As well as Smith, around 23 musicians were part of the Cardiacs over the years, including Smith's brother, Jim, and multi-instrumentalist, Sarah Cutts, who married Tim Smith in 1983.
Their music combined the excitement and energy of punk with the intricacies and technical cleverness of early British progressive rock, a combination sometimes referred to as pronk, although frontman Smith disavowed this classification.
Cardiacs released eight studio albums plus a number of live albums, compilation albums and singles between 1980 and 2007, and are best known for the 1988 minor hit single "Is This the Life?" They are also noted for attracting strongly diverse responses: they have remained one of Britain's leading cult rock bands during their four-decade-spanning career, but have also attracted virulent critical attack (including a lengthy editorial ban from the British music magazine New Musical Express).
On the 30th June 1990, Cardiacs played at Salisbury Arts Centre (a former church). The show was recorded and initially the video of it was released on VHS tape under the name "All That Glitters Is A Mare's Nest". The video helped Cardiacs achieve a cult following, with pirated copies of the video, being highly sought after. The audio from the show was released on CD in 1995.
The band was on hiatus following the 2008 hospitalisation of Tim Smith after a heart attack and series of strokes which affected his speech and movement.
Commenting on his condition, in 2017, Smith wrote: “Imagine if you were wearing a skintight bodysuit made of fishnet all around you, with electrical pulses going all the time. This is what my body feels like unless I fall asleep.”
In 2018, fundraising was set up for Tim Smith, which included the comment “This condition has affected Tim’s movement, his dexterity, his ability to speak, and it has added painful muscle tone and spasms that are a permanent feature of his life these days.”
On Tuesday 21st July 2020, at around 10.30 pm, Tim Smith passed away at his home, as a result of a heart attack.
Cardiacs final album, "LSD" remained unfinished at the time of Tim Smith's death. At the time of his death, Cardiacs still remained a cult following, their recordings were not, for example, available on Spotify. For many years there were few new copies of Cardiacs albums in circulation. Later on, re-releases became available on CD and then vinyl.
Bellyeye
Cardiacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its my slave
And I'm counting on kitchen clean for the masses
I can save yeah I can save
I can save and I'm amazed that I can save and I'm amazed that I can save and I'm amazed
Pissy eyed gaggling's over tomorrow after eighty after ay!
Time in now really
Now I delay
Need some funds money undone
Me on some for money undone
I know where I don't want to be
Out looking for people in trouble
Oh hello shadow! You go away and you
Warm me up like only your fire can do
Warm me up like only your fire can do
More of the same
More of the same old highs
Kiddie voice piercing my nodder like a nail
And I can kill
Yeah I stabby all kill Acne Thunderer blaster I can kill
Yeah I can kill
Storm of feeling good fun fuck my animal heart and ache
And heart and ache
Tiring now dishing out all my fancy almond ache
And arm and ache
Leaf all my money oh my!
Me need some funds money undone
Me on some for money undone
What's in my hand?
Its your beady-eyed blade on the edge of my tongue
Its your Belly-eyed bleeder
Only just begun to rebuild him
But will he turn out like you've done
Woah!
Tiring wait 'til these things can fly
Now that I sit inside her fire
My feet firm higher Me filled with gloom
Warm me up like only your fire can do
Big belly-eyed bleeder on the top of you
I know where I don't want to be
Out looking for people in trouble
Oh hello shadow!
You go away and you warm me
The lyrics to Cardiacs’ song Bellyeye are a unique and perplexing blend of imagery and wordplay, creating a sense of disorientation and confusion. The song appears to explore themes of power, control, and manipulation. The singer seems to be undergoing a type of psychological struggle, with his mind seemingly slipping away from him. He refers to his mind as “pissing out of [him]” and being “my slave.” He also mentions needing funds, suggesting some level of financial strain or desperation.
The chorus repeats the phrase “Warm me up like only your fire can do,” which can be interpreted as a plea for comfort or a desire to be rescued from the turmoil he is experiencing. The verse “All my mind’s pissing out of me pouring brain” seems to convey a sense of utter confusion and disorientation, while the following line “It’s my slave” suggests the singer feels he is being controlled or dominated in some way. The line “I can save and I’m amazed that I can save” can be interpreted as a glimmer of hope or a sense of empowerment, with the singer recognizing his ability to overcome his struggles.
The verses in Bellyeye are punctuated with a repeating chorus which reinforces the themes of confusion and helplessness. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but the overall effect is a sense of anxiety and uneasiness. The song is an excellent example of Cardiacs’ unique musical style, blending elements of rock, punk, and avant-garde into a distinct and memorable sound.
Line by Line Meaning
All my mind's pissing out of me pouring brain
My thoughts are flowing out of my mind nonstop.
Its my slave
I am in control of my thoughts.
And I'm counting on kitchen clean for the masses
I am relying on the cleanliness of the kitchen to serve food to many people.
I can save yeah I can save
I have the ability to save.
I can save and I'm amazed that I can save and I'm amazed that I can save and I'm amazed
I am surprised at my own ability to save.
Pissy eyed gaggling's over tomorrow after eighty after ay!
Talking about tomorrow is pointless.
Time in now really
The present moment is important.
No! Not entirely now, I lied
I was not truthful about the present moment being entirely important.
Now I delay
I am procrastinating.
Need some funds money undone
I require some funds to complete a task.
Me on some for money undone
I need money to complete a task.
I know where I don't want to be
I am aware of where I do not want to go.
Out looking for people in trouble
I am searching for people who are in need of help.
Oh hello shadow! You go away and you
I am addressing a shadow, potentially a metaphor for a negative feeling or thought.
Warm me up like only your fire can do
I want to be comforted by someone/something that brings me warmth.
More of the same
I want more of what I already have.
More of the same old highs
I want more of the same positive feelings that I usually experience.
Kiddie voice piercing my nodder like a nail
A child's voice is bothering me deeply.
And I can kill
I have the capability to harm others.
Yeah I stabby all kill Acne Thunderer blaster I can kill
I am capable of violence, and using specific tools/weapons for violence.
Storm of feeling good fun fuck my animal heart and ache
Positive feelings cause my emotions to be chaotic.
And heart and ache
My heart is heavy with intense emotions.
Tiring now dishing out all my fancy almond ache
I am tired of sharing my fancy/almond-related struggles with others.
And arm and ache
I am physically exhausted.
Leaf all my money oh my!
I have lost all my money.
What's in my hand?
I am questioning what I am holding in my hand.
Its your beady-eyed blade on the edge of my tongue
I am referencing a sharp object on the edge of my tongue. This could be a metaphor for a thought/idea that is bothering me.
Its your Belly-eyed bleeder
I am referring to someone/something that is causing me pain.
Only just begun to rebuild him
I am in the process of rebuilding myself, but it is not a simple task.
But will he turn out like you've done
I question whether or not I will end up like someone/something that has caused me pain in the past.
Woah!
I am expressing surprise/awe over something unexpected.
Tiring wait 'til these things can fly
I am impatient for something to happen that will not occur for some time.
Now that I sit inside her fire
I am metaphorically inside a fire, which could represent a chaotic/stressful situation.
My feet firm higher Me filled with gloom
I feel trapped in a negative situation, despite standing firm and trying to overcome it.
Big belly-eyed bleeder on the top of you
I am referring to a negative or hurtful experience that is impacting me greatly.
You go away and you warm me
I want a negative experience to disappear, and I want to be comforted instead.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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