During the mid 90s Anohni started solo; after originally producing songs with Blacklips Performance Cult and other late-night cabarets she had a number of songs to work with. In 1995 she assembled a backing group—the self-styled Antony and the Johnsons—and began to focus on the musical side of her performances. The group built up a cult following at hip New York clubs such as the Kitchen and Knitting Factory. Anohni then received a NYFA for “performance art/emergent forms” which she used to record the Johnsons' debut album “Blue Angel”, that remained unreleased until Current 93 leader David Tibet signed Antony and the Johnsons to his Durtro label. The cast list of musicians on the album, released under the title "Antony and the Johnsons" in 1998, included Baby Dee (harp), Francois Gehin (bass), Todd Cohen (drums), Charles Neilson (guitar), and a number of string and woodwind players. This album later were reissued in 2000 and in 2004 by Secretly Canadian.
This collection of modern torch songs highlighted Anohni's soulful, multi-octave vocals and the Johnsons' graceful chamber pop arrangements, reaching a peak on "Cripple And The Starfish" and "Divine", the latter a tribute to the late transvestite movie star. Further recordings by Antony and the Johnsons emerged in the early years of the new millennium, including "I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy" and a shared EP “Live at St. Olave's” with Current 93, recorded live at Saint Olave's Church in London, England.
In early 2001 released 3 song EP "I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy", included covers of Mysteries of Love (Appeared originally on the film Blue Velvet) and Soft Black Stars.
Split EP included two new songs from the Johnsons, the first being You Stand Above Me, only one minute and thirty-six seconds long but containing all the melancholy and drama one would expect from the Johnsons. The other new track was The Lake which was an 1827 poem written by Edgar Allan Poe beautifully adapted to song. The Johnsons appear with Current 93 again on a 7”, with side B including the song Virgin Mary. This was limited to 500 copies, both released May 12th, 2003. By now the line-up of the Johnsons featured Todd Cohen, Jeff Langston (bass), Jason Hart (piano), Julia Kent (cello), Joan Wasser (violin), and Maxim Moston (violin).
It was around this time that Lou Reed heard the “I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy” EP. Reed then recruited Anohni for her album The Raven for guest vocals and took her on tour in 2003 which meant that Anohni appeared on Lou’s live album Animal Serenade. With the band now attracting wider attention, Anohni and the Johnsons signed to US based label Secretly Canadian. Secretly Canadian then reissued the band's debut to a wider audience in the USA.
The Lake was released the following year through the new label. It’s another 3 song EP including "The Lake" - Lou Reed appeared on Fistful of Love with guest vocals and guitar. The Horror Has Gone seems to be Anohni expressing the end of a depressing phase in her life, a positive lyrical change from her debut style.
In February 2005 Antony and the Johnsons released their second full length, I Am A Bird Now. It has guest appearances from Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, Lou Reed and Boy George. It went on to receive great critical acclaim in the UK and won Anohni the Technics Mercury Music Prize for 2005.
In 2006 Anohni appeared in the Leonard Cohen tribute concert and subsequent film "I'm Your Man." Her performance of "If It Be Your Will" is perhaps the highlight of the film.
The 5-song Another World EP was released on October 7, 2008. As promised, it shows a mixture of continuation of earlier songs' atmosphere as well as more experimental work. Antony and the Johnsons' third album, "The Crying Light", was released on January 19, 2009. This was followed by "Swanlights" in October, 2010. Both of these latter albums are less melodic and more experimental in nature the Anohni's earlier work and have met with critical acclaim yet little commercial success.
http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/
Hope There's Someone
Antony and the Johnsons Lyrics
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Who'll take care of me
When I die, will I go?
Hope there's someone
Who'll set my heart free
Nice to hold, when I'm tired
There's a ghost on the horizon (there's a ghost, there's a ghost)
When I, go to bed
How can I fall asleep at night? (How can I? How can I? How can I?)
How will I rest my head?
Oh, I'm scared of the middle place
Between light and nowhere
I don't want to be the one
Left in there, left in there
There's a man on the horizon (there's a man, there's a man, there's a man)
Wish that I'd go to bed
If I fall to his feet tonight (if I fall, if I fall, if I fall)
Will I rest my head?
So here's hoping I will not drown
Or paralyze in light
And godsend I don't want to go
To the seal's watershed
Hope there's someone
Who'll take care of me
When I die, will I go?
Hope that someone
Will set my heart free
Nice to hold, when I'm tired
The song "Hope There's Someone" by Antony and the Johnsons is a deeply introspective and melancholic piece, exploring the themes of mortality, loneliness and the human desire for companionship. The opening lines of the song express the hope that there is someone out there who will take care of the singer after they die, and set their heart free. The lyrics reveal a sense of vulnerability and fear of the unknown that comes with the idea of passing away.
The second verse of the song is particularly poignant as it talks about the ghost on the horizon that torments the singer when they go to bed. The singer is unable to rest their head due to the fear of being alone in the middle place between light and nowhere, left to suffer in utter solitude. The third verse introduces the idea of a man on the horizon, perhaps someone who can offer the singer some kind of solace and comfort, but it remains unclear if this is a reality or just a fantasy.
Throughout the song, there is a strong sense of longing and desperation for human connection, perhaps reflecting Antony Hegarty's own personal struggles with gender identity and feelings of isolation. The sparse instrumentation and haunting vocals add to the emotional weight of the lyrics, making for a devastatingly beautiful piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Hope there's someone
Desire for the presence of someone who will care for me.
Who'll take care of me
Someone who will look after and tend to me.
When I die, will I go
Concern for what will happen after I pass away.
Who'll set my heart free
Yearning for emotional liberation and relief.
Nice to hold, when I'm tired
The comfort and warmth of physical contact when I am weary.
There's a ghost on the horizon
A perception of something ominous or foreboding in the distance.
When I go to bed
At the end of the day, when I prepare to rest.
How can I fall asleep at night
The struggle to find peace and tranquility at bedtime.
How will I rest my head
How can I find relief and serenity.
Oh I'm scared of the middle place
Fear of being stuck in a state of uncertainty and ambiguity.
Between light and nowhere
In a transitional phase where there is no clear direction.
I don't want to be the one
The desire to avoid being left alone, abandoned or isolated.
Left in there, left in there
Repeated affirmation of the fear of being alone and isolated.
There's a man on the horizon
The potential for a new or different relationship or connection.
Wish that I'd go to bed
The longing for a sense of rest and completion.
If I fall to his feet tonight
The possibility of surrendering to a new or different relationship.
Will allow, rest my head
The hope that falling at someone's feet will bring peace and tranquility.
So here's hoping I will not drown
The hope that I will survive and not be overwhelmed by my fears.
Or paralyze in light
The fear of being frozen or trapped by the brightness or clarity of a situation.
And Godsend I don't want to go
A plea for divine intervention or protection.
To the seal's watershed
To a potentially dangerous or risky situation.
Ooh
Expressing empathy and understanding.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Anohni Hegarty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind