Taking their name from the number of Susans in the line up, Band of Susans released one EP - Blessing and Curse - on Poss's own Trace Elements label before being signed to Mute Records's Blast First imprint for their first album Hope Against Hope. After the release, Rogers, Lyall and Tallman quit to be replaced by Karen Haglof (guitar) and Page Hamilton (guitar). After a second album - Love Agenda - and a Peel Sessions EP the two new members quit (Hamilton to form Helmet) and were replaced by Anne Husick (guitar) and Mark Lonergan (guitar), forming the line up which made three more albums and one EP. On the band's final U.S. and European tours a young Jay Braun filled in for Mark Lonergan. The band's final production was a version of Wire's Ahead for a collection of Wire cover versions called Whore, released in 1996.
Musically, BoS organised their three guitarists into providing an overwhelming wail of feedback and guitar noise layered under more conventional song structures (Poss had worked with guitar enemble composer Rhys Chatham and was a big fan of The Rolling Stones - the latter resulting in covers of Child of the Moon and Paint it Black). Although pretty much unconnected with it, Band of Susans are generally included in the New York No Wave scene that produced Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca.
After the dissolution of the band, Poss and Stenger performed with Bruce Gilbert of Wire as GilbertPossStenger. Poss then concentrated on production and solo work whilst Stenger played live with The Creatures for a period. An open-ended promise to reform under a new name has yet to happen.
Because of You
Band Of Susans Lyrics
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You're an object of lust, a subject of mystery
Tonight the pilot lights wink like eyes
The tubes glow blue
The fuses spark
The wires burn bright
Because of you
You are on everyone's special list
All the encore calls, they were for you
But here on sacred ground there's something wrong
I can't recognize you anymore
I held my breath as I watched the film
You looked like you, but you didn't look real
The scene looked fake
The gun shot blanks
The cars were stunts
The kiss took ten takes
Just a dream before waking
All the encore calls, they were for you
But here on sacred ground there's something wrong
I can't recognize you anymore
When you left the room there were whispers
You're an object of desire, a subject of mystery
But tonight, the pilot lights wink like eyes
The tubes glow blue
The fuses spark
The wires burn bright
Because of you
The song 'Because Of You' by Band of Susans describes the unsettling feeling of disconnect with someone who was once perceived as the center of attention. The lyrics suggest that the person is a subject of both lust and mystery, but there is something off about their presence. The pilot lights in the room, which usually indicate warmth and comfort, are almost mocking in their flickering as if to say that this person's impact has caused a disruption in the atmosphere.
The lines "All the encore calls, they were for you / But here on sacred ground there's something wrong / I can't recognize you anymore" could reference the fact that this person had once been admired and celebrated on stage, but now feels out of place and unfamiliar. The dream-like quality of the film scene further emphasizes the sense of unreality and distance from this person. The repeated lines about the glowing tubes and sparking fuses might signify that the tension in the air is emblematic of the fading spark that once existed between the singer and this person.
Ultimately, the song conveys a sense of loss and confusion when it comes to the relationship with this person. Despite their seemingly magnetic personality, there is a sense that the two have drifted apart and the singer cannot recognize them in the way they once could.
Line by Line Meaning
When you left the room there were whispers
After you left the room, people talked in hushed tones about you
You're an object of lust, a subject of mystery
You are someone people desire but don't fully understand
Tonight the pilot lights wink like eyes
In the darkness, the light of the pilot (flame) flickers like eyes
The tubes glow blue
The tubes are emitting a blue light
The fuses spark
The fuses are creating sparks
The wires burn bright
The wires are emitting a bright light
Because of you
All of these things are happening because of your influence
You are on everyone's special list
You are someone who everyone wants to be associated with or be close to
You've placed yourself in the center of it all
You have positioned yourself as the focal point of attention
All the encore calls, they were for you
When people asked for an encore, they were doing so for your benefit
But here on sacred ground there's something wrong
Despite all the attention and admiration, there is something unsettling about this place
I can't recognize you anymore
You have changed so much that I no longer know who you are
I held my breath as I watched the film
I was captivated and anxious while watching the movie
You looked like you, but you didn't look real
You appeared to be yourself, but you didn't seem genuine
The scene looked fake
The setting was artificial and unconvincing
The gun shot blanks
The gunshots were simulated and not real
The cars were stunts
The cars were part of a staged, choreographed scene
The kiss took ten takes
The romantic moment had to be redone multiple times to look good on film
Just a dream before waking
Perhaps the entire experience was just a fleeting dream that didn't last long
You're an object of desire, a subject of mystery
You are someone people crave and are fascinated by, yet can't comprehend
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.