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.
Maybe She
Arthur Russell Lyrics
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The lyrics of Arthur Russell's song "Maybe She" tell a story of a person who has just met someone they are attracted to and is contemplating whether or not to approach them. The singer is hesitant and unsure of their own feelings, but decides to take a chance and ask the person for a walk or conversation. They acknowledge the possibility that the person may reject them or think they are strange, but they are willing to take that risk. The lyrics also suggest that the singer is potentially intimidated by the object of their affection, but is determined to pursue their feelings regardless of the outcome.
The song encapsulates the vulnerability and uncertainty that many people experience when they first meet someone who makes a strong impression on them. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but capture a complex set of emotions that are sometimes difficult to express in words. The singer is torn between the desire to pursue the person they are attracted to and the fear of rejection or embarrassment. The song could be interpreted as a reminder to take risks and not be afraid to express one's feelings, even if the outcome is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe she would take a walk, even though I just have met her.
I'm wondering if she would go for a walk with me, even though we just met.
Together we could maybe talk, or maybe I should just forget her.
If we walk together, maybe we could talk or maybe it's better if I forget her altogether.
The only thing she could say is 'no', best try now while the sky is lighter,
I know the worst she could say is 'no', so it's better to try now while there's still light.
I'll just let my feelings show, I'll just go up and invite her.
I'll be honest about my feelings and go up to her to invite her.
She might think I'm very strange, she might think I want to date her;
I'm afraid she might think I'm strange or trying to date her.
that would be hard to arrange, maybe I should ask her later.
It's difficult to arrange dating, so maybe I should ask her later.
Wonder if she knows I'm scared, does she know I'm glad to meet her?
I wonder if she knows I'm nervous and scared, but also happy to meet her.
Standing with my feelings bare, she'll know when I start to greet her.
I'll be open and honest about how I feel, she'll notice when I come up to her.
Won't do any harm to try, better than just looking at her,
It won't hurt to try, it's better than just staring at her.
I'll just look into her eyes, if she won't come, it doesn't matter.
I'll look into her eyes and if she declines, it's okay.
I'd be cool if she refused, she might think that I won't fit her;
I'm fine with rejection, she might think we're not a good match.
I won't show it if I lose, I won't be sad and I won't be bitter.
I won't let it show if I'm rejected, I won't be sad or hold a grudge.
Maybe she would take a walk, even though I just have met her;
I'm still wondering if she'd go for a walk with me, even though we've just met.
Together we could maybe talk, or maybe I could just forget her.
If we walk together, maybe we could talk or maybe I should forget about her completely.
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Google Account JKI
Maybe she would take a walk
Even though I just have met her
Together we could maybe talk
Or maybe I should just forget her
The only thing she could say is 'no'
Best try now while the sky is lighter
I'll just let my feelings show
I'll just go up and invite her
She might think I'm very strange
She might think I want to date her
That would be hard to arrange
Maybe I should ask her later
Wonder if she knows I'm scared
Does she know I'm glad to meet her?
Standing with my feelings bare
She'll know when I start to greet her
Won't do any harm to try
Better than just looking at her
I'll just look into her eyes
If she won't come, it doesn't matter
I'd be cool if she refused
She might think that I won't fit her
I won't show it if I lose
I won't be sad and I won't be bitter
Maybe she would take a walk
Even though I just have met her
Together we could maybe talk
Or maybe I could just forget her
Euphonic
Beautiful song