Arthur Russell (May 21 1951 - April 4, 1992) was a prodigious talent. Class… Read Full Bio ↴Arthur Russell (May 21 1951 - April 4, 1992) was a prodigious talent. Classically trained on cello while growing up in Oskaloosa, USA, Arthur studied with Ali Akbar Khan in San Francisco in the early 1970's.

During this period he also collaborated with Allen Ginsberg, accompanying him on cello while Ginsberg read or sang. Russell also spent time in a Buddhist commune in California; he left when they decided to collectivize his cello.

By the mid-1970's Russell relocated to New York City, where he studied at The Manhattan School of Music. He formed a band from 1975-1979, The Flying Hearts, recorded by John Hammond and featuring David Byrne, Rhys Chatham, Jon Gibson, Peter Gordon, Jerry Harrison, Garret List, Frank Pagano, Andy Paley, Leni Pickett, and Peter Zummo.

In the late 1970s Russell became enamored with the disco scene in New York. At the time it represented a liberation force, particularly for the gay scene, just a few years after the Stonewall riots. (For more see "Turn the Beat Around: The Secret History of Disco" by Peter Shapiro).

'Kiss Me Again' was Russell's first dance track. Released under the name Dinosaur L by Sirerecords, it was to be the first of many innovative dancefloor tracks released under different names and with different collaborators, such as 'Is It All Over My Face' by Loose Joints, released in 1980. In 1982, Arthur Russell and William Socolov founded Sleeping Bag records and their first release was his 24-24 Music. This featured 'Go Bang' which was re-mixed as a 12" single by Francois Kevorkian.

Arthur Russell continued to release dance singles such as 'Tell You Today' (4th and Broadway, 1983) an upbeat dance groove featuring the vocals of Joyce Bowden . 'Wax the Van' (Jump Street, 1985) with vocals by Lola Blank, wife of notorious BobTreehouse aka Bob Schoolbell (Sleeping Bag, 1986) and 'Let's Go Swimming' (Upside / Rough Trade, 1986).

At the same time, he produced more meditative works on the albums 'Tower of Meaning' (Chatham Square, 1983) and 'World of Echo' (Rough Trade, 1986), which presented many of his pop and dance compositions in solo cellist form.

Arthur Russell died of AIDS on April 4, 1992, at the age of 40. The obituary in the Village Voice wrote: "his songs were so personal that it seems as though he simply vanished into his music."

In 2004 a renewed interest in Arthur Russell saw the release of "The World of Arthur Russell" on Soul Jazz records, which compiled his best-known dance hits alongside more introspective love songs such as "Little Lost" and "Keeping Up".

In the same year Audika records reissued "World Of Echo" and produced "Calling Out Of Context", 12 unreleased songs from 1985-90. The songs were taken from an album "Corn", recorded in 1985 but never released. They showcase a set of visionary pop songs years ahead of their time, minimalist and expansive, evidence that Russell's best work was perhaps never realized before his death.

In 2006 Audika released "First Thought Best Thought", compiling Russell's out of print orchestral and instrumental works with previously unreleased material.

Close My Eyes
Arthur Russell Lyrics

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I'll close my eyes and listen to you, the corn come out. Don't you hear the stars, they glisten, as we go in and out. Down where the trees grow together, and the western path comes to an end; see the sign it says 'clear weather', I'll meet you tonight, my friend. Will the corn be growing a little tonight, as I wait in the fields for you? Who knows what grows in the morning light when we can feel the watery dew? I just can't be there with no other, I know those hills will be true, away from my sister and brother, and down through the grasses so blue. The air is sweet and steady and flowers bloom out of sight, I know the sky is ready, come meet me down here tonight. Will the corn be growing a little tonight, as I wait in the fields for you? Who knows what grows in the morning light as we can feel the watery dew?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Arthur Russell's "Close My Eyes" present a dream-like, almost surrealistic narrative that evokes a deep sense of longing and anticipation. The song begins with the singer declaring his intention to close his eyes and listen to nature, as if immersing himself in its primal rhythms and sounds. The image of the corn coming out is both literal and figurative, suggesting the growth and abundance of the natural world but also hinting at something more symbolic and mysterious.

The singer then refers to the stars that "glisten" as he and his friend move in and out of the landscape. The emphasis on sensory perception highlights the importance of sensory experience in the singer's world and reinforces the idea that the natural world is a source of spiritual nourishment and wonder. As the song progresses, the singer directs his attention to a specific location where he plans to meet his friend. He describes the area as a place where trees grow together and the western path comes to an end, and where a sign indicates "clear weather."

The singer's anticipation builds as he wonders if the corn will be growing as he waits in the fields, and what surprises the morning light might bring. His longing for companionship is palpable as he mentions his desire to be with "no other," to escape the constraints of family and society and explore the mysteries of the natural world. The song ends on a note of hopeful possibility, as the singer mentions the sweet air, the flowers blooming out of sight, and the sky's readiness for his friend's arrival. Overall, "Close My Eyes" conjures a vivid and immersive world that invites the listener to share in its enchanted vision.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll close my eyes and listen to you, the corn come out.
I'll close my eyes and imagine the sweet sound of corn rustling in the fields as I listen to you.

Don't you hear the stars, they glisten, as we go in and out.
Can't you hear the enchanting sound of the stars glittering above us as we move in and out?

Down where the trees grow together, and the western path comes to an end; see the sign it says 'clear weather', I'll meet you tonight, my friend.
In the place where the trees grow closely together and the western road ends, notice the sign that promises clear weather, and I shall meet you there tonight, my friend.

Will the corn be growing a little tonight, as I wait in the fields for you? Who knows what grows in the morning light when we can feel the watery dew?
I wonder if the corn will grow a bit more as I wait for you in the fields tonight? We never know what will grow in the morning light until we feel the cool and wet dew.

I just can't be there with no other, I know those hills will be true, away from my sister and brother, and down through the grasses so blue.
I cannot be in that place without anyone else, but I know that those hills will always be faithful, and I will be walking among the blue grasses, far away from my siblings.

The air is sweet and steady and flowers bloom out of sight, I know the sky is ready, come meet me down here tonight.
The air is sweet and pleasant, and the flowers are blooming out of sight. I feel that the sky is ready, so come and join me down here tonight.

Will the corn be growing a little tonight, as I wait in the fields for you? Who knows what grows in the morning light as we can feel the watery dew?
I wonder if the corn will grow a bit more as I wait for you in the fields tonight? We never know what will grow in the morning light until we feel the cool and wet dew.

Contributed by Samantha H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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