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Buying New Soul Lyrics
Dried up, a guitar upon my knee
I should have sold out when the devil came for me
Dig a hole and throw it out to sea
Break the code, how happy I could be
I still wave at the dots on the shore
And I still beat my head against the wall
I still rage and wage my little war
I'm a shade and easy to ignore
White wall, I had to paint a door
I always find that I've been through it before
Close it up and throw away the key
Break the code, how happy I could be
I woke up and I had a big idea
To buy a new soul at the start of every year
I paid up and it cost me pretty dear
Here's a hymn to those that disappear
I should have sold out when the devil came for me
Dig a hole and throw it out to sea
Break the code, how happy I could be
And I still beat my head against the wall
I still rage and wage my little war
I'm a shade and easy to ignore
I always find that I've been through it before
Close it up and throw away the key
Break the code, how happy I could be
To buy a new soul at the start of every year
I paid up and it cost me pretty dear
Here's a hymn to those that disappear
Song Info
Submitted by
ministry On Jun 21, 2002
More Porcupine Tree
Trains
Blackest Eyes
Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
The Sound Of Muzak
A Smart Kid
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I wonder if they didn't put this song on an album on purpose. What if the song is actually about the talented artists who don't go mainstream and thus so many good songs remain obscure? Maybe this song was made to prove the point that such a good song is not be heard by everyone.
I know, it sounds insane! But I would like to think that it is true, just because this song is so beautiful and filled with melancholy.
Wilson said on interview that they would have put it on album if it would have been finished in time, but he was glad they had this as UG-song with this exact meaning of not being known so well
Wilson said on interview that they would have put it on album if it would have been finished in time, but he was glad they had this as UG-song with this exact meaning of not being known so well
I think you can broaden the meaning of the song to the whole world. We all have the option to sell out to 'the devil', every minute of every day of every year, and most of us do. And the people that don't, they have to rage their little wars, being a shade, easy to ignore. Ridiculed by the media, not understood by friends & loved ones. And then there is the internal struggle, wich is even worse.. Because once you see the true meaning of life, you can't go back to your old ways.
I think you can broaden the meaning of the song to the whole world. We all have the option to sell out to 'the devil', every minute of every day of every year, and most of us do. And the people that don't, they have to rage their little wars, being a shade, easy to ignore. Ridiculed by the media, not understood by friends & loved ones. And then there is the internal struggle, wich is even worse.. Because once you see the true meaning of life, you can't go back to your old ways.
By the way, I am...
By the way, I am not saying we should believe in a god.. We should believe in love.. Believe in ourselves!
It's like the song is just for PT cultists like ourselves. A rare gem only to be prized by the few, rather then the many.
It's like the song is just for PT cultists like ourselves. A rare gem only to be prized by the few, rather then the many.
It's on Recordings. Not usually shown with PTree discography though. Pretty hard to find now too.
It's on Recordings. Not usually shown with PTree discography though. Pretty hard to find now too.
It's on Recordings. Not usually shown with PTree discography though. Pretty hard to find now too.
It's on Recordings. Not usually shown with PTree discography though. Pretty hard to find now too.
"I still wave at the dots on the shore" -The dots are possibly the people who folded to the mainstream and left him behind. I imagine the narrator to be on a boat drifting out to sea, the distance between himself and the others are so far, they just look like dots now.
Alternately, and more melancholy, he could be without a boat, and waving at the people on the shore like a drowning man does to signal a lifeguard that he needs help. Those on the shore are safely out of harm's way, while he risks drowning.
"And I still bang my head against the wall. I still rage and wage my little war" -Struggling with whether his decision was the right one. There seems to be a lot of regret here.
Yeah, I kindof agree with your explanations. I couldn't help not remembering "Stop Swimming".
Yeah, I kindof agree with your explanations. I couldn't help not remembering "Stop Swimming".
It shows also this metaphorical meaning of "swimming", maybe not going on mainstream, and kind of regreting this.
It shows also this metaphorical meaning of "swimming", maybe not going on mainstream, and kind of regreting this.
Maybe its time to stop swimming Maybe its time to find out where I'm at What I should do, where I should be But no one would give me a map
Maybe its time to stop swimming Maybe its time to find out where I'm at What I should do, where I should be But no one would give me a map
AMAZING!
AMAZING!
There's also Dark Matter, where I strongly think they are "talking" about touring's hard life.
There's also Dark Matter, where I strongly think they are "talking" about touring's hard life.
Awesome song, I especially love the build up in the middle
This is my all time favourite P T song. the ten minute version anyway. its so melodic and beautifully done. not too sure of its meaning though, appears quite ambigious. any ideas?
Break the code, how happy I could be (Go mainstream, make it big) Here's a hymn to those that disappear (so many artists are extremly talented but don't "make it" because they don't go mainstream)
No, you might be right, at least as far as what the song's about. "Hymn to those that disappear" seems like Steven's talking about those bands that don't sell out, and pay the price by constantly having to struggle (or fade away) for their choice. Now whether or not they left it off the album to prove a point, I don't know.
Nevertheless, another beautiful song. They have so many.
Wow, discovered this song only recently and I really love it. I keep amazing myself about the fact that the best PT songs are usually rares or bonus tracks.
I also thought it was "ducks" at first. Then I realised it was "dots" and that makes a bit more sense... not sure exactly what it means though.
Great song. I think "Anaesthetise" pips it though.
White wall, I had to paint a door I always find that I've been through it before Close it up and throw away the key
Reminds me of Brain Damage "you lock the door/throw away the key/there's someone in my head/but it's not me" so yeah, incredible song, just found it on Arriving Somewhere... got the chorus stuck in my head, only listened to it once! Gavin's immense!
"I still wave at the dots on the shore And I still beat my head against the door"
I'm obsessed with the interpretation of these lines. :D What do "the dots on the shore" mean? Any ideas?