site, enough to provoke or inspire the tune.
Confirmed. At a 2011 concert in New York, Andy McCluskey described it as "a love song to an oil refinery".
Confirmed. At a 2011 concert in New York, Andy McCluskey described it as "a love song to an oil refinery".
There may be additional layers of meaning, probably personal, to it, however.
There may be additional layers of meaning, probably personal, to it, however.
The song is indeed about the Stanlow oil refinery which is beside the motorway that takes to the Wirral peninsula where the band are from. The machine sound at the start and end of the track is a recording of a pump at the the refinery where Paul Humphries father used to work.
The song is indeed about the Stanlow oil refinery which is beside the motorway that takes to the Wirral peninsula where the band are from. The machine sound at the start and end of the track is a recording of a pump at the the refinery where Paul Humphries father used to work.
The Oil Refinery is unmissable from the M53 and M56 motorways (the two meet near Stanlow) particular at night when it is lit up by thousands of lights and the band passed it many times on their way home from gigs.
The Oil Refinery is unmissable from the M53 and M56 motorways (the two meet near Stanlow) particular at night when it is lit up by thousands of lights and the band passed it many times on their way home from gigs.