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.
Victory Egg
Cardiacs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Selling our dead meat by the pound
Accidents of existence
Will make us all feel duty bound
To send along their one or to pursue a new curriculum
With stinky fingers takes a chair
Tum ti tum ti tum tum tum
I think again and then decline
The need be not so great
If all descent in perfect peace of mind
Some consider childish dreams a matter of necessity
I almost screw myself to the point of my lifes expectancy
"I'll break off all of your charm!" says World
Her egg will burst and will arrive
A man who calls his own tune
Thinking it's so good to be alive
Says, "If these are the best what are the rest to be life?"
As for me I struggle with words and wisdom accusing
"It's you, it's me, it's him", you see
For all I know it's coming fast
To colonise my infancy
The space is clean but in between
It's coloured with anxiety
The failing clause is "Victory Complete with Words"
It's hard to see
That after all it's over
And done with supreme variety
A friend indeed is all I need
To show me to an open door
I can only trust myself
I should of thought of that before
They need a catch before I'm under
I will give myself to the war
For all I know it's coming fast
To colonise my infancy
The space is clean but in between
It's coloured with anxiety
The failing clause is "Victory Complete with Words"
It's hard to see
That after all it's over
And done with supreme variety
The lyrics to Cardiacs's song Victory Egg are both surreal and thought-provoking. The song can be seen as a commentary on the futility and absurdity of war, as well as the struggle for individuality and identity in a world that often values conformity above all else. The opening lines, "What's there to lose?" Said the General / Selling our dead meat by the pound / Accidents of existence / Will make us all feel duty bound," highlight how the brutality and horror of war can be reduced to mere commerce, with soldiers being seen as nothing more than disposable meat. The idea that accidents of existence can make us feel duty-bound to wage war is also a powerful one, suggesting that the cycle of violence and conflict is perpetuated not by choice, but by circumstance.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of unease and anxiety, with references to "coloured" spaces and the idea of colonization. The line "For all I know it's coming fast / To colonise my infancy" suggests a fear of losing one's innocence and sense of self in a world that can be both beautiful and terrifying. The idea of a "failing clause" that demands "Victory Complete with Words" can be seen as a criticism of the way in which war is often framed as a noble and heroic endeavor, requiring grandiose speeches and patriotic rhetoric to justify its brutality.
Ultimately, Victory Egg is a complex and challenging song that raises important questions about war, identity, and the human experience. Its surreal imagery and non-linear narrative may be difficult to decipher at times, but its message is clear: we must question the systems and beliefs that drive us towards conflict, and strive to find our own path in a world that often seems determined to shape us in its image.
Line by Line Meaning
What's there to lose?" Said the General
The General questions the significance of the possible outcomes of their actions
Selling our dead meat by the pound
The act of exploiting the deceased for profit
Accidents of existence
The unpredictable nature of life
Will make us all feel duty bound
The obligation to act in a certain way due to fate or circumstance
To send along their one or to pursue a new curriculum
The decision to follow tradition or explore new paths
With stinky fingers takes a chair
A dirty, deceitful individual gains power
Tum ti tum ti tum tum tum
An expression of carefree attitude towards the situation
A door is opened up for me
An opportunity is presented
I think again and then decline
After second thought, the opportunity is rejected
The need be not so great
The desire for the opportunity is not strong enough
If all descent in perfect peace of mind
If everyone lived contently
Some consider childish dreams a matter of necessity
Pursuing one's passions regardless of societal norms is crucial
I almost screw myself to the point of my life's expectancy
Nearly self-destructing due to pressure and anxiety
"I'll break off all of your charm!" says World
Society will destroy individuality and creativity
Her egg will burst and will arrive
Change is inevitable and will occur quickly
A man who calls his own tune
An individual who follows their own path
Thinking it's so good to be alive
Enjoying the simple pleasures of life
Says, "If these are the best what are the rest to be life?"
Wondering if the good times will be the highlights of life or if better things are yet to come
As for me I struggle with words and wisdom accusing
Difficulty in articulating one's thoughts and accusing themselves of lacking knowledge
"It's you, it's me, it's him", you see
The blame for any issue could fall on anyone
For all I know it's coming fast
The future is uncertain and unpredictable
To colonise my infancy
The fear of negative influences shaping one's early years
The space is clean but in between
The outside appearance may be void of issues, but there is still internal turmoil
It's coloured with anxiety
The emotions surrounding the situation are stressful
The failing clause is "Victory Complete with Words"
Success is contingent on effective communication
It's hard to see
The task at hand is challenging and not easily accomplished
That after all it's over
Even after achieving victory, the outcome is not always favorable
And done with supreme variety
The outcome may not be expected, but it will be unique
A friend indeed is all I need
True friends are valuable
To show me to an open door
To guide towards opportunities
I can only trust myself
Self-reliance is crucial
I should of thought of that before
Regret for not having considered self-trust sooner
They need a catch before I'm under
Society will try to exploit and control before it's too late
I will give myself to the war
Bracing to fight society's negative influences
Contributed by Peyton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.