submissions
| Ian Mcculloch – Vibor Blue Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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Ian said this was the first song where he directly addresses his drug addiction. He couldn't bear to sing it in all in English--that's why he used the made-up Spanglish parts. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Bring On The Dancing Horses Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[IqbalHamid:25996] That interview was in 1984 (before this song was recorded and released) and the comment wasn't wasn't about this song. It was in reply to Holland's question of why he (Mac) recorded a solo song (September Song). |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Bring On The Dancing Horses Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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It was included in the Pretty in Pink soundtrack but it wasn't specifically written for it. The Bunnymen took a semi-break starting in 1985 and they released this single as part of their compilation album--Songs to Learn and Sing. They basically took 3 years to release a full studio album (from 1984's Ocean Rain to the self-titled album). You think Ian McCulloch read the Pretty in Pink script and wrote a song specifically for it? Don't think it likely. I mean, do you think New Order wrote Shellshock specifically for the movie too? |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Bring On The Dancing Horses Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[Jojododo:25995] The more I read the lyrics, the more I think it COULD be about infidelity. Many others have already posted about it and I didn't think much of it, but today it resonates with me for some reason.
Like my first post mentioned, McCulloch said he himself wasn't sure what the song is about. But he was a married man in 1985 and he may not have wanted to say too much about the meaning...He divorced in 2003 and it's pretty well-known he has lived the rock and roll lifestyle. Many latter Bunnymen songs are more direct about issues with his marriage--due to his infidelity and drug use.
The shaking and faking, breaking brittle heart--that's his behavior. He knows what he is doing is wrong but not stopping it either. Also "shaking" is an euphemism for taking cocaine. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – The Game Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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This is one of Ian's most lyrically overt songs. He said it was about being in the band and the smallness of it. After 1988, he said it was the only good lyric he wrote on the Grey Album because it captured his feeling that he was ready to leave the Bunnymen behind. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Crocodiles Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[camelpimp:25616] As far as I can recall, it wasn't talked about or brought up during the Bunnymen's heyday. Though I recently read a 1981 interview where the interviewer said McCulloch could be rock's Howard Hughes as he was fixated on hotel cleanliness (for example, taking hours to inspect all the beds). So a bit of a clue on Mac's OCD tendencies way back in the day. After the 1997 comeback, Mac has talked about his OCD in interviews. Understandably, he doesn't go into a lot of details but it seems to be a substantial factor in his life. And yes, he still deals with it. Just speculating out of my ass here, but I think it may be why he's had the drink and drugs issues--maybe going down the self-medication route.
It never occurred to me as a kid in the 1980's that a cool rock star like Ian McCulloch would have OCD. Heck, I didn't even know the existence of OCD then. But looking back on it, it may explain McCulloch's behavior and battles with depression.
I agree with your last point--McCulloch's lyrics may have definite meanings to him, but overall he and the band were more into creating atmosphere and feelings rather getting a message across. |
submissions
| Echo and the Bunnymen – Bedbugs And Ballyhoo Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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Drugs innit?
An interviewer asked McCulloch why he used so many animals in his songs and Ian responded that animal names were handy when he couldn't think of a word. Ha. I don't know if Ian says things like that because they're true or he just doesn't want to delve into lyric explanations. I suspect it may be a combo of both. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Rescue Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[Willywonty:25576] Except he wrote this when he was about 19 or 20. We all know about Ian's indulgences over the years but he wrote the song at a time when they were just starting out. I have no doubt he was drinking and dabbling in drugs but we're not talking about Ian in he late 80's to present, who is basically an alcoholic and coke-head. He said that this was about feeling lost and that it was a sad time in his life. He wrote it in his mom's house and said the song takes him back to his childhood bedroom. My understanding is that drugs didn't really grip them until Heaven Up Here and Porcupine. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Thorn of Crowns Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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Another song Ian has said that doesn't have any particular meaning. He was playing with words and his own image. It was meant to be silly and poke fun at his press rep at the time as a doomy gloomy poet rocker who took himself too seriously. He thought it was pretty obvious to anyone with half a brain but of course, some in the press, still attacked him for writing stupid lyrics. And thus missing the point entirely. According to McCulloch anyway. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[Cracked:25575] Pleasures Wow, I don't think you understood what you read. Especially the whole earthly pleasures and desires bit. Ian does write about god quite a bit but he's not some fundamentalist Christian. It's not a straight-forward song about the traditional god many have in mind. He has said the song's about free will versus fate and let's just say free will doesn't come up the winner. The part about "giving yourself to him" isn't about someone willing following god and the bible's tenets. It's about the inevitability of fate.
And Ian's just about the last person to forego earthly pleasures. His biography should probably be titled, "Ciggies, drinks and drugs (and the birds)" |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[ilan:25574] Ian has said over the years that it's about free will versus fate. That encompasses death of course but no, the song isn't just about death. Ian has a very grandiose interpretation of the song--that it's about everything in life. He has said listen to the song in place of reading the bible. And what controls life? Ian's in the fate camp. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[NocturnalMe:25573] Yes, over 100 comments and Ian has over the years been very clear about the meaning of the song. It's not a love song or about heartbreak. It's about free will versus fate and Ian leans towards fate. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Happy Death Men Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[PayPaul:25571] Actually, Will Sargeant wrote the lyrics to this one. It may be the only Bunnymen lyrics Ian didn't write. You can tell by the repetition it's stylistically different from early Ian lyrics. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – My Kingdom Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[mliem411:25570] I love this song and always wondered by someone was dancing ballet on both of their wrists. I think your explanation is very good but I understood the song to be more global than a disagreement between loved ones. That Ian was singing about society. He used to rail about getting rid of people who pissed him off, people who were bad for society, etc. We all know Mac the Mouth has ideas and solutions for everything in the world. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – My Kingdom Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[mliem411:25569] I love this song and always wondered by someone was dancing ballet on both of their wrists. I think your explanation is very good but I understood the song to be more global than a disagreement between loved ones. That Ian was singing about society. He used to rail about getting rid of people who pissed him off, people who were bad for society, etc. We all know Mac the Mouth has ideas and solutions for everything in the world. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Never Stop Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[Bulgaroktonos:25568] Yes, there's a story that a guy in Scotland took issue with the anti-Thatcher theme of the song, confronted McCulloch at a hotel or hall and also insinuated Ian was a homosexual and a melee ensued. McCulloch claims he kicked and clocked the guy. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Nocturnal Me Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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@[Cracked:25567] Pleasures Yes, read the same. I think it is Ian evoking a feeling rather any deep meaning. He has said he did this a lot early in his career where he focused on creating an atmosphere rather than writing literally. With Candleland, he moved towards more about writing from the heart. And some of it has been very good (like Rust) but I think he was at his best when he was more abstruse.
I do think he playing around with imagery related to lust though. |
submissions
| Echo and the Bunnymen – Bring On The Dancing Horses Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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Ian, at the time of the song, said he wasn't sure what he was going on about. He says this quite a bit about his lyrics. I don't think he doesn't know or was writing nonsense but more like he has feelings about it but he can't quite explain it or put into words.
Or he was being sly and teasing us.
It probably falls under the usual categories he sang about--drugs or disappointment in someone/something/cosmic universe. |
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| Echo and the Bunnymen – Villiers Terrace Lyrics
| 6 years ago
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Ian wrote this song after his brother told him Hitler would stress out and start munching on carpet. This was when Nazi Germany was going down the drain. So the song and lyrics are inspired by that imagery though I don't think the song is literally just about Hitler eating carpet. I think Ian did use that story and imagery to write about being at a party or place where people are freaking out and/or taking drugs. |
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