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.
Spell With A Shell
Cardiacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it came
Saying he was for me a spell
Could be good could be bad
Soak him in some water
And it will be good
Or wear him as a shirt for week
And call him by a name
Don't stop now
I didn't know you'd be growing wings
This is how long you'll stay alive
Don't! Stop it!
You're my only friend yeah
Right, so now I give your name "Baz"
How does that sound?
How is it so far?
Are you good to me yet?
Or are you bad to me?
On a quiet night
Put him on the fire
There
There
Only because I don't want him to burn
Elsewhere
Don't stop now
I didn't know you'd be growing wings
This is how long you'll stay alive
Don't! Stop it!
You're my only friend yeah
The Cardiacs’ song “Spell With A Shell” features whimsical and mysterious lyrics that leave the listener with questions and that, without a doubt, spark the imagination. The song appears to be about a creature that approaches the singer, carrying its home on its back, and offers to be a spell to him. The creature itself could be seen as an ambiguous symbol of fortune, as the singer continues to question whether it is good or bad. The lyrics invite the listener to participate, as if they too can try different things with the creature, such as soaking it in water, calling it a name or even wearing it. The last line of the first verse, “But bad if I burn him” creates a sense of foreboding that leads into the chorus.
The chorus could be seen as a warning or possibly a prophecy, as the singer tells the creature not to stop growing its wings and to stay alive. This request is made while acknowledging that the creature is the singer’s only friend, which adds a layer of sadness or loneliness to the song. In the second verse, the creature is named “Baz” and the singer asks if “he” is good or bad to him. The idea of putting the creature on a fire “only because I don't want him to burn elsewhere” creates an odd sense of decision-making for the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
It carried its home on its back
Referring to a snail, it carried its shell with it everywhere it went
When it came
As it arrived in the singer's life
Saying he was for me a spell
Claiming to have magical powers that could be either beneficial or harmful to the singer
Could be good could be bad
The spell's effects were uncertain and had the potential to be either positive or negative
Soak him in some water
One suggested way to activate or neutralize the spell
And it will be good
Implies that the spell can be activated through water
Or wear him as a shirt for week
An alternative method for activating the spell
And call him by a name
Naming the snail, and therefore the spell, so as to better understand and control it
But bad if I burn him
Burning the snail would have negative consequences for the artist
Don't stop now
Implores someone to keep going, despite adversity or uncertainty
I didn't know you'd be growing wings
Surprised by the transformations or changes someone has undergone
This is how long you'll stay alive
May indicate a limited lifespan or a warning about the consequences of certain actions
Don! Stop it!
An exclamation to stop or prevent someone from doing something
You're my only friend yeah
Someone who the singer sees as their sole confidant or ally
Right, so now I give your name 'Baz'
Naming the snail or spell
How does that sound?
Asking for opinions or input about the named spell
How is it so far?
Asking for feedback on previous choices or actions related to the spell
Are you good to me yet?
Asking the spell or snail if its effects have been positive so far
Or are you bad to me?
Asking if the spell has negative consequences
On a quiet night, put him on the fire
Another possible method for activating the spell or ensuring its continued powers
There, there, only because I don’t want him to burn
An unlikely explanation for caring for the snail or spell, despite earlier references to burning it
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.