Comet Gain was started in David Feck's bedroom in Oxford, United Kingdom in 1992. He roped in housemate Phil Sutton, (The Soft City) to play drums, and then persuaded Sarah Bleach and Jax Coombes, who lived round the corner to join. He found guitarist Sam Pluck, little fella with a nice anorak, looked a bit like a girl...er... in London and thus was born the first stage of the ..er...Latest Soul Vision! Yes! They all met and played for the first time at the Monarch pub in Camden in 1993. You could do that then. Incidently Feck also met future CG singer Rachel Evans that same night. Foresight and planning!
Mr Wiiija, Gary Walker, saw them and signed them up, and before you could say 'You know' three times, they had put out a single 'Aliens at War'/'A Kind of Loving", which single handedly sounded like the TVPs, a bit. They then released the original version of 'Kids at the Club', backed with a song ruined by Feck and Phil's awful rythm section, called 'Goodbye Song', for which at least one of them is still sorry.
But then, came a record beloved by Twee pop fans everywhere - though in those days they were called Cuties (well they were younger then!) that was also championed by DJ Danny Rampling at his club...no that's not right...'Casino Classics' ladies and gentlemen!! What Saint Etienne nicked off'em a bit later on. the cheeky beggars!...Spread out across two sides of an album, as is traditional, this album was even a hit in California, where it was released by Xmas records. Christmas in the sun. Funny that...
This was followed by Peel sessions and...you know...the other. Looked a bit like a shrew...very thin! Though I'm not surprised, the state of food in the BBC canteen. I'd be thin! I never liked sago pudding. What is it? Then there was a couple of EP's, 'Baby's Allright'/'Charlie' and 'Say Yes'/'Hideaway' - two angry shouty rockers and two northern soul infatuated pop songs and a scuppered album, "Sneaky' (which came out with only Feck's songs) which some people said was quite long. But good. I've got it somewhere. Oh no somebody else has...
Any road, the first line-up split in 1997, after they started heckling themselves on stage at the legendary club 'The Beat Happening'. That was ten years ago ladies and gentlemen. In 1998, a second line-up, that didn't get on each others nerves all-the-bloody-time...was started. But that's another story.
The post-1997 line-up of Comet Gain featured the following:
David Charlie Christian Feck (vocals, guitar, keys)
Rachel Evans (vocals)
Jon Slade (a.k.a Jon The Slade) (guitar, keys)
Kay Ishikawa (bass)
Blair Cowl (guitar, bass) (1997-1999)
Erik Brunulf (guitar, bass) (2001)
Darren Smyth (drums) (1997-2001)
Chris Apelgren (drums) (2002)
M.J. Taylor (percussion) (2001-)
Ghost of the Roman Empire
Comet Gain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll end up dying some stupid way
I let you down
I remember our years with a smile and a tear
There's no other way to express these fears
The end of life
I can't live like this anymore
Full of hope, but memories we drown
'Cause that's what I want
And (?) has painted us full of fear
And which is stronger over the years
'Cause it gets...
Idle regress has went (?)
The summer had killed you with some sense
I never knew
That it was true
There's so much I wish I could say
I have to hide it, that's my way
Safer though, but I need to stay with you
'Cause that's what I want
Have you ever tried striving for
Something good worth living for?
If you think we'll fail
We'll show them how
'Cause that's what I want
That's what I want
That is what I want!
The song "Ghost of the Roman Empire" by the British indie rock band Comet Gain is a melancholic reflection on lost love and missed opportunities. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer lamenting the fact that they have "broke [their] hearts" and fearing that they will "end up dying some stupid way." The rest of the song is a mixture of nostalgia and regret, with the singer remembering their past relationship "with a smile and a tear" and wishing that they could have done things differently.
The lyrics also touch on themes of identity and belonging, with the singer feeling like they don't fit in and are "full of hope, but memories we drown." They long for a sense of purpose and direction, but are unsure how to achieve it. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer encouraging themselves (and the listener) to strive for something worth living for and to not let fear hold them back.
Overall, "Ghost of the Roman Empire" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the complexities of love, loss, and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't believe I've broke my hearts
I cannot believe that I have broken my own heart.
I'll end up dying some stupid way
I am going to die in an unintelligent manner due to my own actions.
I let you down
I have disappointed you in some way.
I remember our years with a smile and a tear
I reminisce on our past together with both happiness and sadness.
There's no other way to express these fears
I am unable to articulate my fears in any other way.
The end of life
This is the end of life as we know it.
I can't live like this anymore
I am no longer able to continue living in this way.
Just can't fit here, that's for sure
I feel out of place here and do not fit in.
Full of hope, but memories we drown
Although we were filled with hope, our memories of the past have caused us to feel despair.
'Cause that's what I want
This is what I desire.
And (?) has painted us full of fear
Something, which is not specified, has caused us to feel deeply afraid.
And which is stronger over the years
Over time, it is unclear which has become the predominant feeling.
'Cause it gets...
Because it becomes more intense over time.
Idle regress has went (?)
A state of inactivity and unproductiveness has passed.
The summer had killed you with some sense
The summer has left you feeling drained and apathetic.
I never knew
I was previously unaware of something that has now come to light.
That it was true
Something that was previously doubted has been revealed to be true.
There's so much I wish I could say
There are many things I would like to express.
I have to hide it, that's my way
I feel that it is necessary to keep my thoughts and feelings hidden from others.
Safer though, but I need to stay with you
Although it may be safer to distance myself, I feel a strong need to remain close to you.
'Cause that's what I want
This is what I desire.
Have you ever tried striving for
Have you ever attempted to work towards something?
Something good worth living for?
Is there something that is worth living for?
If you think we'll fail
If you believe that we will fail.
We'll show them how
We will prove them wrong by succeeding.
'Cause that's what I want
This is what I desire.
That's what I want
This is my heart's desire.
That is what I want!
This is exactly what I want!
Contributed by Brody W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.