The group provides diverse sounds: art-rock, heavy-metal, acoustic folk-ballads, industrial riffs, etc, and Bill Gage continuously refines and re-works his vocal improvisations.
BILL's approach to songwriting is always in flux. The first album BEATLES CHINESE was shaped by a series of challenges the band gave Bill Gage: first to name the songs he wanted to do, and then to sing them, as the band figured out what to play, and each song was quickly recorded. The backing tracks for BILL's second record BAT MAN were recorded in advance. Bill Gage listened to the tracks, sang over them, and then named the songs (and the record).
Live, the BILL show presents a sonic kaleidoscope of punk, psychedelia, pop, and hard rock, Bill Gage tying it all together using his incredible voice and edge-of-the-seat performance (with theatrical touches like the cape he wears for "STEVE PEPPER"). Between songs Mr. Gage chats with the crowd, announcing the next song and letting the audience know they're about to hear something "REALLY GREAT". While some of his words are not always clear, his intentions are obvious and the crowd stays right with him. Bill Gage is a mild-mannered gentleman, until he has a mic in his hand: "LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!"
The band includes Daren Follower (drums), Gaylen Moore (bass), and guitarists Eric Morin, Greg Ansin, and Mr. Gage's brother, john. Past members include Paul Desjarlais of Pseudonym (1987-91), Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields (1987), and David M. Curry of Empty House Coöperative (1996-2000). BILL are working on a new record.
A jazz-pop band called "bill" is from San Diego, California and was possibly started in the 1990s (information about this bands history is scarce). The albums of the San Diego "bill" are called "End of the Hits" and "Birthday Suit."
Another band called "Bill", this one playing "alternative rock", are from Mexico City, Mexico. Even fewer pieces of information can be found about this group, but they have professional studio recordings and are playing regularly.
Also there is a Leamington, UK based 3 piece punk band under the name of Bill.
Madd In Paradise
Bill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the losers have been swept from the gin mills(2)
Hello sucker, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
34th Street good tidings to you
And will you meet me in Paradise Alley tonight
We'll leave town in a bottle of whiskey
And come on, you old scarecrow, and be a wheel(3), not a lamppost
You know, the heroes will wait where their dreams used to be
Go on and ask the hooligans(4) as they sweep down the midway
I'm going waltzing tonight with the Statue of Liberty
And come on, you old lazy-bones, let's get out of this place
Will you meet me in Paradise Alley tonight
We'll leave town in a bottle of whiskey
And come on, you old scarecrow, and be a wheel, not a lamppost
Just put a saddle on a wishbone, and you're halfway there
Now there's a counterfeit moon, and I'm seeing right through it
Cause the dawn spent it all in one place
And we'll rise to the top of the morning tonight
You can ride on my shoulders, and I'll show you the way(5)
If you meet me in Paradise Alley tonight
We'll leave town in a bottle of whiskey
So come on, you old scarecrow, and be a wheel, not a lamppost
Just put a saddle on a wishbone, and you're halfway there
The lyrics to Bill's song Madd In Paradise are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The song takes the listener on a journey through a series of surreal and fantastical scenes. It begins with the image of a hawk in a kitchen and sirens in bloom, which could be interpreted as chaos and destruction. The losers have been swept from the gin mills, suggesting that the unfortunates and the marginalized have been removed from society. The lyrics then wish the listener a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, adding a confusing element of festive merriment in this otherwise strange world.
The song then beckons the listener to meet the singer in Paradise Alley tonight, promising to leave town in a bottle of whiskey. This could be interpreted as an escape from the harsh realities of life, or perhaps a journey towards a more idyllic place. The metaphor of putting a saddle on a wishbone seems to suggest that the impossible can be achieved with the right attitude and mindset. The lyrics then mention heroes waiting where their dreams used to be, further emphasizing the idea of escapism and the search for something better.
The chorus repeats the invitation to meet in Paradise Alley with the promise of leaving town in a bottle of whiskey. The final verse introduces the idea of a counterfeit moon and rising to the top of the morning. Riding on the singer's shoulders and being shown the way could be interpreted as a metaphor for guidance in life.
Overall, the lyrics of Madd In Paradise are poetic and somewhat abstract, offering a glimpse into a world of surrealism, fantasy, and escapism.
Line by Line Meaning
When the hawk's in the kitchen and the sirens in bloom
Amidst chaos and noise
And the losers have been swept from the gin mills
And the undesirables have been removed from the bars
And come on, you old scarecrow, and be a wheel, not a lamppost
Get involved and be active instead of being a mere observer
Go on and ask the hooligans as they sweep down the midway
The outcasts may have insight into where to find the unexpected
You can ride on my shoulders, and I'll show you the way
I'll guide you and provide support
Hello sucker, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
A sarcastic greeting
34th Street good tidings to you
Best wishes from a specific location
And will you meet me in Paradise Alley tonight
Will you join me in a place of escape?
We'll leave town in a bottle of whiskey
We'll use alcohol to transport ourselves out of this reality
Just put a saddle on a wishbone, and you're halfway there
Believe in your desires and you're already making progress
You know, the heroes will wait where their dreams used to be
People will cling to the past versions of themselves that they deemed successful
I'm going waltzing tonight with the Statue of Liberty
I'll be engaging in festivities with symbols that represent freedom
And come on, you old lazy-bones, let's get out of this place
Stop being complacent and let's move on
Now there's a counterfeit moon, and I'm seeing right through it
The illusion of something is apparent to me
And we'll rise to the top of the morning tonight
We'll reach new heights in the early hours of the night
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TOM WAITS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind