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Then She Appeared Lyrics
Then she appeared, apple venus on a half open shell
Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbots gel
I was a little frightened
Flying with my senses heightened
Cherubim cheered
Then she appeared
Then she appeared, as the giggling crew of Marie Celeste
Then she appeared, pale Atlantis rising out of the west
I was a little dazzled
Catherine wheeled and senses frazzled
Know it sounds weird
Then she appeared
And the sun which formerly shone
In the clearest summer sky
Suddenly just changed address
Now shines from her blue eyes
Then she appeared, brittle shooting star that dropped in my lap
Then she appeared, dressed in tricolour and phrygian cap
I was a little troubled
Hookah with my senses bubbled
All Edward leared
Then she appeared
And the moon which formerly shone
On the marbled midnight mile
Suddenly just packed its bags
Now shines from her bright smile
Then she appeared
Out of nowhere
Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbots gel
I was a little frightened
Flying with my senses heightened
Cherubim cheered
Then she appeared
Then she appeared, as the giggling crew of Marie Celeste
Then she appeared, pale Atlantis rising out of the west
I was a little dazzled
Catherine wheeled and senses frazzled
Know it sounds weird
Then she appeared
And the sun which formerly shone
In the clearest summer sky
Suddenly just changed address
Now shines from her blue eyes
Then she appeared, brittle shooting star that dropped in my lap
Then she appeared, dressed in tricolour and phrygian cap
I was a little troubled
Hookah with my senses bubbled
All Edward leared
Then she appeared
And the moon which formerly shone
On the marbled midnight mile
Suddenly just packed its bags
Now shines from her bright smile
Then she appeared
Out of nowhere
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The song contains some metaphorical references. "Apple Venus on a half open shell" is about the the goddess of love from Roman/Greek mythology who was born out of a sea shell and later received Paris' apple as a symbol of her being the most beautiful of all the goddesses. Referring evidentially to the beauty of the girl that the song is about.
Most other metaphors seem to have to do with the sudden and unexpected character of her appearance. "Fox Talbot" was a British innovator of 19th century photography. The first photograph with his new technique probably came as a surprise for most. The "Marie Celeste" was a ship that was found abandoned in 1872. The giggling crew, apparently just fooling the world for playing hide and seek for over a century, appear very unexpected to say the least. The same goes for Atlantis that turns out not to be a myth after all. The "tricolour and phrygian cap" are symbols of the French Revolution. I guess this has to do with the overthrowing of the old world order and the narrator having a similar experience in his personal world, which will never be the same again now she has appeared. And the "brittle shooting star" isn't something you expect to fall in your lap.
Other metaphors having to do with the 'bubbling' of the senses, like the Hookah, that is some sort of waterpipe. Some things remain unclear to me. Who are for example Catherine and Edward who are mentioned?
@Cruon Apple venus on a half open shell is in reference to the painting "The Birth of Venus", by Botticelli. It's just like what you said before, she appeared unexpectedly, the most beautiful goddess emerging from the sea. You should look up the painting, it's gorgeous! @Matty13 Catherine wheeled is a reference to the popular love song "Colors Fly and Catherine Wheel" by Simple Minds.
@Cruon Apple venus on a half open shell is in reference to the painting "The Birth of Venus", by Botticelli. It's just like what you said before, she appeared unexpectedly, the most beautiful goddess emerging from the sea. You should look up the painting, it's gorgeous! @Matty13 Catherine wheeled is a reference to the popular love song "Colors Fly and Catherine Wheel" by Simple Minds.
This is definitely my favorite XTC song, so cute and catchy! It makes my heart happy. The vivid imagery of love at first sight is just beautiful. And I love the...
This is definitely my favorite XTC song, so cute and catchy! It makes my heart happy. The vivid imagery of love at first sight is just beautiful. And I love the stanzas about the Sun and the moon. Two of the most beautiful natural wonders shining now not from the sky but from her, gorgeous!
@Cruon Catherine Wheel is a more sinister reference, i think: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_wheel. And it might be "Edward Leared": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lear (Lear's "Runcible Spoon", by the way, is also used in "Baron Saturday" by The Pretty Things).
@Cruon Catherine Wheel is a more sinister reference, i think: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_wheel. And it might be "Edward Leared": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lear (Lear's "Runcible Spoon", by the way, is also used in "Baron Saturday" by The Pretty Things).
@Cruon look up "catherine wheel" (the flower) and "Edward Lear" (British poet famous for nonsense poetry) it becomes self explanatory.
@Cruon look up "catherine wheel" (the flower) and "Edward Lear" (British poet famous for nonsense poetry) it becomes self explanatory.
@Cruon look up "catherine wheel" (the flower) and "Edward Lear" (British poet famous for nonsense poetry) it becomes self explanatory.
@Cruon look up "catherine wheel" (the flower) and "Edward Lear" (British poet famous for nonsense poetry) it becomes self explanatory.
I think there's another pun here. The verb would be "leered", but the text actually reads "leared". Edward Lear is the nonsense poet who wrote "The Owl and the Pussycat", "The Dong With The Luminous Nose" and "The Land Where the Jumblie Live".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Lear
@Phaedo0 BINGO!
@Phaedo0 BINGO!
I'm so in love with all the little allusions and pieces of this song. It's beautiful and XTC makes it seem so effortless.
One thing I find interesting is the "brittle shooting star" reference. Because the first time I heard the song, my mind immediately pictured a brittle star (the star-fish-like echinoderm) before I realized that the lyrics are most likely referring to a delicate shooting star, which makes much more sense. But it was a funny coincidence. Plus this song seems to have a few of those sort of punny double meanings like the "All Edwared Leared" one mentioned above.
no comments for this ? craazy. i love this song, it's so... cute ! always makes me smile.
yea i noticed it on gilmore girls..and went on a long despreate search to find it...took me under 10 minutes..but yea happy song..
Dude, the old timey 19th century references, the rhyme scheme, the sweetness that almost borders cheesy but doesn't because it just sounds sooo good...this is great.
I too was initiated into the cult of XTC by the Gilmore Girls, they use quite a few of their songs on there. I love the alliteration in this song, "cherubim cheered" rolls off the tongue ever so nicely. As a whole I think the song and lyrics capture the feeling of wonder one experiences when catching sight of someone striking, or that "love at first sight" experience.
It's about Andy Partridge's first wife, Marianne.
The Catharine reference is to the popular firecracker, the Catharine wheel, because it says "Catherine wheeled" I don't get the Edward thing either though. Thanks for explaining the rest to me!
@Matty13 Edward Lear was a British poet.
@Matty13 Edward Lear was a British poet.
The "love at first sight" comment hits the nail right on the head. Every refrence in the song is symbolic of the first time he lays eyes his archetypal woman. And the chorus, which brings such sweet release, is exampling the aftermath of said encounter, things will never be the same again. "And then sun which formerly shone in the clearest summer sky, suddenly changed address, now shines in her blue eyes." Masterfully done, Mr. Partridge.