One of his projects is the supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen, where he plays the keyboard and sings. Other members of the band are Paul Simonon (bass, The Clash), Simon Tong (guitar, The Verve) and Tony Allen (drums, percussion). Their album (released in early 2007) is produced by DJ Danger Mouse (producer of Gorillaz album "Demon Days", member of Gnarls Barkley).
The Marvelous Dream Songfacts says that another of his projects is Dr Dee, an opera created by Albarn with theatre director Rufus Norris. The work is based on the life of Dr. John Dee (1527-1608), an Elizabethan courtier who was also a mathematician, alchemist, astrologer, spiritualist, philosopher and spy. The opera’s debut performance was at the Palace Theatre, Manchester in July 2011, as part of the 2011 Manchester International Festival. The soundtrack was released on May 8, 2012 by Virgin.
Years active : 1989–present
Particles
Damon Albarn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And black sands return
I will drift away from land
As the sky begins its burn
Only you, darling, can call me back in
For the particles are joyous
As they aligned on your skin
The nearer the fountain
The nearer the fountain, more pure the stream flows
And sweeter the river, into which love grows
I have cried for you darling
Are you coming back to me?
For the particles are joyous
As they aligned on your skin
The particles are joyous
As they aligned on your skin
In Damon Albarn's song "Particles," the opening verse sets a mood of contemplative introspection, suggesting that the singer is adrift in their own thoughts. The imagery of the night patterns and black sands creates a sense of vastness and infinite possibility, with the singer suspended in a timeless moment of reflection. The line "I will drift away from land" adds to this feeling of being unmoored, as if the singer is leaving behind the solidity and certainty of the shore in search of something more elusive.
However, despite this sense of disconnection, the singer is still deeply connected to their lover, who has the power to pull them back from their drifting thoughts. The second verse reinforces this connection, using the metaphor of particles aligning on skin to suggest that the singer and their lover are intimately intertwined. This creates a sense of warmth and tenderness that contrasts with the singer's initial sense of isolation, highlighting the power of love to anchor us in the world.
The final verse brings the song to a close with a simple yet powerful question: "Are you coming back to me?" This question captures the tension and uncertainty at the heart of the song, with the singer longing for their lover to return but unsure if they will. Overall, "Particles" is a song that explores the complex interplay of distance and closeness, isolation and connection, and the yearning for a love that is both profound and ephemeral.
Line by Line Meaning
When the night patterns the room
As darkness fills the room and shapes form
And black sands return
And memories of the past resurface
I will drift away from land
I will let go and be carried away
As the sky begins its burn
As the rising sun ignites the sky with light
Only you, darling, can call me back in
Only your love can bring me back to reality
For the particles are joyous
Because the smallest things bring happiness
As they aligned on your skin
As the particles come together on your body
The nearer the fountain
The closer one gets to the source of life
The nearer the fountain, more pure the stream flows
The closer we are to the source of love, the purer our emotions become
And sweeter the river, into which love grows
And the love that flows from this source is sweeter and more meaningful
I have cried for you darling
I have shed tears over the loss of your love
Are you coming back to me?
Are you returning to my life and my heart?
For the particles are joyous
Because even the smallest sign of your return brings happiness
As they aligned on your skin
As the particles of your presence come together on your body
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Damon Albarn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xwexarexbulletsx
Damon, this is incredibly beautiful. This is one of the most beautiful songs that have ever existed.
@patjackson8649
Trying and not succeeding to listen to this without weeping, which I’m regarding as a good thing. The beauty of this is overwhelming. I’m so thankful to be alive at the same time as this genius
@bernhardsart
Me too!!! Btw, I'm seeing him live in two weeks. Hell Yeeeaahhh!!!!
@nathanviney-vy1ub
It's a good this one
@Rafael-sz5rm
A gorgeous modern lullaby for resting in peace and keep us away from the darkness that surround us. Thanks again, Damon.
@riddellthomas2185
Not many do melancholy beauty as good as Damon Albarn
@iliketolkien
The way he says "darling"
@millznthrillz9882
most beautiful songwriter of our generation in my opinion. Creative genius
@lulugigicom
it's midnight in my time zone. I always have a hard time falling asleep because of my fear of dark and death. I think I'll have a good night sleep after listening to such a beautiful song (several times). Thank you.
@maball8460
Don’t be afraid. It’s 12:15am in my time zone now. Just think about the other side of this big old world. It’s bright and sunny and when we are in the dark we get the calm that comes with the beauty of the dark. Rejoice in the quiet of the night. 💖