Alcian Blue were DC's best underground shoegaze act from the late 90's to early 2000's. Formed from DC's loudest band Wintermute, Alcian Blue brought beautiful switling melodies together with blistering guitars and driving beats. When drummer Clark left to join the airforce Alcian Blue added Kim on guitars and vocals and a drum machine for their beats. Then in early 2006 the band broke splitting off into two new acts Vacuole Eyes and Screen Vinyl Image.
Discography
Alcian Blue (Elephant Stone) 2006
"You Just Disappear" (Safranin Sound) 2005
Fall Behind EP (Safranin Sound) 2004
Silver's Sleep Walk (Safranin Sound) 2004
Translucent EP (Safranin Sound) 2004
Angelica Take Me Down (Safranin Sound) 2003
Slow Colorless Stare (Safranin Sound) 2001
71705
Alcian Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I can't keep holding your weight
It's time to sink or it's time to swim
You don't see this danger you're in
It's hard to get your feet off the ground
When you look and there's no one around
There's no more life that you used to know
There's no more feeling and it's starting to show
There isn't a future
If you look in your mind
You get nothing but static
In a broken disguise
Your mind has been wiped clean
There's no memories at all
If you reach out for meaning
You hit nothing but walls
Life feels like a weightless disguise
A thought drifts from behind those eyes
The daylight comes and the daylight goes
You work hard but there's nothing to show
Your mind drifts to a lonely place
The world's looking at your failing face
There's no more life that you used to know
There's no more feelings and it's starting to grow
There isn't a future
If you look in your mind
You get nothing but static
In a broken disguise
Your mind has been wiped clean
There's no memories at all
If you reach out for meaning
You hit nothing but walls
The lyrics of "71705" by Alcian Blue convey a feeling of despair and detachment, as the singer describes the gradual loss of a loved one or a close relationship. The opening lines, "I feel you slipping away / and I can't keep holding your weight" seem to suggest that the singer is trying to hold onto someone who is slowly pulling away, but is powerless to stop them from leaving. The lines "It's hard to get your feet off the ground / When you look and there's no one around" further illustrate the sense of isolation and loneliness that the singer is experiencing.
As the song progresses, the mood becomes even more bleak, with the singer reflecting on the emptiness of life and the futility of trying to find meaning or purpose. The lines "There isn't a future / If you look in your mind / You get nothing but static / In a broken disguise" suggest that the singer sees little hope or possibility for the future, and is instead trapped in a state of aimlessness and confusion.
Overall, "71705" is a deeply emotional and introspective song that explores themes of loss, isolation, and meaninglessness. Through its haunting melody and poignant lyrics, the song captures the existential angst and alienation that many people experience at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel you slipping away
I am sensing that you are distancing yourself
and I can't keep holding your weight
I cannot continue being responsible for you and your problems
It's time to sink or it's time to swim
You must decide whether to sink or swim in this situation
You don't see this danger you're in
You are unaware of the danger you are facing
It's hard to get your feet off the ground
It is difficult to get started when you are feeling stuck
When you look and there's no one around
You feel isolated when you look around and see nobody there
There's no more life that you used to know
The life you once had is gone and cannot be retrieved
There's no more feeling and it's starting to show
You are becoming numb to everything and it is becoming apparent
There isn't a future
There is no hope for a future
If you look in your mind
If you examine your thoughts
You get nothing but static
You receive nothing but noise and confusion
In a broken disguise
In a state of pretending or hiding something
Your mind has been wiped clean
You have lost all memories and knowledge
There's no memories at all
There are no recollections of the past
If you reach out for meaning
If you try to understand the significance of things
You hit nothing but walls
You encounter nothing but obstacles and problems
Life feels like a weightless disguise
Life seems meaningless and superficial
A thought drifts from behind those eyes
A thought emerges from within your mind
The daylight comes and the daylight goes
The passing of time is constant and unchanging
You work hard but there's nothing to show
You put in effort but there are no visible results
Your mind drifts to a lonely place
Your thoughts tend to gravitate towards a solitary state
The world's looking at your failing face
Others are observing you as you struggle and experience failure
There's no more life that you used to know
The familiar experiences and joys of life are no longer present
There's no more feelings and it's starting to grow
The lack of emotions is becoming more apparent and prominent
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@palestar828
This is such a good under rated song that I've been listening to for years. It brings back so many memories
@davidgalan9921
Amazing song.......amazing band........this song made my shoegaze compilation after just hearing it once. What an amazing sonic arrangement! Made the shoegaze goth boy inside me extremely happy! As difficult as that is! Such an amazing song! So driven and emotional........a masterpiece!!!!!!