Mellotron Scratch

Here's the correct full version:

A tiny flame inside my head A comprimise I never planned Unravel out the finer strands

And I'm looking at a blank page now Should I fill it with words somehow?

I whispered something in her ear I bear my soul but she don't hear

The scratching of a mellotron It always seemed to make her cry Well maybe she remebers us Colllecting space up in the sky

Nothing rises from my feet of clay, but it's OK Red mist spreads across my fingertips, ardour slips

I lay her gently on my clothes She will leave me, yes I know

And I'm looking at a blank page now Should I fill it with words somehow

The scratching of a mellotron It always seemed to make her cry Well maybe she remembers us Collecting space up in the sky

Nothing rises from my feet of clay, but it's OK Red mist spreads across my finger tips, ardour slips Don't look at me with your mother's eyes or your killer smile Sing a lullaby

Don't look back into black Don't let the memory of the sound drag you down To end as friends so painful Don't look down Shut it down

Interesting fact: the mellotron uses taped sound samples, with one magnetic audio tape assigned to each key. Each tape is eight seconds in length, and plays when you press its respective key. It makes a really strange scratching noise when something's wrong with the tape. Otherwise, it sounds like whatever is recorded on them. So "the scratching of a mellotron" doesn't really refer to the sound; it refers to any blatant sign that something's not working properly. That's what's upsetting her.

Also, interestingly, the character of David works in sound design, and probably uses the mellotron in his work. Meaning that the evidence of malfunction/dysfunction may have something to do with his job... perhaps, very literally, a mellotron with a worn-out or caught tape.

Steven has said that this song is about a girl he once knew who cried at the sound of mellotrons. Quite strange if you ask me.

The ending is just... beautiful.

The ending is:

Part 1- Don't look back into black Don't let the memory of the sound drag you down.

Part 2- To end as friends, so painful.

Part 3- Don't look down, shut it down.

oops, I meant "Inside my hand"*

Fit this into it's chronological place in Deadwing, and it'll make more sense, if you also understand the whole ghost story of Deadwing as a whole.

In my head, this song is divided into "Mellotron Scratch" and "Mellotron Scratch (Reprise), making it the only song I know that is its own reprise.

And I like it very much. The keyboard is particularly beautiful.

Steven has said that this song is about a girl he once knew who cried at the sound of mellotrons. Quite strange if you ask me.

I don't think that is,cause I do think the sound of a mellotron is in one way beautiful...It's all about expressions in the music..

I think there's some underlying story to Deadwing... remember Arriving Somewhere, but Not Here? Okay, so here goes...

"The last thing you hear as you're fading out is a song"

Maybe this song had a mellotron in it, and the person narrating that song is the girl in this tale... the mellotron brings her sad memories of the person who died in Arriving. I'm thinking her mother, since the person in this song tells her not to look at him with her mother's eyes.

So maybe this song's guy was in love with her mother at first? Or maybe it's her father speaking?

Speculative thought my dears. Nothing meant one way or another.

And the ending... freaking... ROCKS... a capella is powerful when used correctly!