A tiny flame inside my head
A compromise I never planned
Unravel out the finest trends

And I'm looking at a blank page now
Should have filled it up with words somehow

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

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

The scratching of a mellotron (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
It always seemed to make her cry (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)

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

And I'm looking at a blank page now
Should have filled it up 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

The scratching of a mellotron (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
It always seemed to make her cry (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)
Well, maybe she remembers us (nothing rises from my feet of clay)
(But it's ok)
Collecting space up in the sky (red mist spreads across my fingertips)
(Ardour slips)

Don't look back into black
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down
Don't look back into black
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down
Don't look back into black (to end as friends)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (so painful)
Don't look back into black (to end as friends)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (so painful)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't look back into black (don't look down, shut it down)
Don't let the memory or the sound drag you down (don't look down, shut it down)


Lyrics submitted by Idan

Mellotron Scratch Lyrics as written by Gavin Richard Harrison Colin Edwin Balch

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Mellotron Scratch song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    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.

    Dertton February 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    Tabuckton January 27, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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

    Wakeboard_Snufkinon June 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The ending is just... beautiful.

    FlashCEon October 14, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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.

    natijeanon March 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    oops, I meant "Inside my hand"*

    Wakeboard_Snufkinon June 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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.

    im_a_pirateon May 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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.

    solarionon August 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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..

    poisen83on December 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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!

    dawgsnkatson March 26, 2008   Link

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