In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Forgive me if I'm out of order
This new "music" has no soul.
It may be good for making money,
(Sadly that is not my goal).
Integrity and honesty are words that you don't understand,
But you're the best, it says so in the penny dreadful in your hand.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
They couldn't be more wrong.
If we'd played this riff more punk,
Than may be we'd have had a million seller.
But this piper's tune is not for sale,
(I'm glad to say I'm not that kind of fella).
D.J.s, V.J.s, pimps and trollops,
Never mind music, this is bollocks.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
They couldn't be more wrong.
Turn on, tune up, cash in, sell out.
Turn on, tune up, cash in, sell out.
Stand your ground behind the times
and refuse to follow fassion.
Write your poetry with anger,
(And then sing it with a passion).
Painted faces in a circus, images that spring to mind,
When I read my penny dreadful filled with pictures of your kind.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
they couldn't be more wrong.
Commercial suicide's appealing after
Ten years on this losing streak.
'Cause I'd rather be called sour and bitter
Then be deemed the flavour of the week.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
they couldn't be more wrong.
Extra, extra, read all about it!
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
They couldn't be more wrong.
This new "music" has no soul.
It may be good for making money,
(Sadly that is not my goal).
Integrity and honesty are words that you don't understand,
But you're the best, it says so in the penny dreadful in your hand.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
They couldn't be more wrong.
If we'd played this riff more punk,
Than may be we'd have had a million seller.
But this piper's tune is not for sale,
(I'm glad to say I'm not that kind of fella).
D.J.s, V.J.s, pimps and trollops,
Never mind music, this is bollocks.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
They couldn't be more wrong.
Turn on, tune up, cash in, sell out.
Turn on, tune up, cash in, sell out.
Stand your ground behind the times
and refuse to follow fassion.
Write your poetry with anger,
(And then sing it with a passion).
Painted faces in a circus, images that spring to mind,
When I read my penny dreadful filled with pictures of your kind.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
they couldn't be more wrong.
Commercial suicide's appealing after
Ten years on this losing streak.
'Cause I'd rather be called sour and bitter
Then be deemed the flavour of the week.
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
they couldn't be more wrong.
Extra, extra, read all about it!
I saw you in the magazine,
They're calling you messiah.
They must be living in a dream
They couldn't be more wrong.
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Funny no one's commented on this one yet. So I'll just throw in my 2 cents (times 50) Obviously, this song is about not not wanting to sell out and become popular and rich at the expense of making good music, but there's a little more to it than just that.
In the 1900's the term "penny dreadful" was used to refer to a cheaply printed, poorly written horror story. Penny dreadfuls were bit like dime novels, but with horror plots instead of action or romance stories and they were generally or poorer quality than even the dime novels. Almost no penny dreadfuls have survived intact into this century, they were so cheap they all self-destructed (I've read reprints of a few of them, it doesn't seem like we lost much, they are pretty bad). I think Skyclad is really making a point comparing today's pathetic magazines to the Victorian penny dreadfuls, you just have to be a little behind the times yourself to see that point :)
Interesting info about the penny dreadfuls.<br /> <br /> I think the meaning of this song is pretty clear. There are a couple moments typical of Skyclad lyrics I especially like:<br /> <br /> "Painted faces in a circus": The Face and Circus were two rock magazines at the time this song was written.<br /> "I'd rather be called sour and bitter / Than be deemed the flavor of the week."