He was the lead vocalist of rock band Suede from 1989 until their split in 2002. He then fronted The Tears with ex-Suede guitarist, Bernard Butler although as of 2006 they are on hiatus.
So far Anderson has released 4 solo albums. His self-titled debut was released in 2007. The following year brought the quieter, piano-driven Wilderness and Slow Attack was released in 2009. A return to the rock band format "restless, noisy and dynamic" album Black Rainbows was released on September 26, 2011.
Suede reformed in 2010, releasing the albums Bloodsports in 2013 and Night Thoughts in 2016.
Funeral Mantra
Brett Anderson Lyrics
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And touch the beads.
The naked feel Of rosary .
The fall of morning On the lands.
The smell of incense On our hands.
We kneel Before the open grave.
And light The candles with our pain.
Because all things Will change.
We live again
We learn The consequence of sin.
We roll our eyes And touch our skin.
We feel Eternity expressed
With every word,
With every breath.
We kneel Before the open grave.
And light The candles with our pain.
Because the seasons Change.
Because they stay the same
We live again.
We knee Before the open grave.
And light The candles with our pain.
Because all things Will change.
And as your God explains,
We live again.
We live again.
We live again.
We live again
The song "Funeral Mantra" by Brett Anderson is a somber reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of our mortality. Anderson's lyrics evoke images of religious rituals and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The opening lines, "We light the oil and touch the beads/The naked feel of rosary," describes the act of lighting candles and holding prayer beads in a funeral procession. The imagery of the "fall of morning on the lands" and the "smell of incense on our hands" create a sense of solemnity and sensory awareness.
Anderson's lyrics ponder the idea that, despite the constant change in life, some things always stay the same. He sings, "Because all things will change/Because they stay the same/We live again." This contemplation on the cycles of life, death, and rebirth is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "We live again," which emphasizes the cyclical nature of existence.
The final lines of the song suggest a belief in the afterlife and a spiritual dimension beyond our earthly experience. Anderson sings, "And as your God explains, we live again," implying that there is a larger power at work orchestrating these cycles of life and death.
Overall, "Funeral Mantra" is a thought-provoking and introspective meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the universal human experience of grief, loss, and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
We light the oil
We start the funeral process by lighting oil lamps
And touch the beads.
We pray with rosary beads
The naked feel Of rosary .
The physical sensation of using the rosary without any distractions
The fall of morning On the lands.
The early morning light shining on the lands surrounding the funeral ceremony
The smell of incense On our hands.
The scent of incense, which lingers on our hands and fills the air during the ceremony
We kneel Before the open grave.
We take a moment to show our respect and mourn at the open grave
And light The candles with our pain.
We light candles in memory of the deceased, processing our pain and grief
Because all things Will change.
Everything in life is subject to change, including the state of being alive or deceased
Because they stay the same
At the same time, some things will always stay the same, such as the inevitability of death
We live again
Life goes on, even after loss
We learn The consequence of sin.
Through death, we are reminded of the consequences of past mistakes and sins
We roll our eyes And touch our skin.
We physically react to the emotional and spiritual impact of death
We feel Eternity expressed With every word, With every breath.
The eternal and infinite nature of existence is felt and contemplated through the funeral ritual
We kneel Before the open grave.
We return to the open grave, a symbol of our mortality
And light The candles with our pain.
We continue the candle lighting ritual, knowing that our pain will continue as long as we live
Because the seasons Change.
The cyclical nature of the seasons and the changing of time is a reminder of the constant cycle of life and death
Because they stay the same
Despite this, the inevitability of death and the loss of loved ones remains a constant in our lives
We live again.
Even after loss, we continue to live and find meaning in life
We knee Before the open grave.
Once again, we return to the open grave, symbolizing our connection to our own mortality
And light The candles with our pain.
We light candles anew, once more processing our pain and grief
Because all things Will change.
Once again, we are reminded of the inevitability of change
And as your God explains,
As our concept of God and spirituality gives meaning to the funeral, we find comfort and hope
We live again.
Once again, we find hope and meaning in life, even after death
We live again.
We repeat the phrase, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the power of hope
We live again.
Once more, we reiterate the power of life and renewal, even in the face of death
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.