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.
Birthmark
Band Of Susans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching for clear signs
The angle of desire
The internal choir
The sweetest lie
The turning sky
We count the rings around the moon
For forty days and forty nights
Your secrets are safe
The blind touch the blind
Groping for lost time
The precise curve
The vibrating nerve
The deepest sigh
The longest cry
The blind see the blind
Marking what they find
The perfect light
The endless night
The open eye
The will to die
The lyrics to Band Of Susan's song "Birthmark" paint a picture of individuals struggling to find their way in life while dealing with the challenges and changes that come with it. The first stanza speaks of the blind leading the blind, searching for clear indications of which direction to take in life. It introduces the concept of desire and the internal choir – the inner voice that guides us in making decisions about pursuing our desires. The second half of the stanza references the sweetness of a lie, perhaps suggesting that sometimes we deceive ourselves to feel better about our circumstances. The idea of the turning sky represents the constant movement of life and the changes that come with it.
The second stanza speaks of counting the rings around the moon, which could represent aging and the passage of time, and how the sun sets in the east, suggesting that not everything is as it seems. The secrets that are kept for forty days and forty nights could represent a period of reflection and introspection. The third stanza speaks of the blind touching the blind and groping for lost time, perhaps referring to missed opportunities or regrets. The precise curve and vibrating nerve could represent the intricacies of life and the decisions we make. The deepest sigh and longest cry may represent the emotional weight that comes with these decisions.
The final stanza suggests that the blind now see the blind, marking what they find. The perfect light and endless night could represent the duality of life, as there is always light and darkness. The open eye represents awareness, and the will to die could represent a desire for change or a willingness to let go of the past in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
The blind lead the blind
People who lack knowledge or understanding are leading others who are also ignorant and lost in their search for direction.
Searching for clear signs
Desperately seeking guidance or an indication of what to do next.
The angle of desire
The direction of one's yearning or longing.
The internal choir
The mix of emotions and conflicting thoughts that fight for attention within oneself.
The sweetest lie
A falsehood that feels comforting, alluring or tempting to believe.
The turning sky
The shifting atmosphere, mood or circumstances.
We count the rings around the moon
By observing the patterns and cycles of nature, we try to interpret or predict what may happen in the future.
The sun sets in the east
A reversal of the typical expectations, suggesting that nothing is certain or reliable.
For forty days and forty nights
A reference to a time of testing or trial, based on the biblical story of Noah's flood or Jesus' fast in the wilderness.
Your secrets are safe
Assurance that one's confidences will be kept, despite the lack of trust or transparency in the relationship.
The blind touch the blind
Those who lack vision or understanding are trying to connect or interact with others who are also blind or clueless.
Groping for lost time
Frantically trying to recapture or reclaim opportunities, experiences or feelings that have slipped away or been wasted.
The precise curve
The exact shape, contour or line that represents the ideal standard or goal.
The vibrating nerve
An intense sensation or emotion that jolts or stimulates one's nerves or feelings, causing a physical or emotional response.
The deepest sigh
A long exhalation that expresses sadness, longing, relief or resignation.
The longest cry
An extended period of weeping that represents a deep or intense emotional pain, grief or despair.
The blind see the blind
Those who lack sight or insight are observing or judging others who are equally oblivious or unaware.
Marking what they find
Taking note of what's visible or apparent, without questioning or exploring beyond the surface level.
The perfect light
An ideal or flawless source of illumination or guidance, that's unattainable or illusory.
The endless night
A state of darkness, despair or hopelessness that seems to have no end or relief.
The open eye
Having a clear and unobstructed view of reality or truth, without any biases, preconceptions or delusions.
The will to die
A desire or choice to end one's own life, due to unbearable pain, suffering, or a sense of futility or meaninglessness.
Contributed by Madison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NJ Punk
great record.....
Vaughanie
tune