Belle and Sebastian released their first two albums in 1996: Tigermilk, recorded over three days, and If You're Feeling Sinister, recorded in a week, at the peak of the chamber pop movement. At first, some critics in Britain's music weeklies tied the band into the subgenre, yet the group was too pretty, too delicate, to bear that label. Through their first two years of public existence, the band shielded their personalities, submitting publicity photos featuring a girl, who was a friend of the band and reluctantly posing for photo shoots. Furthermore, they performed in odd venues, playing not only the standard coffeehouses and cafes, but also homes, church halls, and libraries.
Prior to the formation of Belle and Sebastian, Murdoch suffered from a protracted battle with chronic fatigue syndrome, which forced him to drop out of school and spend seven years living in his parents' home crippled by his condition.Whilst in his parents home, Murdoch wrote a short story about a boy named Sebastian and a girl named Isabelle based on the names from Madame Cecile Aubery's children's book Belle et Sebastian. On New Year's Day 1996, Stuart attended a party at which he met a young singer and cellist named Isobel Campbell. In a letter to his brother Fraser, Murdoch explained how he was making a single for Stow college at the end of February. Murdoch opted to use the name Belle&Sebastian for the project because it was occupying him at the time. Murdoch took to songwriting as an escapism from the four walls surrounding him in his room and eventually recorded demos with bassist Stuart David whom he met at a government training programme called Beatbox. Murdoch quickly met a series of other musicians through social and musical circles in his hometown Glasgow and they agreed to help with the Stow project. The members he found for this initial lineup were Stevie Jackson (guitar), Mick Cooke (trumpet), Chris Geddes (keyboards), Stuart David (bass), Richard Colburn (drums), and Isobel Campbell (cello). The Stow College record was to be issued by Electric Honey, but it turned into a full album. The course instructor Alan Rankine determined that Murdoch had enough good material to record a full LP and could do so if they could get it all done in three days, studio time allotted for the single. Murdoch and his musicians rose to the challenge and recorded ten tracks putting the songs in order as they would appear on the record and mostly completing them in just a few takes.
In May of 1996, Belle and Sebastian self-released their debut album, Tigermilk, on Electric Honey Records. Only 1,000 copies of the album, which was only pressed on vinyl, were released, but it unexpectedly became a sensation, earning terrific word of mouth throughout the UK. As a result, the band became slightly more than a school project — it became an actual band. If You're Feeling Sinister, released on the independent Jeepster label, followed in November of 1996. By the time the album was released in America on the EMI subsidiary The Enclave, it had earned considerable critical acclaim in the U.K. — not only from music weeklies, but from newspapers like The Sunday Times and magazines like The Face — and a large cult following; by some accounts, Tigermilk was being sold for as much as 75 pounds. Over the course of 1997, word of mouth continued to grow in America, even as the band pulled out of an American tour because The Enclave went bankrupt and closed.
As the band cult continued to build in 1997, Belle and Sebastian released three EPs — Dog on Wheels (May), Lazy Line Painter Jane (July), and 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light (October). Each subsequent EP placed higher on the indie charts and received great critical acclaim. Later in the year, violinist Sarah Martin became a member of the band. By the end of the year, the group finalized an American deal with Matador Records, issuing The Boy With the Arab Strap in September 1998. The following year saw the eagerly anticipated wide re-release of Tigermilk, the album that started it all. It was the biggest selling album but is unpopular with the group themselves. Following completion of 2000's Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, Stuart David left Belle and Sebastian to focus full-time on his solo project, Looper, being replaced by Bobby Kildea of V-Twin. In 2001, the group released two EPs — Jonathan David and I'm Waking Up to Us — and recorded the soundtrack for Todd Solondz's film Storytelling. Just before the soundtrack's release in spring 2002, Belle and Sebastian embarked on a comprehensive tour of the United States and Canada before returning to Europe for the summer festival season. Midway through the tour, Isobel Campbell left the band, citing the usual differences.
Another major change that soon took place was the band leaving Jeepster and Matador to sign with Rough Trade, with their next record, late 2003's Dear Catastrophe Waitress, produced by the inimitable Trevor Horn (who also produced Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Yes, and scores of others). The record spawned the brilliant "Step into My Office, Baby" and "I'm a Cuckoo" singles, the latter of which was the group's biggest U.K. hit, reaching number 14 in early 2004. After a long worldwide tour that found Belle and Sebastian reaching new levels of success, they retired to Scotland and began preparing for the recording of their seventh full length album, The Life Pursuit, released in 2006.
In 2010, they released their eighth full length album, Write About Love.
Official website: www.belleandsebastian.com
I Want the World to Stop
Belle and Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Let me step out of my shell
That's wrapped in sheets of milky winter disorder
The mind of someone my equal
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Tinseltown has followed me from Tinseltown to
Grey adorable city by the docks
Girls will walk in moving air
The sun hangs low, the girls don't care
As they paint themselves at dusk
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Towns' and cities' populations up and grow
The workers move to the suburbs
In between I watch and go
I run alongside rush hour traffic
A prayer for every car
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
I want to write a message to you
Every day at ten o'clock in the evening
Yellow pearl my city is
This is your art
This is your Balzac, your Brookside, and your Bach
"Belle and Sebastian's song 'I Want the World to Stop' is a nostalgic and wistful call for a moment of pause amidst the chaos of everyday life. The repeated refrain 'I want the world to stop' expresses a desire to break free from the monotony of routine and experience genuine connection with the world and with others. The singer longs for moments of understanding and communication, yearning to step out of their shell and feel the air again.
The lyrics also touch on themes of urbanism and the passage of time. The singer observes the growth of towns and cities and the movement of workers to the suburbs, feeling disconnected and perhaps even overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change. They long for a sense of stillness and peace, to be able to run alongside rush hour traffic and offer up a prayer for every car.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of the human desire for connection and meaning in a busy and impersonal world. It speaks to the power of music to provide a moment of respite and reflection amid the chaos of everyday life."
Line by Line Meaning
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
The world has become too noisy and busy. I need a break from the chaos.
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I need clarity and insight to make sense of my life.
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
The world's pace is too fast. I need to catch my breath and find some peace.
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
I long for every moment of the day and night to be quiet, peaceful, and calm.
Let me step out of my shell
That's wrapped in sheets of milky winter disorder
Let me feel the air again, the talk of friends
The mind of someone my equal
I am a prisoner of my own mind and need to break free. I crave human interaction and engaging with people who understand me.
Tinseltown has followed me from Tinseltown to
Grey adorable city by the docks
Girls will walk in moving air
The sun hangs low, the girls don't care
As they paint themselves at dusk
My past has followed me everywhere I go, and I'm surrounded by young women who are carefree and unbothered by the world's noise and chaos.
Towns' and cities' populations up and grow
The workers move to the suburbs
In between I watch and go
I run alongside rush hour traffic
A prayer for every car
The world is changing too fast, and I'm struggling to keep up. Sometimes all I can do is watch others as they rush past me and pray for their safety.
I want to write a message to you
Every day at ten o'clock in the evening
Yellow pearl my city is
This is your art
This is your Balzac, your Brookside, and your Bach
I want to connect with someone who will appreciate my art and passion. I see the beauty in the world, even amidst the chaos, and want to share it with others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB KILDEA, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, SARAH MARTIN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aaltsje Ypeij
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Let me step out of my shell
That's wrapped in sheets of milky winter disorder
Let me feel the air again, the talk of friends
The mind of someone my equal
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Tinseltown has followed me from Tinseltown to
Grey adorable city by the docks
Girls will walk in moving air
The sun hangs low, the girls don't care
As they paint themselves at dusk
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Towns' and cities' populations up and grow
The workers move to the suburbs
In between I watch and go
I run alongside rush hour traffic
A prayer for every car
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
I want to write a message to you
Every day at ten o'clock in the evening
Yellow pearl my city is
This is your art
This is your Balzac, your Brookside, and your Bach
S.A
This band is quite simply incredible . They have everything, plus more.
TheFeelingsStore
Sometimes I just repeatedly listen to this song because I adore the bassline.
namn.
ikr this baseline is intoxicating
Oner Kadak
Correct,...wonderful bassline...i m learning it right now.
Aaltsje Ypeij
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Let me step out of my shell
That's wrapped in sheets of milky winter disorder
Let me feel the air again, the talk of friends
The mind of someone my equal
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Tinseltown has followed me from Tinseltown to
Grey adorable city by the docks
Girls will walk in moving air
The sun hangs low, the girls don't care
As they paint themselves at dusk
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
Towns' and cities' populations up and grow
The workers move to the suburbs
In between I watch and go
I run alongside rush hour traffic
A prayer for every car
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning (Give me the understanding)
I want the world to stop (I want the world to stop)
Give me the morning, give me the afternoon
The night, the night
I want to write a message to you
Every day at ten o'clock in the evening
Yellow pearl my city is
This is your art
This is your Balzac, your Brookside, and your Bach
Richard Koning
Thanks! 😊❤
zac99007
I was first introduced to B&S by my dear friend Geoffrey as my Christmas gift in 1998. He surprised me with their 3rd album "The Boy with the Arab Strap" and the minute I played it that night I was in love. I have been obsessed and have followed their musical career and seen them play live 50+ times, first time at Coachella in 2002. I never get tired of seeing them as there is never a dull moment with these guys and no show is alike. Thank you B&S for giving us the best gift ever, your music and for giving it all when you write and play these songs, not only did you help me cope with life in my early twenties but you still inspire me to listen and get lost when I listen to you.
Gabriela Penne
❤❤❤
Vivian Doll
❤❤❤❤
ianwatches
Ha, that's great. I went to Coachella 02 SOLELY to finally see Belle & Sebastian. Love them with all my heart.