: The narrator warns, "My lies they fall like an acid rain" and describes a "tongue [that] is a dying flame," indicating a collapse of communication and the toxic residue of a failed bond.
: The setting is established with "November cold frost bites" and a bed described as "colder than chloroform". This medical/chemical metaphor suggests a numbing, artificial state of grief. Care - Whatever Possessed You (Lyrics)
Ian Broudie’s production provides a "majestic, often orchestral" backdrop that contrasts sharply with the bleakness of the prose. : The narrator warns, "My lies they fall
The lyrics of "Whatever Possessed You" are steeped in the imagery of coldness, decay, and the visceral end of a relationship. Simpson’s "dreamy, depressed croon" delivers lines that read like the work of Romantic poets. : The track features "explosive
: The track features "explosive, melodious 12-string guitars" and "eastern sounding chimes". This creates a lush, shimmering wall of sound that reviewers have described as the "missing link" between the brooding post-punk of Joy Division and the grandiosity of Echo & the Bunnymen.
Despite its brilliance, "Whatever Possessed You" failed to reach the commercial heights of their Top 50 hit "Flaming Sword". It has since become a cult classic, particularly in Japan and the Philippines. For Simpson, the song's themes of corrosion and coldness were mirrored in his own life—he was reportedly involved in a "self-destructive relationship" during the recording, which contributed to his sudden departure from the band.