Bauhaus first broke up in 1983. Peter Murphy began a solo career while the other members continued as Tones on Tail and later as Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had, but disappeared from the charts in their homeland. The band reunited for a 1998 tour and on a more permanent basis in 2005. The group announced plans to disband again following the release of their final album Go Away White in 2008.
The release of Go Away White signaled the end of the band and there was no supporting tour. Drummer Kevin Haskins said in an interview that they “were getting along really well, but there was an incident that occurred.” As a result, “some of us just felt that we didn’t want to carry on as a working unit.” In an interview with SuicideGirls, bassist David J said about the breakup: “You have a test tube, and you pour in one chemical, and you pour in another chemical, and something happens. It starts to bubble. Pour in another chemical, and it starts to bubble a bit more. You pour in a fourth chemical, and it bubbles really violently, and then explodes. That’s my answer.” Peter Murphy claimed in another interview that he “he was most satisfied with the bonding on an emotional level. It was good to be working together and to put the past behind us and it was very positive. The result was coming out really fast, so it was exciting and it was very enjoyable,” but in the end “That rocky character worked and I think it was a bit right to finish it, really.”
Murphy also stated in his MySpace blog that “there’s a lot more to it than this ‘incident’ that I’ve heard bandied about. In any group’s business there are constant incidents, so what? Committing to being in a band takes tolerance, love, and a massive commitment. I’ve walked on that stage at times when I could emotionally barely manage to and give it all just the same. If I’d let some disagreement or bad word distract me from that goal, then I’d need to question my integrity. Anton Corbijn once related to me how Bono of U2 talked about one of the reasons that U2 had survived was that they’re unlike many English bands; there was a kinship and priority given to each other as family. I personally sympathize with that. ‘There is no love where there is no Love.’”
A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab.
(2) Bauhaus was also the name of an Italian jazz rock band. They made recordings in 1974 but they weren’t released until almost thirty years later.
Who Killed Mr. Moonlight
Bauhaus Lyrics
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And the idocy of clocks
Someone shot nostalgia in the back
Someone shot our innocence
A broken arrow in a bloody pool
The in the face
Of midnight proposals
Someone shot our innocence
In the shadow of his smile
In the shadow of his smile
In the shadow of his smile
In the shadow of his smile
All our dreams have melted down
We are hiding in the bushes
From dead men
Doing Douglas Fairbanks' stunts
All our stories burnt
Our films lost in the rushes
We can't paint any pictures
As the moon had all our brushes
Extracting wasps from stings in flight
Who killed Mr. Moonlight?
Who killed Mr. Moonlight
In the shadow of his smile
Who killed Mr. Moonlight
In the shadow of his smile
The lyrics to Bauhaus's song Who Killed Mr. Moonlight delve into the idea of nostalgia and innocence being lost, and how it seems as though someone has intentionally taken them away. The first verse speaks of "green lakes" and the "idocy of clocks", these could represent the beauty and timelessness of nature, and how the relentless ticking of time can make that beauty fade away. Suddenly "someone" comes along and takes away the innocence and the nostalgia, shooting them in the back. This is a metaphor for how quickly and mercilessly these qualities can be lost, without warning or permission.
The second verse paints a picture of violence, with a "broken arrow in a bloody pool", evoking images of a murder scene. There are "midnight proposals", suggesting secret and possibly nefarious plans being made. The refrain of "In the shadow of his smile" is repeated several times, suggesting that whoever is responsible for this loss is still around, still exerting their influence. The third verse speaks of the fallout of this loss, with dreams melting away, and people hiding from "dead men" who are performing stunts reminiscent of silent film star Douglas Fairbanks. All of their stories and films have been lost, and they are unable to create or express themselves, as if the moon, often a symbol of creativity, has all their brushes.
The lyrics culminate in the demand to know "Who killed Mr. Moonlight?" This is a direct question, implying that there is someone who is responsible, and that this loss was not just a natural occurrence. The repetition of "in the shadow of his smile" throughout the song suggests that whoever did this is still around, still casting a long shadow over everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Consider green lakes
Reflect on the peacefulness and beauty of nature
And the idiocy of clocks
Think about how time can be a silly and trivial concept
Someone shot nostalgia in the back
Our sense of nostalgia has been destroyed or ruined by someone or something
Someone shot our innocence
Our innocence has been lost or taken away by someone or something
A broken arrow in a bloody pool
A clear and violent image of something that is damaged or ruined
The in the face
A sudden and unexpected blow or attack
Of midnight proposals
Offers or ideas presented in a dark and ominous way
In the shadow of his smile
Living in the aftermath or consequences of something that seemed happy or positive
All our dreams have melted down
Our hopes and aspirations have been destroyed or shattered
We are hiding in the bushes
We are scared and trying to avoid danger or harm
From dead men
Attempting to escape or avoid people who are no longer alive or relevant
Doing Douglas Fairbanks' stunts
Engaging in reckless or dangerous behavior that is reminiscent of a bygone era
All our stories burnt
Our tales and narratives have been destroyed or forgotten
Our films lost in the rushes
Our movies or creative works have been lost or discarded
We can't paint any pictures
We are unable to create or express ourselves artistically
As the moon had all our brushes
Feeling powerless or limited by something beyond our control
Extracting wasps from stings in flight
Attempting to do something difficult or impossible
Who killed Mr. Moonlight?
Asking a rhetorical question about who or what is responsible for the negative consequences we are facing
Who killed Mr. Moonlight
Repeating the question to emphasize its importance or urgency
In the shadow of his smile
Reiterating the idea that we are dealing with the aftermath of something positive turning dark or negative
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, DAVID JAY, KEVIN HASKINS, PETER JOHN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind