With a cult following, McCluskey is remembered for a car promotion: her voice is heard on Télépopmusik's song "Breathe" in a Mitsubishi ad.
The former lead singer of Wild Colonials released her debut solo CD, The Things We Do, in 2004. Recorded in only a few days in New York and Sweden, the album showcases McCluskey's extraordinary, raw vocals.
In 2009, McCluskey released her second solo album, You Could Start a Fight in an Empty House, including the track "Handle with Grace" (featuring Télépopmusik).
A Thousand Drunken Dreams
Angela McCluskey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lover wants me to be his mother too
He don't recognize his luck until his luck is through
He's a nightingale, I'm an ugly dove
I don't wanna speak, said enough
No one can mend this human heart that's torn in two
In a moment's space he's gone
And my ship has run aground
And a thousand drunken dreams are sunken
When you leave me, lover, please leave me something.
You don't leave me diamonds, don't leave me jewels
You leave me silence, you leave me bruised
You leave me with the knowledge of the evil we do
But nothing could control the weather
And nothing could console my devils
And no one knows the manner in which he'll burn
[Chorus]
You wrapped me in the stained shroud of morning
And pulled the cord
You threw me through the stained-glass floor
You dropped me in the hole, whole lot of nothing
[Chorus]
The song 'A Thousand Drunken Dreams' is a gut-wrenching depiction of a broken relationship. The opening lines reveal that the singer's lover loves her, but he has also found someone new. The next line, "Lover wants me to be his mother too," suggests that he is unable to take care of himself, so he relies on the singer to take care of him. However, he fails to recognize the value of the singer's love and support until it is too late. The imagery of the nightingale and the ugly dove hints at the idea that the lover may have believed he was superior to the singer but lost sight of what really mattered.
The chorus is a heartrending plea for something tangible to hold on to after the lover leaves. The singer's ship has run aground, and a thousand drunken dreams are sunken. The metaphorical language conveys the sense that the singer is lost at sea with no hope of rescue or recovery. She begs her lover to leave her something, some memory or object, to help her cope with the void he will leave behind.
The final two stanzas of the song reveal the aftermath of the lover's departure. He leaves the singer with nothing but the trauma and pain of his absence. The sky has darkened, and the singer is left in a hole "whole lot of nothing." The brutal imagery underscores the sense of loss and despair that pervades the song. Ultimately, the song portrays the unshakeable human need for love and the profound pain that ensues when that love is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Lover loves me, but he loves somebody new
The singer's lover still has feelings for her but has moved on to someone else.
Lover wants me to be his mother too
The singer's lover wants her to take care of him in a motherly way.
He don't recognize his luck until his luck is through
The singer's lover doesn't appreciate what he has until it's gone.
He's a nightingale, I'm an ugly dove
The artist's lover is beautiful and talented while she feels plain and unimportant in comparison.
I don't wanna speak, said enough
The artist doesn't want to keep expressing herself because she feels like she's already said what needed to be said.
No one can mend this human heart that's torn in two
The singer's heart is broken and she doesn't think anyone can fix it.
In a moment's space he's gone
The singer's lover leaves suddenly and unexpectedly.
And my ship has run aground
The artist's hopes and dreams are dashed because of her lover's departure.
And a thousand drunken dreams are sunken
The artist's plans and aspirations are ruined as a result of her lover leaving.
When you leave me, lover, please leave me something.
The artist wants her lover to leave some kind of positive impact on her life.
You don't leave me diamonds, don't leave me jewels
The singer's lover doesn't leave her with material possessions.
You leave me silence, you leave me bruised
The artist's lover leaves her with emotional pain and a sense of emptiness.
You leave me with the knowledge of the evil we do
The singer is left with the realization that they didn't treat each other well.
But nothing could control the weather
The singer acknowledges that some circumstances are beyond anyone's control.
And nothing could console my devils
The singer is unable to find comfort or peace because of her inner turmoil.
And no one knows the manner in which he'll burn
The artist doesn't know what kind of consequences her lover will face for his actions.
You wrapped me in the stained shroud of morning
The artist feels like her lover has covered her in darkness and sadness.
And pulled the cord
The singer's lover has ended their relationship, leaving her feeling broken.
You threw me through the stained-glass floor
The singer feels like her lover has shattered and destroyed her.
You dropped me in the hole, whole lot of nothing
The artist feels empty and alone after her lover leaves.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NATHAN LARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ArtGrl75
Brilliant!! Love Angela...hauntingly beautiful voice.
amuzikfan4ever
i love this song. it is so smoothing..
bcnjet
Genial!
Bambi Babes
Wowowow :)