This band was from Scotland, their name is deri… Read Full Bio ↴take it to Beggars Opera
This band was from Scotland, their name is derived from a novel by the poet John Gay in 1728. The musicians of BEGGAR'S OPERA were Martin Griffiths (vocals), Rick Gardiner (guitar and vocals), Alan Park (keyboards), Gordon Sellar (bass, acoustic guitar and vocals), Virginia Scott (Mellotron and vocals) and Raymond Wilson (drums and percussion). BEGGAR'S OPERA made a lot of records but remained acting in the shade of most progressive rock bands.
Memory
Beggar's Opera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her hair is blown, her lips are chilled
She stands for all the world to see
A cherished one, a memory
She smiles as if she knows I'm there
I hold her hand, I touch her hair
I think of all the good she brought
She turns and looks towards the sky
I see her laugh, I see her cry
I wonder why it has to be
That she is near, but far from me
I call her name she doesn't hear
She turns away, I feel a tear
And though I'm left with dismal gloom
I know I shall be with her soon
The lyrics of "Memory" by Beggar's Opera describe the experience of lost love and the longing for the memory of a cherished one. The first verse sets the scene with the image of a woman standing on an open hill, isolated and exposed to the world. The imagery of her hair blowing and her lips being chilled creates a sense of vulnerability, while the mention of her being a memory implies that she is no longer present in the singer's life.
The second verse reveals that the woman is not only a memory, but someone the singer had a connection with. The singer thinks about the good she brought to their life, describing her as a source of support and affection. The third verse is more ambiguous, with the woman turning towards the sky and both laughing and crying. This could symbolize a spiritual connection, or perhaps a metaphorical expression of the woman's complex emotions.
The final verse brings the mood down, with the singer calling out to the woman who doesn't hear them. The image of her turning away and a tear forming underlines the singer's sense of isolation and grief. However, the enigmatic promise of the singer being with her soon suggests a hopeful element to the song, perhaps indicating a belief in the afterlife or a reunion with the lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
She stands upon an open hill
She stands alone, isolated from everything else, in a high place where she can see everything around her.
Her hair is blown, her lips are chilled
Her hair is fluttering in the wind and her lips are cold due to the chilling wind.
She stands for all the world to see
She exists in the open for all to know and perceive her.
A cherished one, a memory
The person is of great value to the artist and remains a cherished memory.
She smiles as if she knows I'm there
She smiles at the artist as they both know each other are there.
I hold her hand, I touch her hair
The singer touches and feels the person's hand and hair affectionately.
I think of all the good she brought
The singer reminisces about all the positive things the person brought to their life.
A helping hand, a loving thought
The artist appreciates the help and affection that the person has given them.
She turns and looks towards the sky
The person turns around and looks towards the sky.
I see her laugh, I see her cry
The artist bottles up their emotions seeing the person laughing and crying.
I wonder why it has to be
The singer questions the reason for the person being here.
That she is near, but far from me
Even though the person is present, they remain far from the artist.
I call her name she doesn't hear
The person does not pay attention when the singer calls them.
She turns away, I feel a tear
The person turns their back on the singer, causing the singer to feel sad and cry.
And though I'm left with dismal gloom
The singer is surrounded by sadness and depression.
I know I shall be with her soon
The artist knows they'll be with the person soon enough, hoping to achieve a close bond from that point onwards.
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jaybajan
I wanna live life fast, I don't know how to slow down
Wanna get high, I don't know how to come down
Help me now, I'm runnin' on empty
And I don't wanna be a memory
Am I the only one that's comin' unglued?
Emotions buildin' up, they start to run you
Bottles on the shelf I'm 'bout to run through
Doin' everything I wish that I can undo, ay
I'm by myself
And why won't no one help?
I know this can't be healthy
So I'm lookin' for a way out
I wanna live life fast, I don't know how to slow down
Wanna get high, I don't know how to come down
Help me now, I'm runnin' on empty
And I don't wanna be a memory
Live life fast, I don't know how to slow down
Wanna get high, I don't know how to come down
Help me now, I'm runnin' on empty
And I don't wanna be a memory
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh)
And I don't wanna be a memory
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh)
Tryna find the beauty in the let down, goin' through my texts now
Tryna find the things I never said to prove a point
I'ma roll my feelings in a joint
Pieces of the story that got left out, I checked out
Wish it was, I wish it was, I wish it was a phase
Nothing you can do and there's nothing you can say
Runnin' from the, runnin' from the, runnin' from the pain
I gotta get away
(I gotta get away, gotta get away, gotta get away)
I wanna live life fast, I don't know how to slow down
Wanna get high, I don't know how to come down
Help me now, I'm runnin' on empty
And I don't wanna be a memory
Live life fast, I don't know how to slow down
Wanna get high, I don't know how to come down
Help me now, I'm runnin' on empty
And I don't wanna be a memory
And I don't wanna be a memory
And I don't wanna be a memory
And I don't wanna be a memory
And I don't wanna be a memory
(I'm by myself, and why won't no one help?)
(I know this can't be healthy, so I'm lookin' for a way out)
@blackbeardiaries
10/10 would go to space again
@fcdc6365
So good song bro
@fcdc6365
Ilysm
@fcdc6365
Thank u for be my emotional support
@jessicacarter4983
Absolutely amazing!
@santywuscovi7597
Te amo
@BLaZiNdAzN
I am over 1 year sober now and this song just had me in tears. I was completely trapped by the bottle and it took me to the brink of death to finally ask for help and admit that I had a problem. This song sums up my experience as a whole and has and will help me to stay humble and thankful for everything I have and everything I went through
Never be ashamed to ask for help or admit that you have an problem!!
@milesbullock8358
This song is amazing for depressed people including myself,even though I have a lot,but the only thing I want is friends with apparently is impossible but this song changes my feelings for life,even though this song doesn’t just give me friends,I’m glad I’m not alone in this time thanks for the inspiration song Kane!!
@melaniefortier9410
Great song ilove it ❤❤❤💯💯💯🙏🙏🙏💥💥💥🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
@meliniefortier1054
He's the best