Born in Suffolk, Eno studied painting and experimental music at the art school of Ipswich Civic College in the mid 1960s, and then at Winchester School of Art. He joined glam rock group Roxy Music as synthesiser player in 1971. After recording two albums with Roxy Music, he departed in 1973 to record a number of solo albums, coining the term "ambient music" to describe his work on releases such as Another Green World (1975), Discreet Music (1975), and Music for Airports (1978). He also collaborated with artists such as Robert Fripp, Cluster, Harold Budd, David Bowie on his "Berlin Trilogy", and David Byrne, and produced albums by artists including John Cale, Jon Hassell, Laraaji, Talking Heads and Devo, and the no wave compilation No New York (1978).
Eno has continued to record solo albums and work with artists including U2, Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, Slowdive, Coldplay, James Blake, and Damon Albarn. Dating back to his time as a student, he has also worked in media including sound installations and his mid-70s co-development of Oblique Strategies, a deck of cards featuring cryptic aphorisms intended to spur creative thinking. From the 1970s onwards, Eno's installations have included the sails of the Sydney Opera House in 2009 and the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank in 2016. An advocate of a range of humanitarian causes, Eno writes on a variety of subjects and is a founding member of the Long Now Foundation. In 2019, Eno was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.
Eno is frequently referred to as one of popular music's most influential artists. Producer and film composer Jon Brion has said: "I think he's the most influential artist since the Beatles." Critic Jason Ankeny at AllMusic argues that Eno "forever altered the ways in which music is approached, composed, performed, and perceived, and everything from punk to techno to new age bears his unmistakable influence." Eno has spread his techniques and theories primarily through his production; his distinctive style informed a number of projects in which he has been involved, including Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" (helping to popularize minimalism) and the albums he produced for Talking Heads (incorporating, on Eno's advice, African music and polyrhythms), Devo, and other groups. Eno's first collaboration with David Byrne, 1981's My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, pioneered sampling techniques that would prove to be influential in hip-hop, and broke ground by incorporating world music into popular Western music forms. Eno and Peter Schmidt's Oblique Strategies have been used by many bands, and Eno's production style has proven influential in several general respects: "his recording techniques have helped change the way that modern musicians;– particularly electronic musicians;– view the studio. No longer is it just a passive medium through which they communicate their ideas but itself a new instrument with seemingly endless possibilities."
Whilst inspired by the ideas of minimalist composers including John Cage, Terry Riley and Erik Satie, Eno coined the term ambient music to describe his own work and defined the term. The Ambient Music Guide states that he has brought from "relative obscurity into the popular consciousness" fundamental ideas about ambient music, including "the idea of modern music as subtle atmosphere, as chill-out, as impressionistic, as something that creates space for quiet reflection or relaxation." His groundbreaking work in electronic music has been said to have brought widespread attention to and innovations in the role of electronic technology in recording. Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright said he "often eulogised" Eno's abilities.
Eno's "unconventional studio predilections", in common with those of Peter Gabriel, were an influence on the recording of "In the Air Tonight", the single which launched the solo career of Eno's former drummer Phil Collins. Collins said he "learned a lot" from working with Eno. Both Half Man Half Biscuit (in the song "Eno Collaboration" on the EP of the same name) and MGMT have written songs about Eno. LCD Soundsystem has frequently cited Eno as a key influence. The Icelandic singer Björk also credited Eno as a major influence.
Mora sti Fotia (Babies on Fire), one of the most influential Greek rock bands, was named after Eno's song "Baby's on Fire".
In 2011, Belgian academics from the Royal Museum for Central Africa named a species of Afrotropical spider Pseudocorinna brianeno in his honour.
China My China
Brian Eno Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the opium farmers sell dreams to obscure fraternities
On the horizon the curtains are closing
Down in the orchard the aunties and uncles play their games
(like it seems they always have done)
In the blue distance the vertical offices bear their names
(like it seems they always have done)
These poor girls are such fun they know what God gave them fingers for
(to make percussion over solos)
China my china, I've wandered around and you're still here
(which I guess you should be proud of)
Your walls have enclosed you, have kept you at home for thousands of years
(but there's something I should tell you)
All the young boys are dressing like sailors
I remember a man who jumped out from a window over the bay
(there was hardly a raised eyebrow)
The coroner told me 'this kind of thing happens every day
You see, from a pagoda, the world is so tidy.
The lyrics of Brian Eno's song, China My China, paint a picture of a country that is both ancient and modern. The opening lines speak of China's rich history and culture, with the country sitting on eternity. However, the opium farmers selling dreams to obscure fraternities suggest a seedier side to China, one that is more hidden and mysterious. The horizon and curtains closing add to the sense of impending change and uncertainty.
The second verse brings in the imagery of an orchard and the communal games played by the aunties and uncles, showing a more traditional side to China's culture. This is contrasted with the vertical modern offices in the distance and the ticking clocks, symbolizing the fast-paced, modern world that is encroaching on the country. The lyrics about the poor girls and their percussion over solos bring in a playful and rebellious element, suggesting a desire to break free from the constrictions of traditional culture.
The final verse speaks of young boys dressing like sailors, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a bygone era. The singer remembers a man who jumped from a window over the bay, but the lack of reaction from others shows how such occurrences are commonplace. The coroner's statement about the world being tidy from a pagoda adds to the sense of detachment from reality and the lack of concern for individual lives.
Overall, the lyrics of China My China offer a rich and nuanced portrayal of a country that is both ancient and rapidly modernizing, with a culture that is both vibrant and repressive.
Line by Line Meaning
In the haze of the morning, china sits on eternity
In the morning mist, China remains eternal
And the opium farmers sell dreams to obscure fraternities
Opium farmers sell illusions to secret societies
On the horizon the curtains are closing
The future is uncertain, and opportunities are disappearing
Down in the orchard the aunties and uncles play their games
The elderly engage in leisurely activities in the orchard
(like it seems they always have done)
As it has always been
In the blue distance the vertical offices bear their names
Tall office buildings are named in the distant skyline
(like it seems they always have done)
As it has always been
Clocks ticking slowly, dividing the day up
Time passes slowly, dividing the day into moments
These poor girls are such fun they know what God gave them fingers for
These women are having fun, and they know how to make music with their fingers
(to make percussion over solos)
To create accompanying beats for solos
China my china, I've wandered around and you're still here
China, my darling, I have traveled elsewhere, but you remain
(which I guess you should be proud of)
(I suppose you should be proud of that)
Your walls have enclosed you, have kept you at home for thousands of years
Your walls have sheltered you and kept you safe for centuries
(but there's something I should tell you)
(but there's something you should know)
All the young boys are dressing like sailors
The young men dress like sailors
I remember a man who jumped out from a window over the bay
I recall seeing a man leap from a window overlooking the bay
(there was hardly a raised eyebrow)
(no one even batted an eye)
The coroner told me 'this kind of thing happens every day
The coroner informed me that this was a common occurrence
You see, from a pagoda, the world is so tidy.
From a pagoda, the world appears neat and orderly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind