Over 15 years, Richard has carved out a corner of hip-hop history by unraveling ornate and dust-caked yarns, often over beat-addled soundscapes, as on his seminal “Language Arts” album series (Anticon released part three, Man Overboard, in ’01), and unadorned as well (he recently became host of CBC’s “Radio 2 Drive” show). For his last record, 2007’s Situation (released on Sage Francis’ Strange Famous label), the man crafted an entire song-cycle around the narrative minutiae of 1957—Rich’s love for a good story is famous. Considering, he couldn’t have found a better partner for his latest work.
Joëlle was raised in Brussels by her Vietnamese mother, a painter and a chef, and remembers fondly the piquant scents she’d chase around mom’s restaurant. She was infatuated with the piano at her primary school, and took lessons when she wasn’t painting or tinkering with music boxes. She learned cello too, pursued photography (she’s now a successful digital video artist), and studied music theory in college, where she discovered that art-making brought back her childhood memories in vivid detail. She has magic secrets—and perhaps a touch of clairvoyance—that she put to work in creating 2006’s striking Greetings From Tuskan LP debut, Lullabies For The Warriors. To this day, there are details that even Rich doesn’t understand about Joëlle’s immaculate productions. Naturally, that’s another detail that he loves.
Bike For Three!’s constituent parts have never met in person, and they might not ever. She found him, and their story unfurls in real time along with their songs. Joëlle sends Rich music; Rich writes to the moods and movements that she’s designed; Joëlle nurtures each piece into an animate whole. Bf3! actually finds Buck 65 eschewing traditional narrative forms in favor of an intimate stream of consciousness (offset by tight rhyme cadence) that mines the craggier depths of romance both requited and out-of-reach, real and imagined (which perfectly befits Bf3!’s working relationship). The things Rich wouldn’t speak of in conversation thus become part of the conversation happening on record.
More Heart Than Brains, Bf3!’s album debut, is Buck 65’s first record to feature all electronic production. Of course, Joëlle has a few acoustic tricks up her sleeve—those music boxes from her youth, for instance—and an approach that seats her comfortably amongst such mercurial beat auteurs as Boom Bip, Modeselektor, Michna, and labelmate Alias. That Rich returns to Anticon a nearly decade later to release his most personal album yet is both an honor and the logical continuation of the label’s own story (Sage Francis did the same with Personal Journals in ’02). As for Bike For Three!, consider this Chapter One.
FULL MOON
Bike For Three! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je retiens l'écume de ton sommeil.
When the winds are changing, begins the raging.
Sins are strange and within the range.
When we're being electrocuted, dreaming and echoes disputed.
Who can sleep at a time like this?
When we're being chased by devils, erased by levels,
Revels in the chaos, embraced by rebels,
Lives are being darkened, knives are being sharpened.
Who can sleep at a time like this?
The sun is exploding, gun is unloading.
A girl with a sense of fun and foreboding.
Tie my wrists and find my kiss.
Who can sleep at a time like this?
Reviens- moi à ton réveil.
When the weights are lifting, the plates are shifting,
Places are traded and fates are drifting.
When Audrey is Hepburn, an obvious left turn,
Who can sleep at a time like this?
Citizen and number. Minimum and younger.
A word in private. A synonym for hunger.
Tie my wrists and find my kiss.
Who can sleep at a time like this?
Je retiens l'écume de ton sommeil.
Actions mechanical. The fashions are flammable.
Cameras are flashing. Passions are animal.
Deeply sacred. Uniquely vacant.
Sleepy hatred. Completely naked.
Fade to black and highlight red.
The accepted voidage of a finite bed.
Tie my wrists and find my kiss.
Who can sleep at a time like this?
The lyrics of "Full Moon" by Bike For Three! presents a distorted and dreamlike perception of the world where nothing is quite as it seems. The song is about the turmoil and chaos that pervades our lives, making it impossible to find respite, especially during a full moon. The opening line, "How did it bleed? It bled like fire," sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics, evoking a sense of violence that is echoed throughout the song. The second line, "Je retiens l'écume de ton sommeil," which translates to "I keep the foam from your sleep," adds to the surreal nature of the song, creating a haunting image that is difficult to interpret.
The lyrics progress to describe a series of chaotic events that make the world seem unfamiliar and unrecognizable. It explores themes of danger, rebellion, and destruction, with lines such as "Who can sleep at a time like this?" repeated throughout the song. The song also touches on mood swings, shifting identities, and the unanswerable questions that plague life, making it difficult to find solid ground to stand on. The song is a testament to the turbulence that defines the human experience, making it difficult to find a sense of peace and tranquility.
Line by Line Meaning
How did it bleed? It bled like fire.
The bleeding was intense and painful, much like the sensation of being burned by fire.
Je retiens l'écume de ton sommeil.
I remember the foam from your sleep, perhaps referring to nostalgia or longing for a past relationship.
When the winds are changing, begins the raging.
As circumstances shift, emotions intensify and become turbulent.
Sins are strange and within the range.
Wrongdoings can vary in frequency and severity, and may be more common than we realize.
When we're being electrocuted, dreaming and echoes disputed.
In a state of intense emotion or fear, our perceptions may become distorted or unreliable.
Who can sleep at a time like this?
The heightened state of awareness or turmoil described in the previous lines makes rest or relaxation difficult to achieve.
When we're being chased by devils, erased by levels.
In times of struggle, it can feel like we are being pursued or held back by malicious forces beyond our control.
Revels in the chaos, embraced by rebels.
Some find a sense of freedom or excitement in disorder, and may align themselves with those who reject societal norms or expectations.
Lives are being darkened, knives are being sharpened.
In difficult times, people may become harsher or more hostile towards one another.
The sun is exploding, gun is unloading.
Dangerous or explosive events may be occurring, creating a sense of chaos or fear.
A girl with a sense of fun and foreboding.
This line seems to describe a woman who enjoys excitement or adventure, but who also recognizes the potential dangers of such pursuits.
Tie my wrists and find my kiss.
This line may reflect a willingness to engage in risky or unconventional behavior for the sake of excitement or passion.
When the weights are lifting, the plates are shifting.
As changes occur, things may feel unsteady or uncertain.
Places are traded and fates are drifting.
As people move or change, their paths in life may become less clear or predictable.
When Audrey is Hepburn, an obvious left turn.
This line may refer to situations where what is expected or normal is suddenly changed or disrupted.
Citizen and number. Minimum and younger.
Individual identities may be subsumed or lost in larger systems, and youth is often associated with a lack of power or agency.
A word in private. A synonym for hunger.
This line may suggest secret or taboo desires or needs that are powerful but hidden.
Actions mechanical. The fashions are flammable.
In a world where conformity is valued, individual expression may be difficult or even dangerous.
Cameras are flashing. Passions are animal.
Public attention and scrutiny may intensify emotions, and passions can be raw or overpowering.
Deeply sacred. Uniquely vacant.
Sometimes what is most important to us can also be the most difficult to articulate, and meaningful experiences can still leave us feeling empty or unfulfilled.
Sleepy hatred. Completely naked.
Emotions can be difficult to shake off, even when we are supposed to be resting or relaxed, and vulnerability can be uncomfortable or frightening.
Fade to black and highlight red.
This may refer to the dramatic or violent ways that stories and experiences can end.
The accepted voidage of a finite bed.
Even when we are at rest, we may feel a sense of loss or emptiness.
Contributed by Alice D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matt Twele
I cannot wait for this album! Thanks for the preview!
Pierre Banon
Commandé il y a 5 minutes !!!!! J'ai hâte !