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Chalkhills And Children Lyrics
I'm floating over strange land,
It's a soulless, sequined, showbiz moon.
I'm floating over strange land,
And then stranger still, there's no balloon.
But I'm getting higher,
Wafted up by fame's fickle fire 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
(Even I never know where I go when my eyes are closed.)
I'm skating over thin ice,
Upon blunted blades of metal soft.
I'm skating over thin ice,
While some nonesuch net holds me aloft.
But I'm getting higher,
Lifted up on lucks' circus wire 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
Even I never know where I go when my eyes are closed.
Even I never spied that the scenes were posed.
Even I never knew this is what I'd be.
Even eyes never mean that you're sure to see.
Still I'm getting higher,
Rolling up on three empty tyres, 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
The reluctant cannonball it seems.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
I'm propelled up here by long dead dreams.
Still I'm getting higher,
Icarus regrets and retires puzzled.
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Oddly complete.
(Even I never know where I go when my eyes are all closed.)
Here I go again.
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It's a soulless, sequined, showbiz moon.
I'm floating over strange land,
And then stranger still, there's no balloon.
But I'm getting higher,
Wafted up by fame's fickle fire 'til the...
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
(Even I never know where I go when my eyes are closed.)
Upon blunted blades of metal soft.
I'm skating over thin ice,
While some nonesuch net holds me aloft.
But I'm getting higher,
Lifted up on lucks' circus wire 'til the...
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
Even I never spied that the scenes were posed.
Even I never knew this is what I'd be.
Even eyes never mean that you're sure to see.
Rolling up on three empty tyres, 'til the...
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
The reluctant cannonball it seems.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
I'm propelled up here by long dead dreams.
Icarus regrets and retires puzzled.
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Oddly complete.
(Even I never know where I go when my eyes are all closed.)
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
This song seems to me to be about returning to humility and how easy it is to let our egos run off with our heads. But, as a teacher, it speaks deeply to me about the true ground for those of us who serve and teach our children. The little chalkhills we formed on our chalkboard trays (before dry erase and smartboards), and the smiles and tears of the children, so dear to us... bringing us back to ground, and ultimately, back to each other.
[Edit: revision]
Seems to be about dreams. Could be a drug trip. But I'm quite positive this is just about dreaming.
One of the greatest songs Andy Partridge wrote and one of the best overlooked gems ever from a band that most people only know for like "Senses Working Overtime", "Dear God", and "Mayor of Simpleton"
So it’s obvious that the allure of the other is flighty compared to the grounding of familiar
So it’s obvious that the allure of the other is flighty compared to the grounding of familiar
This is about Andy's rejection of fame and showbiz.
His children and the Chalk Hills of Swindon anchors his feet to his home town, away from the trippy dream show business is.
His children and the Chalk Hills of Swindon anchors his feet to his home town, away from the trippy dream show business is.
Ermine Street is in Swindon.
Stupendous song - it sounds like it jettisoned on an escape pod from Pet Sounds. Here's a link to an interview with Andy from the always-amazing Song Discussions series on chalkhills.org:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=34883466&blogID=323301075
An excerpt:
"TB: So, why did you bring up Ermin Street? Was it the ancient quality of it?
AP: It's the ancient quality, and the fact that it's only a few miles away. You know, it runs right past Swindon. In fact, I think there are two of them in England -- but Ermin Street is an ancient trackway that Iron Age man would have trodden along with his horse or his cow. It just seemed to have a feeling of real permanence. There it is, in the chalk, up on the hill, trodden for thousands of years...
TB: Whereas fame is transitory.
AP: Fame will last you five minutes, and will not buy your groceries.
I still wrestle with that now. I know that what I do makes fans, but I don't want them to be fans of me. If anything, I just want them to be fans of the music that I do."