(1)Absinthe were formed from the ashes of the AZ band Groundwork. They rele… Read Full Bio ↴(1)Absinthe were formed from the ashes of the AZ band Groundwork. They released one 10" in 1995 and one 7" in 1997. They were also supposed to have a split with the band Disembodied, but it never happened. The songs that were supposed to be on Disembodied's side of the split were later released on their Psalms Of Sheol compilation under the names Epilogue (originally the title was Skeleton Eyes) and Scratch.

(2) a rock/roots side/slash solo project by Sam Llanas formerly of The BoDeans which features Violent Femmes drummer Guy Hoffman and Sugarfoot guitarist Jim Eannelli

Bittersweet Symphony
Absinthe Lyrics

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'Cause it's a bittersweet
Symphony that's life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to the money, then you die

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change

But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould

But I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no
(Never been down)
No, no, no
(Never been down)
No, no, no
(Never been down)
No, no, no
(Never been down)

Well, I've made the grade but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
I need to hear some sounds that
Recognize the pain in me, yeah

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould

And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
(No, no, no, no, no, no)
Have you ever been down?
Have you ever been down?

'Cause it's a bittersweet
Symphony this life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to the money then you die

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mould
I am here in my mould

And I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mould
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
(No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no)
Have you ever been down?
(No, no, no, no, no)
Have you ever been down?
(No, no, no, no, no)

You gotcha
Sex and violence
Melody and silence
Gotcha
Sex and violence
Melody and silence
Gotcha
Sex and violence
Melody and silence
Gotcha
Sex

And sex
And sex

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Absinthe's song "Bittersweet Symphony" reflect the struggles and realities of life, particularly the battle to make ends meet. The opening lines, "Cause it's a bittersweet symphony that's life," indicate that life itself is a compilation of varied emotions and experiences. The phrase "bittersweet symphony" suggests the conflicting elements of joy and sorrow that intertwine in the human experience.

The subsequent lines, "Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to the money, then you die," delve into the notion of being trapped by the pursuit of wealth and material success. The lyrics convey a feeling of being caught in a cycle, where one becomes enslaved to the pursuit of money, only to eventually face mortality. The repetition of "I can't change, I can't change" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and unable to break free from one's circumstances.

The lines "But I'm a million different people from one day to the next, I can't change my mould" further explore the complexity of human existence. It suggests that despite the external constraints, one's true essence remains multifaceted and evolving. The notion of being "a million different people" implies the constantly changing nature of human identity and experiences.

The chorus repeats the idea of how life can be a bittersweet symphony with its ups and downs, while highlighting the struggles of trying to make ends meet. The repetition of the phrase "Have you ever been down?" emphasizes the universal nature of these struggles and invites reflection on personal experiences of hardship.

Overall, "Bittersweet Symphony" speaks to the complexities and contradictions of life, grappling with the pursuit of success, the limitations imposed by society, and the eternal search for personal identity and fulfillment.

Line by Line Meaning

Cause it's a bittersweet Symphony that's life
Life is like a bittersweet symphony, filled with ups and downs.

Trying to make ends meet You're a slave to the money, then you die
Struggling to survive, you become a prisoner of money, until your eventual death.

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
I will guide you down the familiar path, where all the paths of life converge.

No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change But I'm here in my mould I am here in my mould
I feel trapped, unable to change, but I accept my limitations and embrace my unique identity.

But I'm a million different people from one day to the next I can't change my mould No, no, no, no, no
I constantly transform and evolve, but my core essence remains the same, unable to alter my true self.

Well, I've made the grade but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah I need to hear some sounds that Recognize the pain in me, yeah
Although I have achieved success, tonight I am vulnerable and in need of music that understands my pain.

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
I allow the music's melody to illuminate my thoughts, bringing a sense of liberation. However, there is a lack of meaningful music being played on the airwaves.

No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change But I'm here in my mould I am here in my mould
I am still unable to change or escape my limitations, stuck in my familiar patterns.

And I'm a million different people from one day to the next I can't change my mould No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I go through constant transformation, never the same from one day to another, yet still remain trapped in my unchanging identity.

Cause it's a bittersweet Symphony this life Trying to make ends meet You're a slave to the money then you die
Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow, as we strive to survive and fulfill our needs, only to be enslaved by money until our eventual demise.

You gotcha Sex and violence Melody and silence
In this world, there is an abundance of sex and violence, as well as moments of peaceful melody and silence.

Gotcha Sex and violence Melody and silence
Again, we encounter sex and violence, alongside the contrasting elements of soothing melodies and profound quietness.

Gotcha Sex and violence Melody and silence
Once more, we are confronted with the recurring themes of sex and violence, intertwined with moments of melodious tranquility and profound silence.

Gotcha Sex And sex And sex
Caught up in a cycle, constantly bombarded by the themes of sex, sex, and more sex.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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