Bernard Butler (born on 1 May 1970, in Stamford Hill, North London), is a m… Read Full Bio ↴Bernard Butler (born on 1 May 1970, in Stamford Hill, North London), is a musician and record producer. He first achieved fame in 1992 as the guitarist with Suede, at the time an instant phenomenon in UK pop music. He co-wrote and played on every track until 1994, when he left Suede over personal tensions within the band during the recording of their second album, Dog Man Star.

Butler formed the duo McAlmont & Butler with David McAlmont. They released two singles, Yes and You Do. A compilation album, The Sound of McAlmont and Butler, was released after the split. Butler went on to release two albums under his own name, People Move On and Friends and Lovers, before a second McAlmont & Butler album, Bring it Back, and two singles, Falling and Bring it Back.

Since then Butler formed a new band, The Tears with former Suede cohort, Brett Anderson. They released their highly anticipated debut LP, Here Come The Tears, produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include Refugees, which reached #9 in the UK charts, and Lovers.

In between his own projects he has played on and produced records by Sparks, Edwyn Collins, Aimee Mann, Neneh Cherry, Tim Booth (of James), Manic Street Preachers, Eddi Reader, Hopper, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch and The Libertines. He created the soundtrack to the 1997 film The James Gang and played on the soundtrack of Velvet Goldmine, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead. He has played live with The Cranberries, Paul Weller, Teenage Fanclub and Manic Street Preachers.

He helped shape the sound of newcomer Duffy in 2008. For his production work on her debut album Rockferry, Bernard won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards, and Producer Of The Year at the 2008 Music Producers' Guild awards.

In Vain
Bernard Butler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I sit on life's window.
I'm not afraid to slip off the ledge.
Don't dry the tears from my pillow,
They don't slip easy from my face.

Goodbye brothers and sisters,
My spirit will fly in your face.
I'm not afraid if everything's over,

Maybe the future's in space...

So goodbye brothers and sisters,
Don't make me do it your way.
Don't hinder me with your wisdom,

Maybe the future's in vain...
In vain.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the Bernard Butler's song "In Vain" are quite haunting and thought-provoking. The opening line, "I sit on life's window," sets the scene for someone perched on the edge, potentially contemplating suicide. However, they are not afraid to slip off the ledge, indicating a certain level of resolve and acceptance of their chosen fate. The next line, "Don't dry the tears from my pillow," suggests that this individual has already been crying and is comforted by the physical release of tears.

The chorus of the song, which repeats twice throughout, includes the lines, "Goodbye brothers and sisters, my spirit will fly in your face," which can be interpreted in different ways. It could be a goodbye to loved ones, or to society at large. The use of the word "spirit" implies that there is something greater beyond the physical realm. The second half of the chorus includes the lyrics, "Don't hinder me with your wisdom, maybe the future's in vain." This suggests a struggle between those who would try to stop the singer from taking their own life and their own sense that there may be no point to continuing on in this world, perhaps feeling unsupported or misunderstood.

Overall, "In Vain" deals with difficult and heavy themes, but does so in a way that is both poetic and relatable. While suicide is a deeply personal and complex issue, this song powerfully conveys the sense of isolation and hopelessness that can drive someone to contemplate ending their own life.

Line by Line Meaning

I sit on life's window.
I am perched atop existence's ledge, observing life pass by.

I'm not afraid to slip off the ledge.
I am not afraid of leaving this life and moving on to the next.

Don't dry the tears from my pillow,
Do not try to alleviate my pain and sorrow.

They don't slip easy from my face.
My tears are not easily hidden or contained.

Goodbye brothers and sisters,
Farewell to my fellow humans.

My spirit will fly in your face.
My essence will linger and impact those around me.

I'm not afraid if everything's over,
I am unafraid of death and the end of all things.

Maybe the future's in space...
Perhaps the answer to our existence lies beyond this world.

So goodbye brothers and sisters,
Once again, farewell to those in my life.

Don't make me do it your way.
Do not force me to conform to your ways and beliefs.

Don't hinder me with your wisdom,
Do not let your knowledge and advice hold me back.