Bruford's later outings would be released under either his full name or variations of Bill Bruford's Earthworks/Earthworks.
Gothic 17
Bruford Lyrics
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And in the darkened house
The little boy daren't make a sound
His parents whispering outside the door
He plans the day when they won't be there anymore
They're telling him this
They're telling him that
The way that he might react
He's lost in a maze
Of difficult days
He's sinking too fast
He's walking on broken glass
Speak softly to the child
For inbetween his head and racing heart
Lies something wild
No sense in shouting he can't hear for the noise
He plays with fire, broken glass twisted tin, broken toys
They're telling him this
They're telling him that
You'll never predict
The way that he might react
He's lost in a maze
Of difficult days
He's sinking too fast
He's walking on broken glass
The song "Gothic 17" by Bruford is a haunting and introspective look into the mind of a little boy who is struggling with his inner demons. The lyrics describe a snowy and eerie setting where the boy is hiding in the darkened house, unable to make a sound while his parents are arguing outside his door. The boy is lost in a maze of difficult days, sinking fast and walking on broken glass, indicating the fragility of his mental state.
The parents are portrayed as being unhelpful, telling him this and that, adding to the confusion and despair of the little boy. The boy's mind is overwhelmed, and he plays with fire, broken glass, twisted tin, and broken toys. The lyrics show us the great turmoil the boy is going through and how he feels like he is walking a tightrope, ready to shatter at any moment.
The chorus almost offers a plea to the parents- speak softly to the child. The bridge offers perspective, letting us know that the child has something wild within him, and shouting will only exacerbate the situation. These lyrics offer an insight into the traumatic experience of the little boy, his struggles with mental illness, and the lack of understanding and support he's receiving in his environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Snow falling all around
The weather outside is snowy and cold.
And in the darkened house
The house is dark, lacking warmth and light, adding to the gloomy atmosphere.
The little boy daren't make a sound
The boy is afraid and feels like he shouldn't make any noise to avoid getting into trouble.
His parents whispering outside the door
The boy's parents are having a conversation outside his door, but he can only hear their whispers and doesn't know what they're talking about.
He plans the day when they won't be there anymore
The boy feels so trapped and unhappy in his current life that he dreams of a day when his parents are no longer around.
They're telling him this
The boy's parents are constantly talking to him and giving him directions on what to do.
They're telling him that
His parents are also giving him warnings and reasons why he shouldn't do certain things.
You'll never predict
It's impossible to know for sure how the boy will react to something that is done to him.
The way that he might react
His response to different situations is volatile and unpredictable.
He's lost in a maze
The boy feels like he's trapped in an intricate and confusing situation that he can't easily escape.
Of difficult days
Every day is challenging and unpleasant for him.
He's sinking too fast
The boy is rapidly losing his emotional stability and happiness.
He's walking on broken glass
The boy is surrounded by danger and things that can easily hurt him.
Speak softly to the child
The boy needs to be spoken to gently and with kindness to avoid upsetting him even more.
For inbetween his head and racing heart
The boy's mind is racing, and he is experiencing strong emotions that he can't easily manage.
Lies something wild
There is some inner, untamed beast within the boy that wants to come out.
No sense in shouting he can't hear for the noise
Raising voices and shouting won't help because the boy is already overwhelmed.
He plays with fire, broken glass twisted tin, broken toys
The boy engages in risky, dangerous behaviors that can harm himself, using whatever he can find, including broken objects as toys.
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.