I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
The human drum
Beats a rhythm of life
The clothes he wears
Date back to the war
He talks a lot
Often to himself
She don't say much
Just cuts his hair
She can't remember
Before the heat
He can't remember
His wife's christian name
Paint me a picture
Towers in sand
America can fall
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Back to a year
Back to a youth
Of men in church and drug cabarets
Is this the age
Of empires and dance
Oh what a world
Oh what a world
She can't remember
Before this heat
He can't remember
His wife's christian name
Paint me a picture
Bodies in sand
Presidents can fall
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Beats a rhythm of life
The clothes he wears
Date back to the war
He talks a lot
Often to himself
She don't say much
Just cuts his hair
She can't remember
Before the heat
He can't remember
His wife's christian name
Paint me a picture
Towers in sand
America can fall
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Back to a year
Back to a youth
Of men in church and drug cabarets
Is this the age
Of empires and dance
Oh what a world
Oh what a world
She can't remember
Before this heat
He can't remember
His wife's christian name
Paint me a picture
Bodies in sand
Presidents can fall
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
Today I died again
I died again
I died today
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Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It appears to explore themes of memory loss, disconnection, and the fleeting nature of life. The lyrics depict characters ("he" and "she,") who seem to be experiencing various forms of memory decline / amnesia.
@TopTonyChick you are a Simple Minds expert my friend!
@TopTonyChick Thank you!
Magnificent track with some indian sounds inbetween. Came across this when I found out that this was the Simple Minds songs from which the drumintro was taken by Tears For Fears to create Empire Building.
A comment on the social situation back then, I guess. The singer 'dies' everyday from the things he sees around him. He can't stand/take it.
The line "The suit he wears dates back to....." etc is from a Monty Pyphon sketch. Slightly altered. This is according to
simpleminds.org
I think the terms 'America / Presidents can fall' refers to how first world nations like the West can fall under terms of devastating war, with 'The Heat' referring to a nuclear war happening beforehand.
The lines 'Paint me a picture, towers in sand/bodies in sand' talks about the life before the war. As said before, the singer 'Dies' figuratively because of the things he sees and the memories he has after the war.
Overall it's a song about the aftermath of a devastating war.