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The Belldog Lyrics
Most of the day, we were at the machinery
In the dark sheds that the seasons ignored
I held the levers that guided the signals to the radio
But the words I received, random code, broken fragments from before
Out in the trees, my reason deserting me
Oh, the dark stars cluster over the bay
Then in a certain moment, I lose control
And at last, I am part of the machinery
Where are you?
And the light disappears
As the world makes its circle through the sky
In the dark sheds that the seasons ignored
I held the levers that guided the signals to the radio
But the words I received, random code, broken fragments from before
Oh, the dark stars cluster over the bay
Then in a certain moment, I lose control
And at last, I am part of the machinery
And the light disappears
As the world makes its circle through the sky
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I grew up reading science fiction. I first heard this song in 1980, when I was 14. I think this is my favorite piece of music of all time. At the time, I had only heard Eno on "Heroes" by Bowie, and on the radio with Talking Heads. I saw "after the heat" by eno, moebius, roedelius in the import bin at Musicland and bought it because of Eno's name and the cover and titles. The record blew my mind. I have no idea what the lyrics are about. But I love them. I have dreams like The belldog.
@blix m.112 >>I have no idea what the lyrics are about.
@blix m.112 >>I have no idea what the lyrics are about.
You must have had some thoughts over the last 40 years about the words to your favourite song?
You must have had some thoughts over the last 40 years about the words to your favourite song?
This is the dream-like response Eno had to working with Cluster, a band he had admired for a long time, merging it with the role of producer for many other bands from the same period. Substitute ‘levers’ for ‘sliders’ and ‘dark sheds’ for the windowless studios that he worked in with the bands and then ‘guiding the signals to the radio’ describes his job of producing the music for the bands’ next big hit (well. Most bands would like to have some air-play).
Both Conny Plank’s studio (where Broken Head was recorded) and Cluster’s studio in Forst were in rural settings, which may explain the line ‘Out in the trees’… Eno on a fag break. Cluster themselves are name-checked in this verse and their record label Sky is the last word sung in this track.
How to read the line ‘I lose control and at last I am part of the machinery’? It is a very ‘cybernetic’ lyric and if the studio-setting interpretation here has some truth to it, then becoming part of the studio machine might describe Eno’s frequent references to treating the studio itself as an instrument. Surrendering to the system.
@Falsedog Thanks for this!
@Falsedog Thanks for this!