Hewerdine (born Mark Hewerdine) moved to Cambridge as a child, but returned to London in his late teens, and worked in a record shop. Suffering from agoraphobia, it was not a happy time of his life, and he was fired from his job after being wrongly accused of theft. Returning to Cambridge, he teamed up with a friend with similar experiences and started to write songs. They formed the short-lived Placebo Thing, later renamed The Great Divide. They were heard by Mike Scott of The Waterboys, who recommended them to Ensign Records, where they cut two commercially unsuccessful singles. In 1985 Hewerdine, working once again in a record shop in Cambridge, formed The Bible, recruiting jazz drummer Tony Shepherd. They released an album of songs through the independent Norwich label Backs Records called Walking The Ghost Back Home.
The Bible became a fairly successful independent band, with a cult following spread mostly through word of mouth and live performances. Two tracks from the first album, Graceland and Mahalia were released as singles, but did not achieve very significant sales. The album however was very well received by music pundits, and this brought the band to the attention of Chrysalis Records. Signing to Chrysalis, Graceland and another track, Honey Be Good were (re)released as singles, and reached the lower end of the UK singles chart. A new album, Eureka followed, but failed commercially. In 1988, Hewerdine decided to leave the group and pursue solo projects. Calum MacColl and Neill MacColl from the group went on to form Liberty Horses.
At around this time Hewerdine met US "new country" singer Darden Smith, and this set him off in a new direction. Working together, he and Smith released a collaborative album, Evidence. Hewerdine also worked simultaneously on new solo songs, largely based on his earlier traumatic experiences in London. Eventually these were distilled down to produce the Ignorance album, released in 1992. Invited by Tori Amos to play support promoting these songs, Hewerdine managed to find a new audience and Ignorance and a single from the album, History, did relatively well commercially.
As Hewerdine's star rose, he started to write for other artists, among them Eddi Reader, Clive Gregson and Christine Collister. The Bible reformed for a tour in 1994. Further solo album releases followed, such as 1996's Baptist Hospital and 1999's Thanksgiving. Meanwhile Hewerdine was asked by long-time friend Nick Hornby to contribute music to the soundtrack for the movie version of his book High Fidelity, whose subject (working in a record shop) was also very close to Hewerdine's experiences.
Hewerdine continues to write and perform his own songs. Harmonograph, released on MVine/Red Grape Records in February 2006, is a collection of his songs written for other artists such as Eddi Reader and Hepburn, recorded by Hewerdine for the first time. 2008 saw two mini CD releases - Toy Box 1 and Toy Box 2 with art work by Hewerdine's grandmother. Hewerdine continues to tour regularly, playing a set featuring songs from through out his career from The Bible to Toy Box.
Swimming in Mercury
Boo Hewerdine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You showed the future to me
Skinny and pale
My get out of jail
Swimmin' in mercury
And you were the ultraviolet
On our new color TV
The never the same
Swimmin' in mercury
What a beautiful way
What a beautiful way
To say
Goodbye
What a beautiful way
What a beautiful way
To say
Goodbye
So many mothers and fathers
Said "Is it a he or a she?"
We didn't care
We went everywhere
Swimmin' in mercury
What a beautiful way
What a beautiful way
To say
Goodbye
What a beautiful way
What a beautiful way
To say
Goodbye
It's hard to believe that you're gone now
It's good to know you're free
There at the heart
Between nature and art
Swimmin' in mercury
Swimmin' in mercury
The lyrics of Boo Hewerdine's "Swimming in Mercury" capture a nostalgic and bittersweet reflection on the past and the loss of someone significant. The song opens by setting the scene in suburbia, where the singer, as a young boy, is introduced to a different world by the person being addressed. This person becomes a guiding light, showing the singer glimpses of the future. The line "Skinny and pale, my get out of jail" suggests that this person provided an escape or liberation from the confines of a mundane existence. The phrase "Swimmin' in mercury" could be metaphorical, representing a feeling of being submerged in something transformative or intoxicating.
The second verse describes the person being addressed as "ultraviolet," implying that they brought vibrancy and illumination to the singer's life, like the new color TV. This person was a constant presence, yet also represented change and unpredictability, which is reflected in the line "The constant, the change, the never the same." The repetition of the phrase "Swimmin' in mercury" emphasizes the sense of immersion in something extraordinary and captivating.
The chorus, "What a beautiful way to say goodbye," suggests that this song is a tribute to someone who has passed away. The beauty lies in the memories and the impact they had on the singer's life. The third verse alludes to societal expectations and gender norms, with the mention of parents questioning the person's gender. The singer and the person being addressed, however, transcend these boundaries and judgments, freely exploring and experiencing life together.
In the final lines, the singer expresses disbelief at the person's absence but finds solace in the knowledge that they are now free. The reference to being "at the heart between nature and art" suggests that this person existed in a liminal space, bridging the gap between the natural and artistic realms. The concluding line, "Swimmin' in mercury," maintains the song's theme of immersion in something extraordinary, even in death.
Overall, "Swimming in Mercury" speaks to the profound impact someone can have on our lives and the way they shape our understanding of the world. It celebrates the beauty in their presence and mourns their absence, while also emphasizing the transformative power of their influence.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a boy in suburbia
I was a young individual residing in a suburban area
You showed the future to me
You enlightened me with a glimpse of what lies ahead
Skinny and pale
Physically slender and lacking color
My get out of jail
My escape from confinement or limitations
Swimmin' in mercury
Engaging in an environment or situation filled with unpredictability and danger
And you were the ultraviolet
You were the radiant and electrifying presence
On our new color TV
Within our revolutionary and vibrant experiences
The constant, the change
The consistent aspect amidst ever-shifting circumstances
The never the same
The perpetually evolving nature
What a beautiful way
A profoundly remarkable and meaningful manner
To say
To express
Goodbye
Farewell or parting
So many mothers and fathers
Numerous parents
Said "Is it a he or a she?"
Inquired about the gender of a person
We didn't care
We were indifferent to such distinctions
We went everywhere
We explored numerous places and possibilities
To say
To express
Goodbye
Farewell or parting
It's hard to believe that you're gone now
It is difficult to fathom your absence
It's good to know you're free
It is comforting to acknowledge your liberation
There at the heart
Existing at the core or essence
Between nature and art
In the realm between natural and creative expressions
Swimmin' in mercury
Engaging in an environment or situation filled with unpredictability and danger
Swimmin' in mercury
Engaging in an environment or situation filled with unpredictability and danger
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BEN HEWERDINE, MARK NICHOLAS HEWERDINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind