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
Photographs
Damon Albarn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are taken down again
When the heavy clouds that hide the sun
Have gone
The millions of us on the hill
From the star to lands end
When photographs you're taking now
Are taken now, press send
This is a precious opportunity
Beware of the photographs you are taking now
We are flying over black sands
In a glass aeroplane
Crashing in slow motion in another cityscape game
Where the feeling is supernatural
Like passing into other worlds
We're ending this dissolution when the mother-ship it explodes
When the photographs you're taking now
Are taken down again
When the heavy clouds that hide the sun
Have gone
The millions of us on the hill
From the star to lands end
When photographs you're taking now
Are taken now, press send
We were walking as zombies on over
To the church of John Coltrane
Arizona bus from sunset be freedom taking cocaine
In the paints and chords of nature
All is but a vanity
And the metronome knows that defeats you is the monochrome that you seek
When the photographs you're taking now
Are taken down again
When the heavy clouds that hide the sun
Have gone
The millions of us on the hill
From the star to lands end
When photographs you're taking now
Are taken now, press send
This is a precious opportunity
Beware of the photographs you are taking now
Photographs you are taking now
Photographs you are taking now
The song "Photographs" by Damon Albarn explores the significance of photographs and how they capture fleeting moments that we never want to forget. The first verse describes a scenario of these captured moments being taken down and hidden away, only to resurface when the clouds (symbolically representing the past) have disappeared. The second verse describes a surreal experience of flying over black sand in a glass aeroplane and crashing in slow motion in another cityscape game. This otherworldly feeling is juxtaposed with a reference to the church of John Coltrane and an Arizona bus from sunset to freedom taking cocaine, suggesting that it is only in these moments that we can capture the essence of life.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of capturing moments as they happen, before they disappear forever. The final line, "Beware of the photographs you are taking now," suggests that not every moment is worth capturing, and that in a way, a photograph can be a warning against missing out on the beauty of the present.
Overall, "Photographs" is a meditation on the importance of memory and the significance of capturing moments that would otherwise be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
When the photographs you're taking now
Are taken down again
Be mindful of the impermanence of things, as the photographs you take now will eventually be taken down and forgotten.
When the heavy clouds that hide the sun
Have gone
The darkness that clouds our lives will eventually pass, giving way to brighter days.
The millions of us on the hill
From the star to lands end
There are countless people in this world, each with their own stories and experiences, stretching from one end of the earth to the other.
When photographs you're taking now
Are taken now, press send
It's important to capture moments in time and share them with others, rather than hoarding them for ourselves.
We are flying over black sands
In a glass aeroplane
Crashing in slow motion in another cityscape game
Life can feel surreal, like we're flying over strange landscapes or playing a game where everything is moving in slow motion, yet we still experience moments of crashing and burning.
Where the feeling is supernatural
Like passing into other worlds
We're ending this dissolution when the mother-ship it explodes
There are moments where we feel like we're crossing over into another dimension, and the destruction of old ways of thinking can lead to new beginnings.
We were walking as zombies on over
To the church of John Coltrane
Arizona bus from sunset be freedom taking cocaine
Sometimes we can feel like mindless zombies, aimlessly searching for meaning in life, but we can find solace in art and music, even if we walk down dark paths to get there.
In the paints and chords of nature
All is but a vanity
And the metronome knows that defeats you is the monochrome that you seek
Nature is a beautiful but fleeting thing, and the rhythm of life marches on, even when we try to stop it. We may seek a simple, black and white world, but it's not the reality of the vibrant, complex life we live.
Photographs you are taking now
Photographs you are taking now
We must continuously be aware of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of capturing moments while we can.
This is a precious opportunity
Beware of the photographs you are taking now
We must treasure the moments we have now and be careful not to waste precious opportunities to make memories.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMON ALBARN, RICHARD RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind