Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? – (Song)

Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke is the latest English single. We started playing it on the last US tour, but never took it too seriously until we went in the studio. All we had at first was the title, then I wrote the words in about ten minutes. It’s the most spontaneous song – Mike Peters doing a track by track guide to Declaration – Boston Rock Magazine 1984

When we first recorded the guitar riff to this song, it sounded like Thin Lizzy or something, as Alan Shacklock made Eddie and Dave do a dual guitar/E-bow harmony part. We had a huge row about it until eventually it was decided to scrap the harmony part and beef up the riff with harmonica. This sound went on to become a bit of a trademark for usMike Peters, Alarm 2000 collection liner notes

Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke? first appeared as a single released in January 1984 and then appears on the Declaration album released on 13th February 1984

Declaration album recording details
Running length 2:57
Written by Macdonald / Peters

Musician & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic &Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Alan Shacklock – Hammond Organ

Backing track recorded at Good Earth Studios, Soho, London W1D, England 3rd November 1983
Produced & mixed by Alan Shacklock
Engineered by Chris Porter

Alternative studio recording releases ~ Acoustic ~ Remastered

1995 – Acoustic recording details
Running length : 2:52
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Recorded at Fort Apache, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Produced by Michael Peters
Recorded by Dan McLoughlin

2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Declaration Remastered release
Running length : 3:01
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Alan Shacklock – Hammond Organ
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000

Album appearances and discography for studio versions


All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
(All Images right click to open larger in new window)


(V)
13th February 1984 The Alarm – Declaration
Released in the UK on vinyl IRSA 7044, cassette IRSC 7044, CD IRS CDA 7044 by IRS Records
Declaration was released on vinyl, cassette and CD in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia. Vinyl only South Korea, New Zealand, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Europe. Cassette only Netherlands
Original 1983 recording


28th October 1997 – Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986 – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C004. (CD) 1995 Fort Apache Recording

2000 – The Alarm – Declaration (1984-1985) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Catalogue number 21C011. Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc. This is a remaster of the original 1983 recording.

Single appearances and discography for studio versions

7″ & 12″ Single Release – January 1984

Officially released live recordings – Audio

All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)

15th January 2000. Recorded at The Gathering 8, The North Wales Conference Centre, Llandudno, Wales. Running Length 3:32
Band Line up : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve Grantley.
4th December 2000. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland.
5th December 2000. Recorded at University, Newcastle, England. Running Length 3:46
7th December 2000. Recorded at The Cockpit, Leeds, England. Running Length 3:17
8th December 2000. Recorded at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England.
9th December 2000. Recorded at The Lomax, Liverpool, England. Running Length 3:42
13th December 2000. Recorded at Rock City, Nottingham, England.
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12, England.
Running Length 3:38
Also released on CD in USA on Beyond (398 578 223-2 / BEY 78223) and Japan on Imperial Records (TECI-24086) in 2001, reissued in UK, and Europe on Eagle Records (EAMCD301) Australia & New Zealand (CDR0795) and USA (ER 20057-2) as The Alarm – Greatest Hits Live
16th December 2000. Recorded at University, Cardiff, Wales. Running Length 3:38
17th December 2000. Recorded at University, Manchester, England. Running Length 3:39
The band line up for all of the December live shows were : Mike PetersJames Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley. The CD releases of the December dates were called Live In ……..
These December dates were part of the tour to promote The Alarm 2000 collection and were billed as The Alarm MM.

6th February 2001. Recorded at Logo, Hamburg, Germany
10th February 2001. Recorded at Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany Running Length 3:43
12th April 2001. Recorded at T.T. The Bear’s Place, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
13th April 2001. Recorded at The Vanderbilt, Plainview, New York, USA
(Band Line up : tbc for the Feb and April dates)
The CD releases of the February and April dates were called Live At ……..

1st February 2003. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland. Running Length 4:38
6th February 2003. Recorded at Masque Theatre, Liverpool, England. Running Length 2:26
7th February 2003. Recorded at The Mean Fiddler, Harlesden, London NW10, England.
Running Length 2:37
(Band Line up : tbc)
he CD releases of the February dates are called Live At ……..
23rd August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:13. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 4 – The New Wave Songs Are Rising
3rd November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
5th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
10th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running Length 3:39
12th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
17th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running Length 3:35
19th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
20th November 2003. Recorded at Elbo Room, Chicago, Illinois, USA Running Length 3:24
21st November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (West, Hollywood), Los Angeles, California, USA Running Length 3:07
(Band Line up : tbc for the November dates)
The CD releases of the November dates are called Live At ……..

26th February 2004. Recorded at Municipal Arts Centre, Pontypridd, Wales.
Running Length 3:24
7th March 2004. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland 
Running Length 3:15.
Band line up for February and March : Mike PetersJames StevensonCraig AdamsSteve Grantley
CD’s released on CD as Live at …….
29th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:01. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 7 – Out Come The Flags And Banners Again

Officially released live recordings – Video / DVD

Lyrics ~ Declaration Album

Born into a war and peace forced to choose between a right and wrong
Each man kills the thing he loves for better or for worse
Face to face with a ragged truth, mixed up and torn in two
Turned your back on the only thing that could save you from yourself

Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
(Howl)
When the thunder and lightning struck
And the rain and the four winds did howl

After all time building up comes inevitable knocking down [One by one]
Comes receivers, liars, gamblers, pick pocket entourage [Two by two]
Selling out is a cardinal sin, sinning with a safety net [Three by three]
They say that all things come in threes, well here comes the third degree

Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
(Howl)
When the thunder and lightning struck
And the rain and the four winds did howl

All cards are marked and all fates will collide
The truth is the truth or the truth is surely a lie
Get back in your shelter if you can’t come down off the fence
And one more question, where were you?
Oh, Where were you

Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
(Howl)
When the thunder and lightning struck
And the four winds did howl
Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
(Howl)
Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
Where were you hiding?
(Four Winds Howl)

Alternative Lyric Version ~ 1995 Acoustic Works recording

Born into a war and peace forced to choose between a right and wrong
Each man kills the thing he loves for better or for worse
Face to face with a ragged truth, I’m mixed up and torn in two
Turn your back on the only thing that could save you from yourself

Where were you hiding when the storm broke
When the rain began to fall
When the thunder and the lightning struck
And the rain and the four winds did howl

After all time building up comes inevitable knocking down One by one
Comes receivers, liars, gamblers, pick pocket entourage [Two by two]
Selling out is a cardinal sin, sinning with a safety net Three by three
They say that all things come in threes, well here comes the third degree

Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
(Howl)
When the thunder and the lightning struck
And the rain and the four winds did howl

All cards are marked, all fates will collide
Because the truth is the truth or the truth is surely a lie
Get back in your shelter if you can’t come down off the fence
And one more question, where were you?
Oh, Where were you

Where were you hiding when the storm broke
(Four, Winds)
When the rain began to fall
(Howl)
When the thunder and the lightning struck
And the rain and the four winds did howl
(Four, Winds)
(Howl)

Sound & Visual resources

Video Link – Remastered 2018 audio of the 1983 recording with new video using footage of the era compiled in 2018. From the official The Alarm youtube channel.

Images


(Page updated 17/07/2022)

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