My October Symphony

I think this is about a composer confused about what to make of the fall of the Soviet Republic and the looming future, which may bring either good, bad of both.

His feelings are strongly influenced by his upbringing, in which the revolution was idolized, but also by the looming changes which may bring much good.

It reflects the insecurity of the people going through this phase, their loss of 'security in what they kow/were taught' vs their hopes for change.

Written in between the collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989) and the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), "My October Symphony" is from the perspective of someone living in the Soviet Union as it is crumbling, excited to see their country finally brought into the modern world ("...change the dedication from revolution to revelation"), apprehension at the dire economic straits Russia was experiencing at the time ("how to smile behind a frown? It's hard to settle down..."), and confusion over Russia's evolving image in the West ("we marched each October, now they say we were never even saved...we must be brave").

I imagine the line, "so we're all drinking, as leaves fall to the ground" is intended as a joke.

owennnnnnnnnn wrote on 07-07-2006: "I imagine the line, "so we're all drinking, as leaves fall to the ground" is intended as a joke."

Not necessarily true! I have several Russian friends who have said that in the last years of the Soviet Union that people would often drink on national holidays. As the lustre of the holidays subsided, people were less inclined to celebrate them, despite the fact they still received the day off from work for it.

I don't know if you've seen the German movie "Good Bye Lenin!", but there's an example of the main character spending the 40th anniversary of the GDR in varying states of inebriation. Obviously, USSR =! GDR, but still useful.

I think the months mentioned in the song are an obvious giveaway that the song is alluding to the Russian revolution of 1917. The 2 revolutions in Russia were in February and October of this year which would seem a massive co-idencidence that both are mentioned in the song and not relevant to this. Maybe Tennant or Lowe had an interest in the Russian Revolution but I'm pretty certain from the mention of both these months that it's a view on this event, rather than anything more modern such as the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

I guess that he could have he could have been writing the song about about someone from the 1990's who was reflecting or celebrating the Russian revolution. It is quite an ambiguous song.

"Change the dedication / From revolution to revelation" is a nice anticipation of how religion has been enrolled to fill the gap left in the collective mind by the discarding of socialism.

The song reflects both history and the individual feelings on an october feels... I love the song . The lyrics and the melody and best of all the voice.... Kudos to you Pet Shop Boys... My lost years 1990's Its only recently i found the band,. Better late than never....