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.
They're pacing Piccadilly in packs again
And moaning for the mercy of a never come rain
The sun's had enough and the simmering sky
Has the heave and the hue of a woman on fire
Shop shutters rattle down and I'm cutting the crowd
All scented and descending from the satellite towns
The neon is graffiti singing make a new start
So I look for a plot where I can bury my broken heart
No I know I wont forget you but I'll forget myself if the city will forgive me
The man on the door has a head like Mars
Like a baby born to the doors of the bars
And surrounded by steam with his folded arms
He's got that urban genie thing going on
He's so mercifully free of the pressures of grace
Saint Peter in satin he's like Buddha with mace
No I know I wont forget you but I'll forget myself if the city will forgive me
Do you move through the room with a glass in your hand?
Thinking too hard about the way you stand
Are you watching them pair off and drinking them long?
Are you falling in love every second song?
No I know I wont forget you but I'll forget myself and the city will forgive me
And moaning for the mercy of a never come rain
The sun's had enough and the simmering sky
Has the heave and the hue of a woman on fire
Shop shutters rattle down and I'm cutting the crowd
All scented and descending from the satellite towns
The neon is graffiti singing make a new start
So I look for a plot where I can bury my broken heart
No I know I wont forget you but I'll forget myself if the city will forgive me
The man on the door has a head like Mars
Like a baby born to the doors of the bars
And surrounded by steam with his folded arms
He's got that urban genie thing going on
He's so mercifully free of the pressures of grace
Saint Peter in satin he's like Buddha with mace
No I know I wont forget you but I'll forget myself if the city will forgive me
Do you move through the room with a glass in your hand?
Thinking too hard about the way you stand
Are you watching them pair off and drinking them long?
Are you falling in love every second song?
No I know I wont forget you but I'll forget myself and the city will forgive me
Lyrics submitted by Leif_Erikson
Forget Myself Lyrics as written by Craig Lee Potter Peter James Turner
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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its a fairly straightforward song this. It's a celebration (of sorts) of Manchester night life. Piccadilyl is the main street in Manchester, when he refers to "They're pacing Piccadilly in packs again" he means the masses out for a friday/saturday night.
I think this is just about being alone at a party or club, maybe he's just broken up with someone. The first verse is maybe him watching other people on their night out in the town on his way there, with all the neon lights of the clubs and take-aways. He picks a plot (bar/club) to try and socialise and make a new start. He talks about the doorman while he's entering or queuing up, his head is probably bald and slightly red resembling Mars. He probably a bit round and looks like a baby, standing there folding his arms, he has the power to refuse entry to anyone like how a genie can grant you wishes. He's surrounded by all this filth yet he remains calm in his nice suit with his mace on standby. Then i think the main part of the song is where Guy's asking you if you're the kind of person who is a bit apprehensive like him, who feels everyone else is finding partners, and who worries about how he looks to other people. He is so desperate for attention and acceptance that he feels attracted to any woman, perhaps those who talk to him, or maybe ones he's watching. The chorus could be him thinking about his ex girlfriend, how he wont forget her, but can forget his own problems if the city helps him recover.
yeah i think thats about right you two. you've helped me!
Hey, what does Satellite town mean? I mean, Doves mentioned it too in their song Black and White town. Is it a manchester thing or something?
Wikipeida's got your back. It's an urban planning term.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_town
When I saw them in Manchester last year, Guy was kinda asking the audience to forgive him. He really came across as asking Manchester to forgive him...
i think the lyrics in this song are brilliant. the heave and the hue of a woman on fire. ahhh.
Satellite town - Elbow are from Bury which is nowadays basically a satellite town of Manchester. It wasn't planned as such but Manchester has expanded so much that its taken in a lot of places.
Satellite Towns, yeah in this case he's talking about bury, bolton, stockport, oldham etc. but it applies to any city and it's surrounding towns, the folk of which are decending upon the bright city lights. This is about drowning your sorrows in an unfamiliar/cold/non-judgemental city where nobody knows you and you will be forgiven for whatever you do, because nobody cares. "No I know I wont forget you but I’ll forget myself and the city will forgive me".
I think this is also about getting very, very drunk to forget the sorrows of a broken heart.