Funny no one's commented on this one yet. So I'll just throw in my 2 cents (times 50)
Obviously, this song is about not not wanting to sell out and become popular and rich at the expense of making good music, but there's a little more to it than just that.
In the 1900's the term "penny dreadful" was used to refer to a cheaply printed, poorly written horror story. Penny dreadfuls were bit like dime novels, but with horror plots instead of action or romance stories and they were generally or poorer quality than even the dime novels. Almost no penny dreadfuls have survived intact into this century, they were so cheap they all self-destructed (I've read reprints of a few of them, it doesn't seem like we lost much, they are pretty bad). I think Skyclad is really making a point comparing today's pathetic magazines to the Victorian penny dreadfuls, you just have to be a little behind the times yourself to see that point :)
I think the meaning of this song is pretty clear. There are a couple moments typical of Skyclad lyrics I especially like:
I think the meaning of this song is pretty clear. There are a couple moments typical of Skyclad lyrics I especially like:
"Painted faces in a circus": The Face and Circus were two rock magazines at the time this song was written.
"I'd rather be called sour and bitter / Than be deemed the flavor of the week."
"Painted faces in a circus": The Face and Circus were two rock magazines at the time this song was written.
"I'd rather be called sour and bitter / Than be deemed the flavor of the week."
Funny no one's commented on this one yet. So I'll just throw in my 2 cents (times 50) Obviously, this song is about not not wanting to sell out and become popular and rich at the expense of making good music, but there's a little more to it than just that.
In the 1900's the term "penny dreadful" was used to refer to a cheaply printed, poorly written horror story. Penny dreadfuls were bit like dime novels, but with horror plots instead of action or romance stories and they were generally or poorer quality than even the dime novels. Almost no penny dreadfuls have survived intact into this century, they were so cheap they all self-destructed (I've read reprints of a few of them, it doesn't seem like we lost much, they are pretty bad). I think Skyclad is really making a point comparing today's pathetic magazines to the Victorian penny dreadfuls, you just have to be a little behind the times yourself to see that point :)
Interesting info about the penny dreadfuls.
Interesting info about the penny dreadfuls.
I think the meaning of this song is pretty clear. There are a couple moments typical of Skyclad lyrics I especially like:
I think the meaning of this song is pretty clear. There are a couple moments typical of Skyclad lyrics I especially like:
"Painted faces in a circus": The Face and Circus were two rock magazines at the time this song was written. "I'd rather be called sour and bitter / Than be deemed the flavor of the week."
"Painted faces in a circus": The Face and Circus were two rock magazines at the time this song was written. "I'd rather be called sour and bitter / Than be deemed the flavor of the week."
@elvin_wizard I think in the original lyrics it's "flavour of the weak" - Martin can't resist a good pun - or a bad one!
@elvin_wizard I think in the original lyrics it's "flavour of the weak" - Martin can't resist a good pun - or a bad one!