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.
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Arthur Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who sees me waiting for my friend.
Then I cross the street, make a b-line for that phone,
Oh, that one to make it happen.
Oh, to live, to find a friend.
Someone tried to call me up,
But I don't even have a phone.
But I'm waiting for your call to end.
There's someone across the street,
Who sees me waiting for my friend.
She could ask to me what's up.
I'm waiting for your call to end.
Someone tried to call me up,
But I don't even have a phone.
It's like my friends don't know I'm here,
But I'm a person on my own,
But I cross the street, make a b-line for that phone.
I'm the one to make it happen,
And to find a friend,
I make a b-line.
Oh, to find a friend
I cross the street.
I make a b-line.
Oh, a b-line.
Oh, make a b-line.
Oh, I cross the street.
In this song, Arthur Russell describes the experience of waiting for a friend and the desire to connect with others. He sees someone across the street who sees him waiting and feels isolated without a phone as he waits for his friend to call. He longs for that connection and purposely crosses the street to use a phone to make it happen, to "live, to find a friend." The repeated phrase "make a b-line" emphasizes his strong desire to connect and emphasizes the urgency of the situation.
The lyrics reflect a common feeling of loneliness and longing for connection in modern society. The image of someone waiting for a call or seeking connection through a phone is a powerful one that many can relate to. The decision to cross the street to make that connection highlights the importance of human interaction and the lengths people will go to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
There's someone across the street,
There is an individual opposite who is observing me.
Who sees me waiting for my friend.
That individual is aware that I am waiting for my friend.
Then I cross the street, make a b-line for that phone,
I traverse the road towards a phone with a sense of urgency.
Oh, that one to make it happen.
That particular phone is necessary to make something occur.
Oh, to live, to find a friend.
To find companionship is essential for a meaningful life.
Someone tried to call me up,
An individual attempted to contact me.
But I don't even have a phone.
I don't possess a mobile phone.
She could ask to me what's up,
She has the potential to inquire about my well-being.
But I'm waiting for your call to end.
I am anticipating the conclusion of your call.
It's like my friends don't know I'm here,
My peers seem to overlook my presence.
But I'm a person on my own,
Even though they disregard me, I am an individual.
But I cross the street, make a b-line for that phone.
Despite this, I still approach the phone without delay.
I'm the one to make it happen,
I know that I alone can resolve this situation.
And to find a friend,
The objective is to search for a companion.
I make a b-line.
I move towards my goal without hesitation.
Oh, to find a friend
Once again, the quest is to find a companion.
I cross the street.
I traverse the road towards my destination.
I make a b-line.
I move towards my objective with expediency.
Oh, a b-line.
An indication of haste and determination.
Oh, make a b-line.
An imperative command to move towards the objective quickly.
Oh, I cross the street.
An indication that the road must be traversed to accomplish the goal.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@weirdlyevolvedcreature4828
There's someone across the street,
Who sees me waiting for my friend.
Then I cross the street, make a b-line for that phone,
Oh, that one to make it happen.
Oh, to live, to find a friend.
Someone tried to call me up,
But I don't even have a phone.
She could ask to me what's up,
But I'm waiting for your call to end.
There's someone across the street,
Who sees me waiting for my friend.
She could ask to me what's up.
I'm waiting for your call to end.
Someone tried to call me up,
But I don't even have a phone.
It's like my friends don't know I'm here,
But I'm a person on my own,
But I cross the street, make a b-line for that phone.
I'm the one to make it happen,
And to find a friend,
I make a b-line.
Oh, to find a friend
I cross the street.
I make a b-line.
Oh, a b-line.
Oh, make a b-line.
Oh, I cross the street.
@libprime_
absolutely incredible music, so far ahead of its time
@sammalone8362
Such a cool song! This guy needs more recognition.
@justinlehr8183
I don’t know how to describe this other than genius. Truly blown away.
@branchdravidian
So catchy
@forochi2
this is the song
@cathypizzagurl1007
💃
@rafaelzuniga5069
This a jaaaaasm
@branchdravidian
Someone tried to call me up, but I don’t even have a phone
@lucasgabrielvilasboas8436
Call incoming
@TheDrFunkenstein
My favorite line