BUMP!
Whoa! So thrilled I stumbled upon this amazing thread, thank you for building it pjevac!! :)
Lyrics matter a great deal to me, especially because at times they're probably even harder to write, draw out of oneself, than the music itself, especially if the lyrics are not a co-written type venture. Lyrics are there for a reason. They aren't there to look pretty, but are there to get something across to the listener. They're there to reach, affect, move and enlighten us, in some way or other. In a lot of ways, lyrics matter more to me than the music itself does. That said, I do intensely love the actual finished pieces with the vocals and music added into the mix as well. I find that the completed songs make for an even stronger, solid, deeper, more rewarding, and thoroughly incredible listening experience! And, the added vocals and music, afford the listener an even wider, more vivid, greater space, or room, for endless angles of perception, interpretation.
Mr. Sullivan is incredibly gifted in the way of lyrics! Writing is naturally, already in his blood. And is absolutely fcuking gorgeous!! It would be a terrible shame if the gentleman never finds it within himself to write a book, his book, because he has a lifetime of, and seriously wide rage of tremendous stories to tell, share... that is, if he chooses to, of course. I have no idea why Mr. Sullivan thinks that he has to be dead, in order for a book to be written. That's just complete and utter bollocks! Write it now, write it yourself, write in your own words... why, you ask? Well, because it was you who were there for the bulk of it... and more importantly, it was you who fcuking lived it. :) Let the others write their version(s), and you... write yours. Also, NMA/RSC would just be a part of it, ok a large part of it, but certainly not the ONLY or even, perhaps, the best or most important part of it. You don't have to get too personal, if you don't wish to. That's totally natural and cool, too. :) I have complete faith in your gifts and abilities. And, I'm likely not the only one here either. Alright? I believe in you so fcuking much, Mr. Sullivan. :'(:'( You SO do, have everything it takes, believe me. It's just a matter making the time to organize it all and get it down on paper or even tape, if you have to. Don't wait for others, they'll probably get it all wrong. Do it for your dad, your grandad, your great-grandad, your mum, your wife & children (if and when), your partner, your friends, your family and for those of us who've always loved and believe in you. Do it for yourself, Mr. Sullivan... do it for us. xx
A tremendous amount of great thought, time and effort goes into to writing anything really, and song lyrics are no exception to this truth. In fact, it's probably even harder to write lyrics because of the time-crunch, time limitations, time allotted within / by the length of a song. One of my high school teachers - though she wasn't my English teacher - used to always say 'brevity is wit'... and fcuk was she right! That has always stuck with me, soft lol, even though I don't really follow that idea with the bulk of my posts... they always turn into these fcukin' long, :-\ often times very personal, heavy letters. :-[
Now, to get back to the idea and original purpose of this truly enthralling, exciting and beautiful thread...
The one line that I still do not understand comes from the stunning NMA song, "Pull The Sun" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9jSho4zlAc). That's a gorgeous, incredible clip of Mr. Sullivan performing it solo, you can better hear the lyrics, actually, completely clearly, because it is so stripped - meaning, there's no other instrumentation added into the mix - it's just the man, a mic and his guitar.
It should be pretty simple and straight forward, the line, but I actually don't fully grasp it, understand it. I have an idea, but am not certain. If anyone reading this can help me understand it, within the context of the actual song, what that one single line - that I've bolded below - means or is trying to get across to the listener, then please step forward and share your thoughts, interpretations of it with me? Anyone and everyone is welcome to reply. Anyone. If that happens to be you, who are reading this right now, I thank you here, in advance. Thank you.
It's an extremely personal, HUGE song for me. I completely get or understand - well, imagine to, at any rate - everything else within and about the lyrics to it, aside from that one single line. I really, really love and cherish this song, on a deeply profound emotional level. For some unbeknownst to me reason, can totally relate to it. I feel as if I've already been in a situation like that with someone I deeply love and care about, and this song, that one line, or request, has been on my mind ever since first hearing it. It just jumped out at me, from the very first listen. It's absolutely, totally fcukin' crazy, but I feel as if I was there? But how can it be? How can that fcuking be? Ugh! :-[:'(
Pull The Sun
(2013)
Impossible desire, impossible the dream.
We lined them all up together, and set off on the chase.
Now the years they are gone, like thieves in the dark.
Did your eyes follow after them, into the night?
I watched you as you tried and tried,
To pull the sun from out of the sky.
The colours all run and the clouds collide,
But that was never enough.
And me, I’ve got a black place in my heart.
My favourite chord, my favourite card,
That I draw every time on these occasions.
If you leave a fire to burn, it will burn itself away.
It’s a long way back through the dirty waters, for you and me.
Are you still haunted by the hands, always letting you go?
And if I told you not to look, would you do that for me, this one time ?
But I watched you, as you tried and tried,
To pull the sun from out of the sky…
:-[:'(