Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson (cousin of Iron Maiden legend Bruce Dickinson), guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device of the same name. The band was often included in the shoegazing scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor.
The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records after being courted by both Creation Records and the Brian Eno-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's Ferment, made an immediate impression on the music press and introduced Catherine Wheel's biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic," as well as moderate hit "I Want To Touch You". The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.
The more aggressive Chrome followed in 1993, produced by Gil Norton. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp." In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of Death Cab for Cutie and Interpol told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."
1995's Happy Days saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era. The single "Waydown," and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as britpop was taking over in the UK, causing C.W. to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.
The B-sides and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs, came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into Adam and Eve in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars. Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.
In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, Wishville. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.
In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.
Way Down
Catherine Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I need energy for my beautiful thing
But pain for days has stayed with me
Expect to see some change in me
From happy to frown
I'm on my way down
I'm on my way down
I'm on my way down
I know noisy noisy please this fool
So hear my plan and understand why I feel so cruel
Take this huge expanse of sound
And wrap it in these rags I found
And in true style
I'm on my way down
Oh this is worth the cost she said
This is worth every penny she said
And I think I can see through everything
This is how I feel This is how I feel This is how I feel
I'm on my way down
I'm on my way down
The Catherine Wheel's song "Way Down" is a haunting and enigmatic exploration of pain and beauty. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with some sort of internal turmoil, fueled by their need for energy to fuel a beautiful thing they are creating. The pain they feel is overwhelming, and they anticipate that there will be some sort of change in them as a result. The repetition of the refrain "I'm on my way down" creates a sense of descent, as though the singer is spiraling downwards into a dark place.
The second stanza reveals that the singer is aware of the effect their work can have on others, and that they are determined to use their music to communicate their pain. They speak of "noisy noisy please this fool," perhaps indicating that they are willing to make uncomfortable sounds in order to convey their emotions. However, they also suggest that they are attempting to contain their volatile emotions in some way, likening their music to a "huge expanse of sound" wrapped in "rags." The line "And in true style" implies that this aesthetic choice is important to the singer, perhaps suggesting that it is a way for them to express their pain in a way that feels authentic to them.
The final stanza is perhaps the most cryptic, with the singer suggesting that their torment is somehow "worth the cost." They seem to have a clear-eyed understanding of their pain, suggesting that they can "see through everything." However, they also acknowledge that this is simply "how I feel." The repetition of "I'm on my way down" returns once more, underscoring the sense of descent and darkness that permeates the song.
Overall, "Way Down" is a deeply introspective and haunting song, with lyrics that are open to interpretation. The repeated refrain suggests a sense of inevitability and resignation, while the opaque imagery and metaphors used throughout leave the listener to ponder the deeper meanings behind the words.
Line by Line Meaning
I breed deep in my a beautiful thing
My inner essence is bringing forth something beautiful
And I need energy for my beautiful thing
I require energy to channel and manifest my creativity
But pain for days has stayed with me
I have been suffering for an extended period, without relief
Expect to see some change in me
I anticipate a transformation in my state of being
From happy to frown
My mood will shift from joy to sorrow
I'm on my way down
I am descending into a darker emotional state
I know noisy noisy please this fool
I understand that chaotic sounds can pacify me, despite feeling foolish
So hear my plan and understand why I feel so cruel
Please listen to my strategy and comprehend my current state of malice
Take this huge expanse of sound
Utilize this vast array of noise
And wrap it in these rags I found
Enclose it in these scraps of cloth I discovered
And in true style
Executing this in my authentic manner
Oh this is worth the cost she said
Someone believes the outcome is worth the sacrifices made
This is worth every penny she said
They are willing to pay a significant price for the result
And I think I can see through everything
I believe I possess the ability to comprehend everything
This is how I feel This is how I feel This is how I feel
These emotions represent my current mindset
I'm on my way down
I am continuing my descent into a more melancholic state
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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