Black Marble's roots go back to the early 2010s, when Stewart began making music on his laptop. When he played his songs for his friends, they liked his songwriting but thought the instrumentation could sound better, so he looked to the scene around him in Brooklyn for inspiration. He found it in Wierd, a dance party that brought in synth-driven acts from around the world (and also spawned the influential label Wierd Records). Stewart was particularly taken with the sound and analog gear of Martial Canterel's Sean McBride (also of Xeno & Oaklander), and started building his own arsenal of vintage synths, including a Juno and a Korg DW-8000. Not long after, he joined up with ex-Team Robespierre member Ty Kube. The duo made their debut in January 2012 with The Weight Against the Door, an EP released by the Seattle label Hardly Art that introduced Black Marble's faithful update of coldwave's stark-yet-murky, bleak-yet-beautiful sound. That September, their first full-length, A Different Arrangement, appeared on the label and presented a slightly warmer and more melodic version of their style.
Following the release of A Different Arrangement, Stewart began to tire of living in New York. He planned a move to Los Angeles, but wanted to finish Black Marble's second album before he left. During this time, Kube departed and Stewart was hospitalized with a serious case of pneumonia. These personal and physical changes were echoed on It's Immaterial, a lighter and clearer-sounding set of songs that Ghostly International released in October 2016. After settling in L.A., Stewart began work on his third album. Moved by the landscapes as well as the sense of community in his new home, he wrote more immediate songs that brought his voice front and center. In October 2019, Sacred Bones released Bigger Than Life. The following August, Black Marble issued I Must Be Living Twice, an EP of songs originally by Wire, Robert Palmer, and Grouper that were favorites at the band's shows. On October 2021's Fast Idol, Stewart incorporated the more impressionistic songwriting of his early albums with the brighter sound of Bigger Than Life.
Self Guided Tours
Black Marble Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the owner of a lonely heart on a tour of a monastery
Get ahold of your scheme, I'm sorry, do you see what I see?
I'm gonna see you on the kitchen floor asleep, with your hair in the coffee
There's always a catch, there's always a place to go
Bathtub radiator radio sitting on magazines
Don't this time
There's always a catch
There's always your pride
Always in good time
There's only two things I'd always change if you asked me
You've got a motor for a mouth and a pack of cigarettes that keep your cardigan lovely
There's only one thing, I'm sorry, better than nothing
You could come over, but it's late at night and there won't be nothing on the TV
There's always a catch, there's always a place to go
Bathtub radiator radio sitting on magazines
What are you thinking?
Don't this time
There's always a catch
There's always your pride
Always in good time
There's only one thing, I'm sorry
You're the owner of a lonely heart
There's only one thing, I'm sorry
You're the owner of a lonely heart
There's only one thing, I'm sorry
You're the owner of a lonely heart
The lyrics to Black Marble's song Self Guided Tours describe a lonesome night spent alone with regretful thoughts. The first verse paints the picture of the singer seeing something that they apologize for, as they observe someone else who is touring a monastery - perhaps the singer lost the opportunity to explore with this person, or failed to appreciate the moment. The imagery continues in the second verse with the bathtub, radiator, and radio representing familiar objects that evoke a sense of comfort amidst the emptiness. The chorus emphasizes the idea of there always being a catch or complication in life, and the importance of not letting our feelings of pride get in the way of good timing or opportunity.
Line by Line Meaning
There's only one thing, I'm sorry, do you see what I see?
The singer notices something and wonders if the listener sees it too, and apologizes for bringing it up.
You're the owner of a lonely heart on a tour of a monastery
The listener is alone and exploring a place that is usually quiet and contemplative.
Get ahold of your scheme, I'm sorry, do you see what I see?
The singer asks the listener to control their plans and strategy, and again asks if they see what he sees, apologizing in case he is mistaken.
I'm gonna see you on the kitchen floor asleep, with your hair in the coffee
The singer imagines the listener asleep on the floor of the kitchen with their hair falling into a cup of coffee.
There's always a catch, there's always a place to go
Problems and options for action are always present.
Bathtub radiator radio sitting on magazines
There are several ordinary objects in the bathroom, including a radio on top of magazines.
What are you thinking?
The singer asks the listener what they are contemplating.
Don't this time
The singer advises the listener not to think about something specific right now.
There's always your pride
Even if there are difficulties, the listener's pride will always be there.
Always in good time
Things will work out in the end.
There's only two things I'd always change if you asked me
The singer would change two things about the listener if given the opportunity.
You've got a motor for a mouth and a pack of cigarettes that keep your cardigan lovely
The listener talks a lot and smokes frequently, but still keeps their cardigan looking nice.
There's only one thing, I'm sorry, better than nothing
There is only one thing, and the singer apologizes for its lack of significance, but notes that it is still better than having nothing.
You could come over, but it's late at night and there won't be nothing on the TV
The listener is invited to come over, but the singer warns them that it's late and there won't be anything good to watch on TV.
You're the owner of a lonely heart
The listener is alone and possibly feeling lonely.
Contributed by Jackson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
No one's land
Unpopular opinion: this is my fav track from the album. Actually, the one that made me listen to the album in its entirety :)
Diogo Foresti Castro
Same here
Jon Villanueva
Aha itβs my favorite song also. Maybe of all time
wiseman457
There's only one thing, I'm sorry, do you see what I see? You're the owner of a lonely heart on a tour of a monastery Get ahold of your scheme, I'm sorry, do you see what I see? I'm gonna see you on the kitchen floor asleep, with your hair in the coffee There's always a catch, there's always a place to go Bathtub radiator radio sitting on magazines
What are you thinking?
Don't this time There's always a catch There's always your pride Always in good time There's only two things I'd always change if you asked me You've got a motor for a mouth and a pack of cigarettes that keep your cardigan lovely There's only one thing, I'm sorry, better than nothing You could come over, but it's late at night and there won't be nothing on the TV
There's always a catch, there's always a place to go Bathtub radiator radio sitting on magazines What are you thinking? Don't this time There's always a catch There's always your pride Always in good time There's only one thing, I'm sorry You're the owner of a lonely heart There's only one thing, I'm sorry You're the owner of a lonely heart There's only one thing, I'm sorry You're the owner of a lonely heart
Acer Bowes
Ifucken love this song
Cal Sakaguchi
You are a champ
Ariel Valentine
wiseman457 β‘
OmarBro19
Nearly 5 years since i heard this album, bought the vinyl. Was worth every dollar, one of the coolest bands to appear this passing decaded
GoodDaySir
Such an amazing and thought-provoking track <3
Garry Shepherd
Been loving this for ages now π€π΅π€π΅π€π΅