Born in London, England, he is probably best known as the lead singer and main songwriter of The Sound. Prior to his involvement with The Sound, Borland was a part of the seminal punk trio The Outsiders. The latter became the first English punk band to release an album by themselves, 1977's Calling On Youth. Subsequent to The Sound's disbandment in 1987, Borland commenced a solo career. It would eventually prove to be extensive, spanning over seven full-length albums (some of which were released posthumously) and several EP's.
On April 26th, 1999, Adrian Borland committed suicide in London, England by throwing himself underneath a train. He was at the time recording a new album. Following Borland's untimely death, a tribute album was released in 2001 - In Passing - A Tribute To Adrian Borland And The Sound.
In Passing
Adrian Borland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To illuminate this night
These streets all have a hollow ring
Sounding down inside
This town got our wild years
Now it's quiet here, and still
What good is life without the few
Who lived it to the full?
This yellow glow is gonna show me home
Down rivers made of stone
But if you miss old friends tonight
Then you are not alone.
The lyrics to Adrian Borland's "In Passing" convey a sense of nostalgia for the wild times of youth, now long gone. The singer seems to be wandering through a quiet, empty town at night, reflecting on the empty streets and the lack of excitement. The yellow lights are not enough to fill the darkness, and the hollow sound of the streets creates a haunting sense of emptiness. The lines "this town got our wild years / now it's quiet here, and still" serve as a reminder that time moves on and things change, whether we want them to or not.
The chorus offers a glimmer of hope, though. The yellow glow mentioned represents a sense of familiarity and warmth, leading the singer home down rivers made of stone. The final lines, "But if you miss old friends tonight / Then you are not alone," remind us that even when we feel isolated or disconnected, there are others out there who may be feeling the same way. The singer is not alone in his feelings of loss and longing for the past, and there is comfort in that shared experience.
Overall, "In Passing" is a song that captures the bittersweet nature of nostalgia and the passage of time. The lyrics evoke a sense of melancholy and longing for a time long gone, but the chorus offers a hint of optimism and a reminder that we are not alone in our feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
These yellow lights are not enough
The streetlights do not provide enough illumination to brighten up the dark night
To illuminate this night
The night is too dark and gloomy
These streets all have a hollow ring
The streets seem empty and lifeless
Sounding down inside
This emptiness can be felt deep inside
This town got our wild years
This town was once full of excitement and adventure
Now it's quiet here, and still
Nowadays, the town is very calm and peaceful
What good is life without the few
Life is not worth living without the people who lived it with passion and enthusiasm
Who lived it to the full?
The people who lived their life to the fullest made it worth living
This yellow glow is gonna show me home
The streetlights will guide the way home
Down rivers made of stone
The streets are like rivers made of cobblestones
But if you miss old friends tonight
If you feel lonely and miss your old friends tonight
Then you are not alone.
Remember that there are others who feel the same way, and you are not alone
Contributed by Keira E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.