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.
I Couldn't Say It To Your Face
Arthur Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I needed a place, so I walked in the door,
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
It's my world,
it's my song,
didn't ask you to sing along;
in my arms, you girl, you won't be here to say I'm wrong.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I needed some space, so I walked out the door,
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I heard them say maybe some day I'd have to pay.
I don't say one word to you that you know I'm going away.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I needed a place, so
I walked in the door.
I couldn't say it to your face,
but I won't be around any more
The song "I Couldn't Say It to Your Face" by Arthur Russell is a melancholic breakup song that underlines the pain of departing from someone without giving reasons. The lyrics suggest that the singer ended the relationship because he/she needed to create space to grow and felt that his/her partner wouldn't have comprehended it. The lyrics carry an air of regret and guilt for departing and breaking the heart of the person he/she loved.
The repetition of the phrase "I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore" underlines the emotional disconnect between the two people involved in the lyrics. When the singer says, "it's my world, it's my song, didn't ask you to sing along," it reflects the singer's need to be an independent person who could not depend on his/her partner's approval. At the same time, he/she feels that leaving is better for him/her as well as the other person since things between them may never have worked out correctly.
Overall, the song perfectly captures the pain of breaking up and has become an iconic song of heartache and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around any more.
I don't have the courage to say it to you directly, but I'm leaving and won't be present anymore.
I needed a place, so I walked in the door,
I required a place to reside, so I entered this dwelling.
It's my world,
I am in charge of my own world.
it's my song,
I control the music of my life.
didn't ask you to sing along;
I didn't request your participation in my life.
in my arms, you girl, you won't be here to say I'm wrong.
Even if you disagree with me, you won't be present to articulate it.
I heard them say maybe some day I'd have to pay.
I overheard that I may face consequences for my actions in the future.
I don't say one word to you that you know I'm going away.
I am not disclosing that I am departing from you.
I needed some space, so I walked out the door,
I needed some distance, so I exited from the building.
but I won't be around any more.
Despite my inability to say it to you directly, I am still leaving and won't be here anymore.
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ApurbaSamara
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I needed a place, so I walked in the door
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
It's my world, it's my song
Didn't ask you to sing along
In my arms, you girl
You won't be here to say I'm wrong
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I needed some space, so I walked out the door
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I heard them say
Maybe, some day I'd have to pay
I don't say one word
To let you know I'm going away
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
I needed a place, so I walked in the door
I couldn't say it to your face, but I won't be around anymore
@kemspeaks
Fellow Travelers’ 1st episode ended with this, and right now it’s all I want to listen to.
@theonlyonewithgum1452
Yeah, just came from that. Really good so far
@YuqiZhang-ez9wz
Have watched first four episodes twice. feeling like I am on the same page as Tim. wish I could find a once a life love in my life.
@antonioazevedo2140
Same here!
@arassi2710
Same ❤
@robertsmark6365
same😢
@rickd609
Fellow Travellers brought me here.
@kemspeaks
I didn’t think the phone was going to ring.
@misiek555551
@@kemspeaksI knew it will ring ❤
@jonathanpaley7589
I'm playing drums on this recording