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.
What It Means
Barry Adamson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One day it's all going to end
Up in flames. Without a shame
'cause I'm here. To change the total
Course of the world (yeah yeah)
And that's what I'm singing (yeah yeah)
Heat it up. Cool it down
Spread it around under the cold
What it means (what it means). To believe (to believe)
And leave the world to the remains
Of the day (of the day). What I say (what I say). Ain't so clear (ain't so clear)
To souls who die when the decline
Can't be seen (can't be seen). They're getting mean (they're getting mean)
Now we're going (now we're going)
To change the total course
(chorus)
Here am I.
Love just spilled on what comes naturally.
Buy and bye
Love just spills and I don't mean rationally
What it means. Is you're dead
One to the head. If you don't know
What is behind. This disguise.
It's no surprise. When you think
About your own every step of the way
The energy pirates will get you
They'll chew on your bones for breakfast
They'll convince you that baby you're desperate
They'll spit on your mound and keep pounding and pounding and
(repeat chorus)
All the time. Love just comes and I
Don't mean casually. Wait a while
Love will come and fuck that tragedy
(Cancel that shrink we're travelling up
To the sky minds on the blink
Or maybe the lies. Out of time)
I have found. What it means. To believe
That what is all going to end
Up in flames. Is your heart
So let it speak. And change the total
Course of the world
The lyrics of Barry Adamson's song "What It Means" present a complex and introspective analysis of life, love, and the role of the individual in changing the course of the world. The song begins with a series of contradictory statements, emphasizing the uncertainty and ambiguity of human experience: "I feel good. I feel bad. Ain't it sad?" However, despite this sense of ambivalence, the singer is resolute in his determination to effect change: "I'm here. To change the total course of the world."
Throughout the song, Adamson employs a poetic and abstract language, rich in metaphor and allusion. This is particularly evident in the chorus, which emphasizes the role of love as a transformative force, capable of reshaping the world: "Heat it up. Cool it down. Spread it around under the cold shadow of love. I have found what it means to believe, and leave the world to the remains of the day." The imagery of heat and cold, light and shadow, suggests the depth and complexity of the singer's emotional and intellectual journey.
Overall, "What It Means" is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, offering both a sense of introspection and a call to action. The song invites the listener to reflect on their own experiences and beliefs, and to consider the impact that individual actions can have on the world as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel good. I feel bad. Ain't it sad
Emotions can be contradictory and fleeting, leaving one with a sense of melancholy.
One day it's all going to end
Mortality is an inevitable reality for all.
Up in flames. Without a shame
The end could come abruptly and without warning.
'cause I'm here. To change the total
Course of the world (yeah yeah)
And that's what I'm singing (yeah yeah)
The artist has a desire for significance and impact on the world.
Heat it up. Cool it down
Spread it around under the cold
Shadow of love. I have found (I have found)
Love can be both uplifting and cathartic, even in difficult circumstances.
What it means (what it means). To believe (to believe)
And leave the world to the remains
Of the day (of the day). What I say (what I say). Ain't so clear (ain't so clear)
To souls who die when the decline
Can't be seen (can't be seen). They're getting mean (they're getting mean)
One's beliefs about the world and existence cannot be easily understood or accepted by those who fear death and refuse acceptance of inevitable impermanence.
Now we're going (now we're going)
To change the total course
(chorus)
The singer reiterates their desire for a transformative, impactful existence.
Here am I.
Love just spilled on what comes naturally.
Buy and bye
Love just spills and I don't mean rationally
The artist's experience with love is spontaneous and uncontrolled, sometimes irrational but also authentic.
What it means. Is you're dead
One to the head. If you don't know
What is behind. This disguise.
It's no surprise. When you think
About your own every step of the way
The energy pirates will get you
They'll chew on your bones for breakfast
They'll convince you that baby you're desperate
They'll spit on your mound and keep pounding and pounding and
The artist comments on the illusions of life and warns of those who would exploit and manipulate the naïve or unsuspecting.
(repeat chorus)
The artist emphasizes their desire to make a notable impact on the world.
All the time. Love just comes and I
Don't mean casually. Wait a while
Love will come and fuck that tragedy
Love can come unexpectedly and powerfully, potentially transforming life's tragedies into meaningful experiences.
(Cancel that shrink we're travelling up
To the sky minds on the blink
Or maybe the lies. Out of time)
The artist comments on the limitations of traditional therapy or self-help, possibly implying a desire for transcendence beyond typical remedies.
I have found. What it means. To believe
That what is all going to end
Up in flames. Is your heart
So let it speak. And change the total
Course of the world
The singer has found meaning in embracing the impermanence of life and encourages others to do the same, using their own voice to make a difference in the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@meyratbrigitte3793
enfin disponible : MERCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ! (ma préférée) voix de velours... rythme et compo sophistiqués comme toujours... comme personne
@jackl3586
love it!
@LawSuth
So good.