There are two different versions of “Where Do You Go.” Frank Farian (Franz Reuther) was behind a group called La Bouche and they recorded one version of this song. The words were changed and then recorded very soon afterwards by a different group, also organized by Farian. The second group was called No Mercy.

It’s hard to tell who wrote the lyrics for each version. As a matter of fact, I’ve never had such a hard time figuring out whom to credit with writing the lyrics. I guess it’s not entirely surprising — when Farian has his hand in something, the issue of who should get credit for what gets foggy fast.

Wikipedia has Franz Reuther as one of the songwriters, but LyricFind does not. LyricFind puts the songwriters in this order for the La Bouche version: Peter Bischof-Fallenstein, James Walls, G. Mart. For the No Mercy version, LyricFind puts the songwriters in this order: G. Mart, James Walls, Peter Bischof-Fallenstein.

The first (La Bouche) version was not inspired in terms of lyrics and sound. The second (No Mercy) version was.

My source tells me that Frank Farian was initially supportive of the idea of running with altered lyrics for No Mercy, but then things got, in his opinion, thoroughly ‘out of hand’ when there was genuine collaboration between the lyricists and the singers. It became an enjoyable process for them and Farian was not able to pull the strings as perfectly as he would have liked that time. Things got away from him, and he never likes it when that happens.

No Mercy has three members – Marty Cintron, Ariel Hernández and Gabriel Hernández. These last two are twin brothers. As for lyricists, I’ll write their names as I believe they were.

I’m so glad a dance track made it.

Where Do You Go — No Mercy
(Lyrics: G. Mart, Kristof Lehnoberde, Joseph Vöulkniér, Marty Cintron)

Where do you go, my lovely?
Where do you go?
I want to know, my lovely, I want to know

Where do you go, oh oh eh oh
I want to know, oh oh eh oh
Where do you go, oh oh eh oh
I want to know
Where do you, where do you go
Where do you, where do you go

You leave without a word, no message, no number
And now my head is pounding like rolling thunder
You left me with a heartache deep inside
Girl you should see me cry all night, and I wonder

Everybody says, what a shame, what is wrong
They don’t like the game we play
Heard you’re hanging round every night until dawn
I’m waiting for you night and day

Where do you go, my lovely
Where do you go
I want to know, my lovely, I want to know

Where do you go, oh oh eh oh
I want to know, oh oh eh oh
Where do you go, oh oh eh oh
I want to know
You gotta break the silence, don’t keep me waiting
Just like a river flowing to the sea
You’re running back to me
Come hear what I’m saying

Where do you go, my lovely
I want to know

Where do you go, oh oh oh
Where do you go, oh oh oh
I want to know
Where do you, where do you go?

Save me

Come back and dry the tears, I cried for you baby
You’ve gotta stop this heartache deep inside
You’ve gotta help me make it through the night safely
Come back and save me
Where do you go, my lovely
Where do you go
I want to know, my lovely, I want to know
Where do you go, my lovely
Where do you go
I want to know
Where do you, where do you go

The next song also features brothers — Toby Pipes and Todd Pipes teamed up with John Kirtland, Clay Bergus and Kirk Tatom. This song was unpopular with some critics, but they were wrong. It’s amusing and endearing and bigger than it looks.

The song is directed to someone who gives many vague and in vogue reasons to end a relationship, without admitting that the real reason is that her heart just isn’t in it anymore. The writer knows what’s going on — “Still I know you just don’t care” — but he doesn’t say that out loud. Instead, he makes his argument in favour of continuing the relationship using her standards. In other words, she is saying that in order to continue, the relationship needs a common interest. That’s what she says is needed, when the truth is that the success of any relationship depends on intention — do the parties involved want it to succeed or not? In this song, the writer does want it to succeed and makes his pitch. He’s able to come up with the tiniest sliver of commonality — they both somewhat enjoyed the same movie. Since she agrees that he’s found something, the song has a ‘happy ending.’

Breakfast at Tiffany’s — Deep Blue Something
(Lyrics: Todd Pipes)

You’ll say we’ve got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we’re falling apart
You’ll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
Still I know you just don’t care

And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
She said I think I remember the film
And as I recall I think we both kind of liked it
And I said Well that’s the one thing we’ve got

I see you, the only one who knew me
But now your eyes see through me
I guess I was wrong
So what now?
It’s plain to see we’re over
And I hate when things are over
When so much is left undone

And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
She said I think I remember the film
And as I recall I think we both kind of liked it
And I said well that’s the one thing we’ve got

You’ll say that we’ve got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we’re falling apart
You’ll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
Still I know you just don’t care

And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
She said I think I remember the film
And as I recall I think, we both kind of liked it
And I said well that’s the one thing we’ve got