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.
Scattered Pearls
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Lyrics
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& the older men who hit on Becky
Nearly broke their necks on scattered pearls
& we searched the best we could
For two entire songs we knelt & felt along
The place where we had stood
but we only found 7 of Grandmother's pearls
& as we rode the bus home I thought surely
I'd wake up tomorrow just to find
That I had dreamed up everything
There'd still be pearls on a string
I wouldn't smell like smoke & I'd still
Have the cash that I had spent on drinks
oh I feel as scattered as Grandmother's pearls
Mom don't cry they're only pearls
The lyrics of "Scattered Pearls" by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone describe a night out, where a group of people went dancing at a disco. During the night, the clasp of a necklace broke, scattering pearls on the dancefloor. The older men who hit on Becky nearly broke their necks on the pearls, but despite the group's efforts, they were only able to find seven of Grandmother's pearls.
As they rode the bus home, the singer reflects on the night and realizes how scattered and uncertain everything seems, much like the scattered pearls they were searching for. They had hoped to find all the pearls and return them to Grandmother, who they assume will be disappointed with their failure. The singer concludes by reassuring their mom that everything will be fine and that they're only pearls, although the fact that they weren't able to find them all still weighs heavy on their heart.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation, but they seem to be touching on themes of loss, disappointment, and the fleeting nature of life. The scattered pearls serve as a metaphor for the uncertainties that we encounter in life, and the inability to find them all represents the idea that we can't always find solutions for our problems. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer reassuring their mom (and perhaps themselves) that everything will be okay.
Line by Line Meaning
The clasp broke at the disco Mom I'm sorry
While dancing at the disco, the clasp of my necklace broke, and I feel bad about it, Mom
And the older men who hit on Becky
Men who were much older than my friend Becky, tried to approach her for a romantic encounter
Nearly broke their necks on scattered pearls
Those men almost fell when they saw scattered pearls on the floor
And we searched the best we could
My friend and I tried our hardest to find all the pearls that fell on the floor
For two entire songs we knelt & felt along
We searched for pearls by kneeling down for two entire songs and felt around the floor
The place where we had stood
We looked for the pearls on the exact same spot where we were dancing
But we only found 7 of Grandmother's pearls
Unfortunately, we could only find seven pearls that belonged to my grandmother
And as we rode the bus home I thought surely
While riding the bus back home, I was certain that
I'd wake up tomorrow just to find
When I wake up tomorrow, I'll find out that
That I had dreamed up everything
All of these are just a figment of my imagination
There'd still be pearls on a string
The pearls are still connected to the string in my imagination
I wouldn't smell like smoke & I'd still
Not only that, I wouldn't smell like smoke and
Have the cash that I had spent on drinks
I'd still have the money that I spent on alcohol earlier
Oh I feel as scattered as Grandmother's pearls
All of this made me feel as scattered as my grandmother's pearls
Mom, don't cry they're only pearls
Mom, please don't be upset; they're just pearls after all
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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