Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt, born Robert Ellidge, in Bristol, UK on 28 January 1945, is an… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Wyatt, born Robert Ellidge, in Bristol, UK on 28 January 1945, is an English musician, and a former member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine.
As a teenager, he lived with his parents in a fourteen-room Georgian guest-house, Wellington House, in Lydden near Canterbury. Here he was taught the drums by visiting American jazz drummer George Niedorf.
In 1962, Wyatt and Niedorf moved to Majorca where they stayed with the poet Robert Graves. The following year, Wyatt returned to England and joined the Daevid Allen Trio with Daevid Allen and Hugh Hopper. Allen subsequently left for France, and Wyatt and Hopper formed the Wilde Flowers with Richard Sinclair, Kevin Ayers and Brian Hopper. Wyatt was initially the drummer in the Wilde Flowers, but following the departure of Ayers, he became lead singer.
In 1966, the Wilde Flowers disintegrated, and Wyatt and Mike Ratledge formed the Soft Machine with Ayers and Allen. Here Wyatt both drummed and sang, an unusual combination for a stage rock band.
In 1970, after chaotic touring, three albums and increasing internal conflicts in Soft Machine, Wyatt released his first solo album, The End of an Ear, which combined his vocal and multi-instrumental talents with tape effects.
A year later, Wyatt left Soft Machine and formed his own band Matching Mole (a pun on "machine molle", the French for Soft Machine), a largely instrumental outfit. After two albums and a split, Matching Mole were about to embark on a third record when, on 1 June 1973, during a drunken party, Wyatt fell from a third floor window. He was subsequently paralysed from the waist down (paraplegia) and confined to a wheelchair.
The injury led Wyatt to abandon the Matching Mole project, and his drumming. He promptly embarked on a solo-career, and with a collective of session musicians (including Mike Oldfield, the poet Ivor Cutler and Henry Cow guitarist Fred Frith), he released his acclaimed solo album Rock Bottom. Later that same year he put out a single, a cover version of "I'm a Believer", which hit number 29 in the UK chart. There were strong arguments with the producer of Top of the Pops surrounding his performance of "I'm a Believer," on the grounds that his wheelchair-bound appearance 'was not suitable for family viewing', the producer wanting Wyatt to appear on a normal chair. Wyatt won the day and 'lost his rag but not the wheel chair', but gave a performance that could be described as disgruntled.
Wyatt's next album, Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, was more jazz-led, with free jazz influences and nods to African music. These solo recordings were all produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd.
Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Wyatt guested with various acts, working with the likes of Henry Cow (documented on their Henry Cow Concerts album), Hatfield and the North, Carla Bley and Michael Mantler. His solo work during the early 1980s was increasingly politicised, and Wyatt became an outspoken member and supporter of the British Communist Party. In 1983, his interpretation of Elvis Costello's anti-Falklands War song "Shipbuilding", the last in a series of political cover-versions (collected as Nothing Can Stop Us), reached number 35 in the UK singles chart. In the late 1980s, after collaborations with other ex-Canterbury acts such as News from Babel, he and his wife Alfreda Benge spent a sabbatical in Spain, before returning in 1991 with a comeback album Dondestan, considered by many to be his best work since Rock Bottom. His 1997 album Shleep was also highly acclaimed.
An uncredited Wyatt contributed the haunting "Masters of the Field", as well as "The Highest Gander", "La Forêt Rouge" and "Hors Champ" to the soundtrack of the acclaimed 2001 film Winged Migration. He can be seen in the DVD's Special Features section, and is praised by the film's composer Bruno Coulais as being a big influence in his younger days.
In 2001, Wyatt was curator of the Meltdown festival, and in 2003 he put out his album Cuckooland.
In 2004, Wyatt collaborated with Björk on the song "Submarine" which was released on her fifth album Medúlla.
In October 2007 he released Comicopera, a 16-track album, his first for the Domino label.
It was produced by Wyatt himself, and recorded at his home in Louth as well as Phil Manzanera's Gallery Studio.
Comicopera is divided into three acts - 'Lost in Noise', 'The Here and The Now', and 'Away with the Fairies'. Featured musicians include previous collaborators Brian Eno, Paul Weller and Phil Manzanera. Wyatt said he was keen to capture the sound of a group of musicians playing in the room together, but more importantly to have friends playing together.
"Music isn't just an abstract pleasure, it is a company, when you play a record. Why I like Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, the big bands - is because every character in the band is identifiable as that person - there's this group of humans in a room".
"He lives in Louth, Lincolnshire and he has equipment in his bedroom where he records himself and his albums. We brought a G4 and Pro Tools and recorded it in like one afternoon. He's such an extraordinary singer. Before he left, he insisted to give us a scale of his voice, where he sings all the tones – and he has the most amazing range, like 5 or 6 octaves. What's really interesting about his range is that each octave is of a totally different character. We actually ended up using that later for 'Oceania', we used what he calls the 'Wyattron'." — Björk, XFM 25 August 2004
As a teenager, he lived with his parents in a fourteen-room Georgian guest-house, Wellington House, in Lydden near Canterbury. Here he was taught the drums by visiting American jazz drummer George Niedorf.
In 1962, Wyatt and Niedorf moved to Majorca where they stayed with the poet Robert Graves. The following year, Wyatt returned to England and joined the Daevid Allen Trio with Daevid Allen and Hugh Hopper. Allen subsequently left for France, and Wyatt and Hopper formed the Wilde Flowers with Richard Sinclair, Kevin Ayers and Brian Hopper. Wyatt was initially the drummer in the Wilde Flowers, but following the departure of Ayers, he became lead singer.
In 1966, the Wilde Flowers disintegrated, and Wyatt and Mike Ratledge formed the Soft Machine with Ayers and Allen. Here Wyatt both drummed and sang, an unusual combination for a stage rock band.
In 1970, after chaotic touring, three albums and increasing internal conflicts in Soft Machine, Wyatt released his first solo album, The End of an Ear, which combined his vocal and multi-instrumental talents with tape effects.
A year later, Wyatt left Soft Machine and formed his own band Matching Mole (a pun on "machine molle", the French for Soft Machine), a largely instrumental outfit. After two albums and a split, Matching Mole were about to embark on a third record when, on 1 June 1973, during a drunken party, Wyatt fell from a third floor window. He was subsequently paralysed from the waist down (paraplegia) and confined to a wheelchair.
The injury led Wyatt to abandon the Matching Mole project, and his drumming. He promptly embarked on a solo-career, and with a collective of session musicians (including Mike Oldfield, the poet Ivor Cutler and Henry Cow guitarist Fred Frith), he released his acclaimed solo album Rock Bottom. Later that same year he put out a single, a cover version of "I'm a Believer", which hit number 29 in the UK chart. There were strong arguments with the producer of Top of the Pops surrounding his performance of "I'm a Believer," on the grounds that his wheelchair-bound appearance 'was not suitable for family viewing', the producer wanting Wyatt to appear on a normal chair. Wyatt won the day and 'lost his rag but not the wheel chair', but gave a performance that could be described as disgruntled.
Wyatt's next album, Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard, was more jazz-led, with free jazz influences and nods to African music. These solo recordings were all produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd.
Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Wyatt guested with various acts, working with the likes of Henry Cow (documented on their Henry Cow Concerts album), Hatfield and the North, Carla Bley and Michael Mantler. His solo work during the early 1980s was increasingly politicised, and Wyatt became an outspoken member and supporter of the British Communist Party. In 1983, his interpretation of Elvis Costello's anti-Falklands War song "Shipbuilding", the last in a series of political cover-versions (collected as Nothing Can Stop Us), reached number 35 in the UK singles chart. In the late 1980s, after collaborations with other ex-Canterbury acts such as News from Babel, he and his wife Alfreda Benge spent a sabbatical in Spain, before returning in 1991 with a comeback album Dondestan, considered by many to be his best work since Rock Bottom. His 1997 album Shleep was also highly acclaimed.
An uncredited Wyatt contributed the haunting "Masters of the Field", as well as "The Highest Gander", "La Forêt Rouge" and "Hors Champ" to the soundtrack of the acclaimed 2001 film Winged Migration. He can be seen in the DVD's Special Features section, and is praised by the film's composer Bruno Coulais as being a big influence in his younger days.
In 2001, Wyatt was curator of the Meltdown festival, and in 2003 he put out his album Cuckooland.
In 2004, Wyatt collaborated with Björk on the song "Submarine" which was released on her fifth album Medúlla.
In October 2007 he released Comicopera, a 16-track album, his first for the Domino label.
It was produced by Wyatt himself, and recorded at his home in Louth as well as Phil Manzanera's Gallery Studio.
Comicopera is divided into three acts - 'Lost in Noise', 'The Here and The Now', and 'Away with the Fairies'. Featured musicians include previous collaborators Brian Eno, Paul Weller and Phil Manzanera. Wyatt said he was keen to capture the sound of a group of musicians playing in the room together, but more importantly to have friends playing together.
"Music isn't just an abstract pleasure, it is a company, when you play a record. Why I like Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, the big bands - is because every character in the band is identifiable as that person - there's this group of humans in a room".
"He lives in Louth, Lincolnshire and he has equipment in his bedroom where he records himself and his albums. We brought a G4 and Pro Tools and recorded it in like one afternoon. He's such an extraordinary singer. Before he left, he insisted to give us a scale of his voice, where he sings all the tones – and he has the most amazing range, like 5 or 6 octaves. What's really interesting about his range is that each octave is of a totally different character. We actually ended up using that later for 'Oceania', we used what he calls the 'Wyattron'." — Björk, XFM 25 August 2004
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Robert Wyatt Lyrics
'Round Midnight Tears you've shed today will pause Waiting until tomorrow …
A Beautiful Peace Oh look there's a dead rabbit' all flat' completely flat'…
A Beautiful War It's a beautiful day To see my brain ? It's a beautiful…
A Last Straw Seaweed tangled in our home from home Reminds me of your…
A Sunday in Madrid Pa arrives in the city of the closed doors, Greeted by…
A.W.O.L Patty lives up in the attic now Her feet rarely touching…
A.W.O.L. Patty lives up in the attic now Her feet rarely touching…
Alien I sleep on the wing Above the rainclouds Blown by the wind…
Alife Not nit not nit no not Nit nit folly bololey Alifi my…
Alifie Not nit. Not nit. No, not nit. Nit. Folly bololey. Alife…
Alliance There is a kind of compromise you are master of Your…
Amber And The Amberines Clearing road and landslide Children of history Changing fro…
Arauco Arauco tiene una pena Que no la puedo callar, Son injustic…
At Last I Am Free At last I am free I can hardly see…
Be Serious I really envy Christians I envy Muslims too It must be great…
Beware You might have a lot to say. There might be a…
Biko Inamajo Inamajo man is dead man is dead Inamajo Inamajo man…
Blues in Bob Minor Roger's in the archive looking up casement Martha's in the …
Born Again Cretin At least I won't be shot for singing I'm a free…
Brian The Fox Overnight Upstream Downwind Overland…
British Road Those foreigners are at it again When will they learn to…
Caimanera Guantánamo tiene un son sobre su piel duradera que gira po…
Calyx Poetry in motion is what you've become From the front and…
Cancion de Julieta Un mar de sueno. Un mar de tierra blanca, y los arcos…
Catholic Architecture A white house with a folly – a tower attached. On the…
Chairman Mao An early photograph Of the young braid with the confident gr…
Costa Orange, the fierce orange of the egg-shaped fireball plopp…
CP Jeebies Picture the scene "Hello, how are you?" "Well I'm green …
Cuckoo Madame Cuckoo Madame with your teddy bear eye, yellow fingers cli…
dedicated to you but you weren't listening Famous parabolic versions Songs that promise: Beauty, sleep,…
Del Mondo È stato un tempo il mondo giovane e forte Odorante di…
Dondestan Palestine's a country Or at least Used to be. Felahin, refu…
East Timor Timor East Timor Who's your fancy friend, Indonesia? What di…
Fol De Rol (Nonsense syllables)…
Foreign Accents Hiroshima Nagasaki Nagasaki Hiroshima Arigato Vanunu K…
Forest [Chorus] Deep in the forest The omens are bad, A cloud passe…
Fragment 'Cause I'm never going to change a thing about you Never…
Free Will and Testament Given free will but within certain limitations, I cannot wi…
Gharbzadegi It's so easy to decide on a name It's a name…
Gloria Gloom Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how…
Goccia GOCCIA (Cristina Donà , Manuel Agnelli) Specchio di pioggia…
God Song What on Earth are you doing, God? Is this some sort…
Grass Go and sit upon the grass and I shall come and…
Hasta Siempre Comandante Aprendimos a quererte desde la histórica altura donde el s…
Heaps of Sheeps I realised my fists were clenched, I stretched my fingers t…
I'm a Believer I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for…
Insensatez How insensitive I must have seemed When he told me that…
I`m A Believer I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for…
I’m a Believer I thought love was only true in fairy tales Meant for…
Just A Bit Faith may not be such a bad thing. Hope can still…
Just As You Are It's that look in your eyes Telling me lies So many promises…
La plus jolie langue GOCCIA (Cristina Donà , Manuel Agnelli) Specchio di pioggia…
Last Straw Seaweed tangled in our home from home Reminds me of your…
Left on Man Simplify Reduce Over-simplify Sim…
Life Is Sheep Life is sheep, for wool and lots of meat we buy and…
Lisp Service Trouble isn't my middle name, left in peace would make my…
Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Orlan don't tell me, oh no Don't say oh God Don't tell…
Little Red Riding Hood Hit the Road Orlan don't tell me, oh no Don't say oh God Don't tell…
Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road In the garden of England dead moles lie inside their…
Lullaby For Hamza When bombers bomb again, I need your lullaby. Fires are bu…
Lullaloop Hold on, can't walk faster, can't get up the hill. Oy! …
Maryan Over an ocean away Like salmon Turning back for Nayram To…
Mass Medium And as history slips out of view Bated breath for the…
Masters of the Field Up above gathered on a field of clouds, Crowded a lot…
Memories How I wish I could forget those happy yesteryears They have…
Mister E I love suspense, the thrill of the unknown. What will I sa…
Mob Rule Plans are unveiled a prissied fool Residents mutter their do…
Moon in June On a dilemma between what I need and what I…
O Caroline David's on piano, and I may play on a drum And…
Old Europe Le Chat qui Pêche, Rue de la Huchette. Paris at night, an…
Out Of Season A late sparrow fledging Bathing in dust Beneath the gaping…
Out Of The Blue No need to wipe your feet The welcome mat's not there I'll…
P.L.A Poor little Alfie trying to draw Trying to draw Poor Little…
P.L.A. Poor little Alfie trying to draw Trying to draw Poor Lit…
Pigs... Well, we′re driving, uh, driving through Wiltshire, Very nic…
PLA Poor little Alfie trying to draw Trying to draw Poor Little…
Red Flag It waved above our infant might, When all ahead seemed dark…
Round Midnight Tears you've shed today will pause Waiting until tomorrow Dr…
Sea Song You look different every time you come From the foam-crested…
September the Ninth Woman wishing for wings, (Too large a lump to pass for…
Shipbuilding Is it worth it? A new winter coat and shoes for…
Shrinkrap It takes a weekly packet To keep the shrink in pocket It…
Sight of the Wind We could hear it before the shutters were open, the wind o…
Signed Curtain This is the first verse This is the first verse This is…
Sinking Spell Do it now This submarine way down to return To return Do …
Solar Flares Solar flares burn, they burn for you Solar flares burn, the…
Soup Song There's a mushroom on my eyelid There's a carrot down my…
Stalin Wasn't Stallin' Stalin wasn't stallin' When he told the beast of Berlin Th…
Stay Tuned In-between lost in noise Somewhere, somewhere In-between g…
Strange Fruit The Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood on the leaves,…
Submarine When will it be time to document Do it now This submarine…
Te Recuerdo Amanda Te recuerdo Amanda la lluvia en el pelo Corriendo a la…
Team Spirit Kick me Hardy Without one sweet push from your shine covered…
The Age Of Self They say the working class is dead, we're all consumers…
The British Road Those foreigners are at it again When will they learn to…
The Diver Standing High above us all At the edge of The diving board …
The Duchess Oh my wife is tall and short, She won't do what…
The Highest Gander Overland, above the dark seas Wild refugees flee the seasons…
The Sight Of The Wind We could hear it before the shutters were open, the wind o…
The United States of Amnesia There are degrees of amnesia, ways to forget Ways to remembe…
The Verb How can we get through to people, In a sentence, loud…
Tom Hay's Fox Bring out your foghorns, the mist has descended. The alley…
Trickle Down Open your window lend an ear and then pull back the curta…
Vandalusia Beyond the dotted line Over the border Out of control Behind…
War Without Blood Half the time is pantomime half the time it's only make…
Was A Friend Was A Friend (Wyatt, Hopper) Furry kind of greeting, not ex…
We’re Looking for a Lot of Love This town's been raining for too long For me to find…
Worship Two nuns on the sea shore stand apart from one another…
Yesterday Man I'm her yesterday man (Gone is the look of love she…
Yolanda Esto no puede ser no más que una canción Quisiera fuera…
You You Do do do do do You, you're be ? when the…