Owen Ashworth started to make music on a small casio keyboard back in 1997. His first two albums, "Answering Machine Music" and "Pocket Symphonies for Lonely Subway Cars," were made using nothing but small, battery-operated keyboards and Ashworth's own voice (along with occasional accompaniment by guest musicians). These early albums are now available on one CD, appropriately titled "The First Two Albums by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone."
Ashworth has released numerous EPs and full-length albums, with a trademark austere lyrical style that conveys emotions through its simplicity and directness.
CFTPA expanded its sound in 2006 with Ashworth's release 'Etiquette,' now using more instruments and effects (as well as more professional production and vocals from Jenny Herbinson). This album has given Ashworth room for experimentation and thinking space.
In 2009, CFTPA's newest album, titled 'Vs. Children,' was released. Although vocally very similar to his earlier work, the album features a greater variety of acoustic instruments and further demonstrates Ashworth's interest in pursuing more complex arrangements for his songs. His live shows reflect this as on his most recent tour he is joined by a full band.
In 2010 Ashworth announced that he was retiring the "Casiotone for the Painfully Alone" name, as well as the songs he wrote under that name. He now performs as Advance Base and a producer.
Half Ghost
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere in the back, just watching the band
Trying to pretend nothings wrong
And clap for the songs
Drive all night for no reason
Just drive till the tape's done
Leave everything to the long, long road
Talk on the phone all night
Tell the whole story to an answering machine
Put everything on a song
Just put everything on some song on the radio
At least this song won't cheat
At least this song won't leave
The song "Half Ghost" by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone is a poignant exploration of loneliness and the ways we try to cope with it. The first verse describes a person standing at a concert, trying to blend in with the crowd and pretending that everything is okay despite feeling isolated and alone. The second verse describes the same person driving alone at night, seemingly without a destination, listening to a tape and allowing the long road to serve as a temporary escape from their problems. The third verse finds the person talking on the phone, pouring their heart out to an answering machine and finding solace in putting their feelings into a song on the radio.
The chorus - "At least this song won't cheat / At least this song won't leave" - emphasizes the theme of transience and the fleeting nature of human relationships. The person in the song seems to be seeking refuge in music as a way of coping with their loneliness, recognizing that while people may come and go, a song will always remain.
Overall, "Half Ghost" is a poignant and relatable reflection on the human experience of alienation and the ways in which we cope with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Stand at the show all night
I stand at the show in silence for the whole night
Somewhere in the back, just watching the band
I stand at the back, hidden in the darkness, and watch the band without getting noticed
Trying to pretend nothings wrong
I'm trying hard to pretend like there's nothing wrong with me
And clap for the songs
I'll still clap for the songs and pretend to enjoy them
Drive all night for no reason
I go for a long drive aimlessly for the whole night
Just drive till the tape's done
I'll keep driving even after the tape is over; it's better than staying at home alone
Leave everything to the long, long road
I leave everything, including my thoughts and feelings, to the winding road that will take me home
To take you home
The long, long road will take me home, but it doesn't mean that home is where my heart is
Talk on the phone all night
I talk on the phone for hours until I fall asleep
Tell the whole story to an answering machine
I spill out my whole story to an answering machine, hoping that someone will hear it
Put everything on a song
I put all my feelings and emotions into a song
Just put everything on some song on the radio
I listen to the radio, hoping to find a song that will express my emotions
At least this song won't cheat
Unlike humans, this song won't betray or deceive me
At least this song won't leave
This song won't abandon me; it'll always be there for me to listen to
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MoKone5
Love the lyrics. One of my fav songs by Owen.
Galactus Sweet
Full of Beauty *