Adamson left school and shifted into graphic design attending Stockport Art College[3] but quit shortly after, favouring to venture into the exploding punk rock scene of the late 1970s. He joined ex-Buzzcocks singer Howard Devoto's band Magazine, playing bass guitar, scoring one chart single, "Shot by Both Sides"; in late 1977, he also joined Buzzcocks, as a short-time replacement of Garth Smith. He played on all of Magazine's albums, and contributed to Devoto's solo album and his next band, Luxuria. He also contributed to the studio-based band Visage, playing on the ensemble's first two albums, Visage and The Anvil.
After Magazine broke up, Adamson worked with another ex-Buzzcock, Pete Shelley, before joining Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. He appeared on five of that band's albums: From Her to Eternity; The Firstborn Is Dead; Kicking Against the Pricks; Your Funeral, My Trial; and Tender Prey. After his stint in the band, he went solo, releasing an EP, The Man with the Golden Arm in 1988, and his first solo album, Moss Side Story, the following year, the soundtrack to a non-existent film noir.[4] The album incorporated newscasts and sampled sound effects and featured guest musicians Marcia Schofield (of The Fall), Diamanda Galas, Roland S. Howard, and former colleagues from the Bad Seeds.[4] Adamson's second solo album was the soundtrack to a real film this time - Carl Colpaert's Delusion, and he would go on to provide sountracks for several other films.[4]
Adamson's third album, Soul Murder, was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1992.[4][5]
His solo work is influenced by John Barry, Elmer Bernstein and Ennio Morricone. Later works have included jazz, electronica, soul, funk, and dub styles.
In 2002, Adamson left his long-term label, Mute Records, and started his own 'production home', Central Control International. In 2006, he released Stranger on the Sofa, first for his Central Control International imprint, to critical acclaim. Back To The Cat, his second album for the label, was released in March 2008.[1]
In 2007 it was announced that Magazine would reform for concerts in 2008. Adamson will be part of this and the same line up that recorded Secondhand Daylight will reform, with the exception of the late John McGeoch. McGeoch will be replaced by Luxuria/Apollo 440 member Noko.
Vermillion Kisses
Barry Adamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once upon a time a very Handsome Prince was walking along dead man's trail.
Morning had just about broken and the wings of tiny birds cut through the rays of the sun casting slithering shadows as they went about their pleasure.
The Handsome Prince was preparing to engage in this splendor when all of a sudden he noticed a beautiful and quite voluptuous maiden traveling towards him in slow motion.
"Oh my god" thought the Handsome Prince with shameful excitement "She's incredible and so very... stimulating.
" As the Beautiful Maiden approached him he gathered all of his resources, plucked up courage, and gave her one of his special curtsys that would hope to see him in with a chance when he realised she was very tearful if not completely crushed.
The Handsome Prince swallowed a wave of guilt as the Beautiful Maiden now openly stood before him sobbing her heart out.
Realizing something was terribly wrong the Handsome Prince put all of his hangups on the shelf and asked "What are you so inconceivably sad about if I may be so bold to enquire?".
The Beautiful Maiden gave a big sigh, which seemed to last a lifetime, as the Handsome Prince sat upon the edge of his metaphorical seat in preparation for her answer. She announced "I've just seen my Therapist, who is convinced I have a borderline personality disorder with narcissistic traits which means I'll be unhappy all my life as nobody will be able to measure up to the fantastically high standards that I just can't help but impose on them.
" The Handsome Prince's heart exploded with joy as in this moment he fell strangely and completely in love. "Why that's outrageous, who is this Doctor of misery?".
The Beautiful Maiden had broken into the tiniest of smiles and seeing she had the Handsome Prince by the short and curlies she began to weave a little magic here and a little magic there "I've never met anyone like you before. Not only are you compassionate but you're also very handsome.
I've lost my purse and the keys to my hovel and it looks like storms and I was wondering...
" The Handsome Prince floundered slightly and then ejaculated "You're so very beautiful, I think I might die if I don't invite you to my castle at the end of this trail."
"Would you like to kiss me my Handsome Prince?" His knees began to knock as he lent towards the voluptuous maiden in implicit expectation.
When they kissed the Handsome Prince felt a wave of nausea and a pain in his chest as blood began to now pour from it and the tiny birds dipped in the morning light and said "Goodbye" to the Handsome Prince, who folded into a heap on Dead Man's Trail.
The Beautiful Maiden exclaiming there is one born every minute.
The song Vermillion Kisses by Barry Adamson narrates a story of a handsome prince who encounters a beautiful and voluptuous maiden while walking along Dead Man's Trail. The prince is captivated by the maiden's beauty and decides to approach her, but to his dismay, he discovers that she is sad and tearful. The beautiful maiden reveals to the prince that she has been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder with narcissistic traits, that makes her unhappy because nobody can measure up to the high standards she imposes, leaving the prince feeling sad for her.
However, at that very moment, the prince falls in love with the maiden, and she takes advantage of his compassion by asking him for help. She manipulates him into inviting her to his castle and asking him for a kiss. But as soon as they kissed, the prince feels sick and begins to hemorrhage, paving the way for his death on Dead Man's Trail. The final line of the song delivered by the beautiful maiden emphasizes the futility of the prince's action, declaring that there is one born every minute.
The song's text is full of imagery and symbolism. The use of the Dead Man's Trail, the rays of the sun, the birds in the sky, and the beautiful maiden all contribute to the story's atmosphere and help convey the message. Musically, the song is a blend of different genres, including pop, rock, and jazz, and creates a perfect environment for the narrative to unfold.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time a very handsome prince was walking along dead man's trail.
There was a handsome prince walking along Dead Man's trail.
Morning had just about broken and the wings of tiny birds cut through the rays of the sun casting slithering shadows as they went about their pleasure.
It was the break of dawn and the birds were flying around enjoying the sun's rays.
"Oh my god" thought the Handsome Prince with shameful excitement "She's incredible and so very... stimulating.
The prince became excited when he saw a beautiful woman approaching him.
As the Beautiful Maiden approached him he gathered all of his resources, plucked up courage, and gave her one of his special curtsys that would hope to see him in with a chance when he realised she was very tearful if not completely crushed.
The prince tried to impress the beautiful maiden with one of his best curtsies but noticed she was sad or upset about something.
The Handsome Prince swallowed a wave of guilt as the Beautiful Maiden now openly stood before him sobbing her heart out.
The prince felt guilty as the beautiful maiden stood before him crying.
Realizing something was terribly wrong the Handsome Prince put all of his hangups on the shelf and asked "What are you so inconceivably sad about if I may be so bold to enquire?".
The prince put his own concerns aside and asked the maiden what was making her sad.
The Beautiful Maiden gave a big sigh, which seemed to last a lifetime, as the Handsome Prince sat upon the edge of his metaphorical seat in preparation for her answer. She announced "I've just seen my Therapist, who is convinced I have a borderline personality disorder with narcissistic traits which means I'll be unhappy all my life as nobody will be able to measure up to the fantastically high standards that I just can't help but impose on them.
The maiden explained that her therapist diagnosed her with a personality disorder that makes it difficult for her to be happy in relationships because of her high standards.
The Handsome Prince's heart exploded with joy as in this moment he fell strangely and completely in love. "Why that's outrageous, who is this Doctor of misery?".
The prince was happy to hear about the maiden's problem and fell in love with her in that moment.
The Beautiful Maiden had broken into the tiniest of smiles and seeing she had the Handsome Prince by the short and curlies she began to weave a little magic here and a little magic there "I've never met anyone like you before. Not only are you compassionate but you're also very handsome. I've lost my purse and the keys to my hovel and it looks like storms and I was wondering...
The maiden smiled and used her charm to ask the prince for help as she had lost her keys and purse.
The Handsome Prince floundered slightly and then ejaculated "You're so very beautiful, I think I might die if I don't invite you to my castle at the end of this trail."
The prince invited the maiden to his castle at the end of the trail.
"Would you like to kiss me my Handsome Prince?" His knees began to knock as he lent towards the voluptuous maiden in implicit expectation.
The maiden asked the prince if he wanted to kiss her and he became nervous and leaned in to kiss her.
When they kissed the Handsome Prince felt a wave of nausea and a pain in his chest as blood began to now pour from it and the tiny birds dipped in the morning light and said "Goodbye" to the Handsome Prince, who folded into a heap on Dead Man's Trail.
After they kissed, the prince felt sick and had a heart attack that caused him to collapse on Dead Man's Trail.
The Beautiful Maiden exclaiming there is one born every minute.
The maiden commented that there is always someone falling for a trick like hers.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind